Lake Arrowhead, California
Lake Arrowhead is a community of 10,639 people in San Bernardino County, California.
Why visit Lake Arrowhead
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 33 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Santa's Village, Mountain History Museum, MacKay Park and Skypark at Santa's Village.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 29°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lake Arrowhead
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, and surrounding the eponymous Lake Arrowhead Reservoir. Lake Arrowhead is located 13 miles (21 km) north east of the San Bernardino city limits. The population of the CDP was estimated at 12,401 in the 2020 census. It was called "Little Bear Lake" until around 1920, when a group from Los Angeles, the Arrowhead Lake Company, bought the lake and the land surrounding it, and changed its name to Arrowhead Lake.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Arrowhead, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
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Santa's Village
Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi
American amusement park
Museums and landmarks3
Mountain History Museum
Museum · 1.9 mi
27176 Peninsula Drive, Lake Arrowhead
May 25-Nov 7 Sa-Su 11:00-17:00
Lake Arrowhead Queen
Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi
A boat that gives tours of Lake Arrowhead.
Parks, trails and playgrounds33
21 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes15
Belgian Waffle Works
Diner · American · 0.6 mi
28200 State Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead
Mo-Fr 08:00-16:00; Sa-Su 08:00-17:00
Bill's Villager
Diner · American · 1.9 mi
27195 Highway 189, Blue Jay
Mo-Fr 06:00-20:00; Sa-Su 07:00-20:00
Stone Creek Bistro
Restaurant · International · 2.6 mi
26824 State Highway 189, Blue Jay
Tu-Su 05:00-21:00
The Grill at Antlers Inn
Restaurant · 3.3 mi
26125 State Highway 189, Twin Peaks
Tu-Th 16:30-20:30, Fr-Sa 16:30-21:30, Su 16:30-20:30
Cedar Glen Malt Shop
Restaurant · Ice Cream · 0.6 mi
29125 Hook Creek Road, Cedar Glen
Village Ice Cream and Sweet Shoppe
Restaurant · Ice Cream · 0.6 mi
28200 State Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead
3 more on the map.
History
The area now known as Lake Arrowhead was originally called Little Bear Valley. In the late 1800s, developers began damming Little Bear Creek to create a reservoir for irrigation and hydroelectric use. By 1904, the Arrowhead Reservoir Company had taken over the project, but in 1913, a landmark court decision prohibited the diversion of water across watershed boundaries, halting further irrigation plans.
In 1920, a Los Angeles-based group purchased the lake and surrounding land, forming the Arrowhead Lake Company. Between 1921 and 1923, they built a Norman-style resort village that included a pavilion, outdoor theater, dance hall, golf course, beach, and hotel. The development officially opened in June 1922 and began attracting tourists and second-home buyers from Southern California.
Lake Arrowhead continued evolving as a resort destination through the mid-20th century, frequented by Hollywood celebrities and wealthy families. In 1960, businessman Jules Berman and partners acquired the lake property, launching new development through the Lake Arrowhead Development Company. By the late 1960s, the area was acquired by Boise Cascade, which subdivided large portions for residential sales before exiting in the early 1970s.
From the History section of Lake Arrowhead, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins
Motel and hotel · 3.5 mi
25994 State HWY 189, Twin Peaks
Churches and places of worship3
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and School
Church · 2.2 mi
27415 School Road, Lake Arrowhead
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Healthcare3
Map of Lake Arrowhead
93 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 29°F | 8.4 in | 3.0 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 30°F | 9.9 in | 5.3 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 32°F | 5.2 in | 6.7 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 36°F | 2.8 in | 2.8 in |
| May | 67°F | 41°F | 1.1 in | 0.8 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 49°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 57°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 0.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 34°F | 2.4 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 29°F | 5.2 in | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lake Arrowhead (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
San Bernardino County has had 40 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-09-11: Bridge Fire (Fire)
- 2024-09-07: Line Fire (Fire)
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-10-26: Blue Ridge Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- San Bernardino 10 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Highland 10 mi south, about 16 min by car
- Muscoy 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Hesperia 13 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Redlands 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Rialto 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Loma Linda 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Colton 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- Yucaipa 17 mi southeast, about 27 min by car
- Fontana 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lake Arrowhead Village, California, shadowhound, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bennati Cabin Lake Arrowhead, SoCalArchitect, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Arrowhead, California with Silverwood Lake in Background (14331276327), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead and Silverwood Lake, California (14494619996), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Mountains, California (14331066280), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead and Silverwood Lake, California (14494620546), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead, California with Silverwood Lake in Background (14331108079), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead from Flight Between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orange County, California (6575775267), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead from Flight Between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orange County, California (6575778879), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Greetings from Lake Arrowhead, California - Large Letter Postcard (8255371419), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Lake Arrowhead winter drive (Unsplash), Clarisse Meyer clarissemeyer, CC0
- Lake Arrowhead winter trail (Unsplash), Clarisse Meyer clarissemeyer, CC0
- Santa's Village CA Spring 1972, Dcsutherland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Bernardino Mountains, California (14331278337), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1951 Mercury woody, Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0
- 1951 Mercury woody - 2, Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0
- 1949 Dodge Suburban, Rex Gray Plate blurred, signature removed by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 2.0
- San Bernardino County Fire Department Medic Ambulance 91, Leon13639, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1927 National Historical Register French Normandy Lakefront Estate, India M. Clamp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fullsizeoutput 6538, India M. Clamp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jiewriojroirew, Accord14, CC BY-SA 4.0
- California winter forest (Unsplash), Clarisse Meyer clarissemeyer, CC0
- View from Mountains Community Hospital 2, Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- View from Mountains Community Hospital, Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Northern flicker (28948384033), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Acorn woodpecker (28948384943), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Steller's Jay (29491371811), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Chip (29281762700), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- American Robin (29491372451), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Mountain chickadee (29537897666), Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bart pretends to put a fork into an electric socket, Banaticus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Bernardino Mountains from Flight Between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orange County, California (6575785863), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- San Bernardino Mountains from Flight Between Las Vegas, Nevada and Orange County, California (6575782631), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Oreortyx pictus 189165978, James M. Maley, CC BY 4.0
- San Bernardino National Forest (31129727506), Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain
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