Local Information

Map Quest of Lake Arrowhead. You will be e-mailed detailed directions. None of the big map sites are very accurate for mountain communities.

Summer Weather:

Lake Arrowhead has four distinct seasons. Gorgeous fall colors and spring blooms. We are famous for daffodils and tulips!

In the summer it is about 20 degrees cooler than the Valley below with summer highs usually in the 80s. Most homes, including ours, do not have air conditioning because it is rarely needed. When it's needed, we hit the lake!!! In 7 years of living here, we have noticed only about 21 days total of uncomfortable heat, and it almost always begins cooling to a comfortable level by 5 p.m.

If you check weather reports during the summer, you might see thunderstorms and rain predicted. These predictions are for the "San Bernardino Mountains." It's rare that we enjoy those thunderstorms and afternoon rain--that's reserved for Big Bear. We enjoy seeing Big Bear's thunderheads while we swim in the lake!

In the fall, cool temperatures usually begin in October.

In the winter, night time temperatures regularly dip below freezing but are usually above freezing by 9 A.M. with an average winter high in the 50s and daytime lows generally above 40. Average rainfall is 40 inches a year which is 3 to 4 times the typical rainfall in the Southern California area. Average snowfall is 80 inches a year starting in late November and ending in March. We usually have 310 days of sunshine!

Activities (on site or nearby):

  • Curves for Women, 3 minute drive (verify hours ahead 909 336-0111)
  • Hiking (See San Bernardino National Forest site for activities, too)
  • Biking
  • Fishing ("Arrowhead Lake Association Beach Club" card gives you access for 10 people). CA fishing license IS required, and can be purchased at Cedar Glen Trading Post.
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Shopping
  • Blue Jay Cinema, 8 minutes (see link for showtimes & prices)
  • Swimming (Lake Arrowhead 10 minutes, Lake Gregory 18 minutes, Silverwood Lake 28 minutes)
  • Beach Club card provided upon request to have free access for ten to private Lake Arrowhead's beaches, 2 beach clubs, 2 parks, and trails. NO entry without this card. If you lose this card, you lose your security deposit of $250. There are NO free public beaches on Lake Arrowhead. You may not launch your own boat or kayak, since Lake Arrowhead requires special licenses and permits. No jet skis are allowed on the lake at all.
  • Downhill Skiing (Snow Valley and Trinity Mountain Resort ski resorts is 28 minutes away--Wednesdays are discounted. RentSkisOnline in Running Springs for ski/board rentals). One hour to Big Bear.
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Sledding
  • Silverwood Lake (jet-ski, water ski, swim beach) is 28 minutes away (Regional park with car entry fee)
  • Pharaoh's Waterpark and Amusement park, San Bernardino, 35 minutes.
  • McKenzie Waterski School (in Lake Arrowhead Village) Lessons and boat charters. They provide boat and driver--Lake Arrowhead is private and only homeowner boats are permitted, so this is the only option for renting a boat. Hourly charters for 1-4 persons are $185.00 without instructor, $195.00 with instructor. Other options are available, such as a 2-mile tow for $45 or 15 minute ride for $60. (Verify prices.)
  • Lake Gregory Regional Park: Waterslide, rowboat rentals, fishing, beach, longboard rentals, paddle boat rentals. Minimal entry fee, slide tickets can be purchased for one slide, or unlimited.

Beach Clubs & parks (only accessible with included Beach Club card). Detailed directions in our home (click for larger image):

Tavern Bay Beach Club (snack bar, playground, restrooms, swimming beach), North side of lake.

Burnt Mill Beach Club (candy, chips, soda for sale, swimming beach, swingset)

Grass Valley Park

1/2 mile walk, 7/10 mile drive to this cute little private park for fishing, playground, or just relaxing in beautiful scenery!

Photo coming

Penninsula Park

 

Lake Gregory Regional Park (click for larger image). Waterslide, rowboat rentals, fishing, beach, longboard rentals, paddle boat rentals. Minimal entry fee, slide tickets can be purchased for one slide, or unlimited.


Boathouse & rentals

Beach & waterslide
(entry fee)

Lake Arrowhead Village:


Lake Arrowhead's very own
Mountain Fifes & Drums

Mountain Fifes & Drums performs
at our new
Lake Arrowhead Village Center Stage

Fast Food:

  • Subway 5 minutes to Shell 5-Points or in Lake Arrowhead Village
  • Mc Donald's 8 minutes Blue Jay or Lake Arrowhead Village, lower level
  • Burger King 10 minutes to Lake Arrowhead
  • Alberto's Mexican food in Rim Forest (10 minutes)
  • Domino's Pizza (Try The Cottage instead! They deliver. Scampi & dried tomato pizza is yummy!)

