A note about lake access
Lake Arrowhead is unusual among Southern California mountain lakes: it is privately owned and access is controlled by the Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA). The lake began not as a resort attraction, but as part of an ambitious early-20th-century reservoir and irrigation project. When plans to transport the water outside its watershed were halted, the area gradually evolved into a mountain resort community, and the lake became the centerpiece of what is now Lake Arrowhead.
Today, access to the lake and much of its shoreline is tied to properties within Arrowhead Woods and administered by the ALA. This means Lake Arrowhead works differently from a public lake such as Lake Gregory or Big Bear Lake. Simply staying in the area does not automatically give visitors access to the shoreline, beaches, docks, boating, or other ALA facilities.
Access for our guests
As guests of an eligible short-term rental (STR) property in Arrowhead Woods, you are able to access the lake, lakeside trails, and ALA reserve strips during your stay. Before access can be granted, we must register the names, email addresses, and dates of your stay with the Arrowhead Lake Association. Guests using ALA property must also complete the required ALA waiver and follow all current lake rules. Please message us through Airbnb at least two days before you plan to access the lake so we can sort out your waivers.
When visiting the lake, please carry photo identification and the Owner’s access card. The card opens designated gates around the lake and gives access to the network of shoreline trails. Please keep it with you while on ALA property and return it to the chalet when you are finished.
The shoreline trails are really the highlight of this access. They wind along portions of the lake through forest, past docks and quiet coves, and offer a much more intimate look at Lake Arrowhead than you can get from the Village alone. Because much of the shoreline is private, these trails are one of the special privileges that comes with staying at an eligible Arrowhead Woods property like ours.
What lake access doesn’t include
Short-term rental access is not the same as full ALA membership. Guests may not use Tavern Bay or Burnt Mill Beach Clubs, the Aqua Park, ALA parks, the ALA fishing dock, courtesy docks, or Lone Pine Island. Those amenities are reserved for qualifying ALA members.
Please also do not bring or launch personal watercraft. STR guests may not register or use their own boats, kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, or paddleboards on Lake Arrowhead. ALA maintains strict registration, insurance, and operator requirements for watercraft on the lake.
STR guests may fish from permitted shoreline and trail areas, but may not use the ALA fishing dock or any other ALA-owned docks. All applicable California fishing-license requirements and ALA rules still apply.
Swimming is permitted as a reasonable recreational use of the lake under the current STR-access rules, but there is an important practical distinction: STR access does not include the developed Beach Clubs or their designated swimming areas and amenities. Lake Arrowhead therefore is not quite the traditional “grab a towel and head to the public beach” experience guests may expect from a resort lake.
Getting out on the water
There are still plenty of ways to enjoy the lake without private beach or boating privileges. The Arrowhead Queen offers narrated cruises directly from Lake Arrowhead Village and is probably the easiest way to experience the lake itself. You’ll also find public swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding at Lake Gregory, outdoor recreation at SkyPark, hiking throughout the surrounding national forest, and plenty of overlooks and scenic drives that require no ALA access at all.
Lake rules and access policies can change. If you are planning to use the shoreline trails, swim, or fish during your stay, please check with us first and follow the current instructions provided with your ALA access card. The Arrowhead Lake Association is the final authority on lake access and regulations.