Restaurants:

  • Woody's in Lake Arrowhead Village--popular Sunday brunch, right on the water.
  • The Cottage, 10 minutes, local hang-out. Small restaurant with huge, inexpensive portions (share!)
  • Mandarin Garden
  • Papagayo's Mexican Restaurant, 10 minutes to Lake Arrowhead Village in round building by parking.
  • Antler's in Twin Peaks, 8 minutes
  • Royal Oak in Blue Jay, 8 minutes
  • Borderline in Blue Jay, 8minutes
  • Casual Elegance, in Blue Jay, 8 minutes
  • Bin 189 inside Lake Arrowhead Resort, 10 minutes
  • Belgian Waffle
  • Del Lago's: light fare, coffee, books, Internet cafe, and a great view of the lake!
  • Pasta Mia, in Blue Jay (the newest restaurant on the mtn), 8 min

Shopping:

Lake Arrowhead Village outlet center shops include:

  • Bass
  • Big Dog Sportswear
  • Coach
  • Coastal Cotton
  • Color Me Mine (paint your own pottery)
  • Factory Brand Shoes (Famous Footwear)
  • Geoffrey Beene
  • Harry & David
  • Izod
  • Jockey
  • LeRoy's Board Shop
  • Pendleton Factory Store
  • Thomas Kinkade Gallery
  • Van Heusen
  • Vino 100 (owners are dear friends of ours)

Markets:

  • Shell 5-Points Mini Mart (Also has Subway Sandwich counter) 5 minutes
  • Jensen's in Blue Jay--pricey but excellent market with fast lines, great service & food, 8 minutes. Has a great BBQ on holiday weekends and excellent deli & meat market. You might spot your favorite celebrity there.
  • Stater Brother's Market-same as "down the hill" prices, but long lines on holidays & weekends Lake Arrowhead Village, top level, 10 minutes
  • Goodwin's Market in Crestline, 13 minutes. Reasonable prices, independent market, deli & meat counters

Museums:

Theater & Concerts:

Video Rentals:

Agua Fria Video 4, 8 minutes near Blue Jay

Churches:

Click here for local church directory.

Our church: Mountain Reformed Church in Crestline. 10:30 a.m. service, fellowship meal, follows at noon, Sunday School at 1 p.m.

Helpful links:

Ben's Weather
Weather Underground for Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce (we are members)
Rim of the World.net The best site in case of emergency! Check message boards for up-to-the-minute message board posts during fire season, bad weather, and road closures. Also has several helpful Web cams.
CalTrans for road construction and detours
MountainInfo.com for web cams for local freeways and mountain information. MountainInfo.com weather.

Chamber of Commerce Calendar:

http://www.lakearrowhead.net/events.html

Thanksgiving weekend Christmas are a special time to visit Lake Arrowhead! Fall begins in September with the leaves beginning to turn color. Spring is spectacular with tulips and daffodils in full bloom beginning around March/April. Easter week will be holiday rates for 3 weeks, based on southern California school district schedules (I will post as soon as they become available). Any 3-day weekend is a big event in Lake Arrowhead Village!

Important Notes:

Winter: We live in a winter storm area! The roads can be closed with no means of exit at all for 1-5 days. Normally, if we have a massive snowstorm, we are snowed in for less than one day. Hang loose, cuddle up by the fireplace and enjoy! Please be prepared for bad weather, chains are REQUIRED, sometimes even on four-wheel drive vehicles. Know how to put chains and their tensioners on and drive safely with them (25 mph). Carry blankets, warm clothes and footwear, food, water, and a shovel in your car in the winter. Kitty litter is also recommended for icy steps and driveways. Storms can, and do happen from October to May, however, most of our winter storms are between December and April. Mountain roads are windy and steep. We do not refund due to bad road conditions, however, if ALL roads are closed and you are not able to reach the home, the time period that is beyond your control will be refunded pro-rata. This has only happened about once in the past 7 years--for a period of about 4 days total. We CAN get 18" of snow in a day (usually just a few inches at a time), and it can snow even at 41°F. Snow shovels are in the home--we cannot shovel for you. You are responsible for snow removal while you are here. Let us know if you need to hire help. County snowplows will plow the road, but not the driveway. See weather links below in "Helpful Links."

Fires: Living in the forest also has a fire risk. If you smell smoke, check it out. Don't wait to be told to evacuate. RimoftheWorld.net is a great source of information--check the message boards. Emergency fire phone information lines are in the information notebook in your rental.

Earthquakes: This is California! We have occasional earthquakes. Get out of the kitchen if you feel one beginning, as fast as you can. Injuries and deaths due to earthquakes are extremely rare in California. Our building codes are designed for this sort of excitement.

Temperatures: Evenings cool off, in even in the summer--temperatures start dropping about 4 p.m. However, we can have about 2-3 weeks of hot weather, including nights, per summer. Warmer summer months are June-September. Many weather sites are NOT accurate--there are some national sites that use March Air Reserve Base down the hill for our temperatures.

Babies & small children: While this unit is equipped with an upper level babygate, and baby latches on some cabinets, we do not guarantee that this unit is safe for small children. Please supervise your young'uns! We also provide a crib and booster seat upon request.

 


Home Availability Local Information Agreement


 


Proud Member, Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce

Web design Leggewie Enterprises
Copyright © 2006