Vacation Rentals in Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead is the perfect place to get away from it all, combining natural beauty, great weather, and plenty of activities. And it's also packed with excellent accommodation options. Some of the best of all are cosy lakefront cabins. Often built with jetties and direct access to the water, these cabin properties mix plenty of space, beautiful wooden construction and conveniences like parking spaces, wi-fi, and washing machines.

Along with smaller cabins, visitors to Lake Arrowhead will also find a wide range of more spacious vacation rental properties. Some of these are virtually mansions, with five or more bedrooms and Tudor-style architecture. Most come with huge living spaces, wooden floors, fireplaces, balconies, and all of the yard space you could ever need – providing an all-round vacation experience.

Lake Arrowhead is a popular resort in California's San Bernardino National Forest. The resort has grown up around the lake of the same name (which is actually a reservoir), which nestles in the forest like a blue jewel. This natural beauty constantly attracts visitors all year-round to hike, fish, water ski, and even ski. It's an amazing destination for outdoor activities.

Although we tend to refer to Lake Arrowhead as a resort, it's actually a cluster of communities, all of which are gathered around the lake's edge. So, you might choose a vacation rental in Cedar Glen, Twin Peaks, Blue Jay, Rim Forest, Sky Forest, or Lake Arrowhead – and each has its own amenities and character. The lake itself is small enough to walk around, at 782 acres, and its shore stretches for 14 miles.

Lake Arrowhead is easy to get to, mainly because it lies at the meeting point of California Routes 173 and 189. It's also not far from major population centers like San Bernardino and Los Angeles, and you can get there from Los Angeles International (LAX) in just over two and a half hours.

Some of the scenery around Lake Arrowhead is simply stunning, and outdoor recreational opportunities are the area's biggest draw. Follow a portion of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, head to Deep Creek Hot Springs, and you can even ski at Snow Valley Ski Resort.

Lake Arrowhead Village is a wonderful place to shop for handmade craft goods, with an emphasis on leather goods like bags, belts, and boots, as well as jewelry and clothing. And it's crammed with great eating spots, too.

Lake Arrowhead itself is a major water skiing center. But nearby Lake Gregory plays host to an even bigger range of activities. You can hire fishing boats, take out a jet ski, try wakeboarding, kayak, swim or just relax on the shoreline.

The pride of Lake Arrowhead, this 19th century pleasure craft runs daily tours of the lake from Leroy's Boardhouse, and on-board guides will tell you all about the area's fascinating past.

In the 1930s, Lake Arrowhead was one of the major hangouts of Hollywood's elite, and nowhere more so than the Tudor House, built by gangster Bugsy Siegel. These days, it's a thriving entertainment venue and as opulent and impressive as ever.

While Lake Arrowhead is a private lake, nearby Big Bear Lake is accessible to all, and it's a great place to land sunfish, bass, and rainbow trout, while Deep Creek and Bear Creek are great trout fishing streams.

If you're a keen golfer, Lake Arrowhead offers plenty of courses, but none are as enjoyable and well-kept as Lake Arrowhead Country Club, where bald eagles are known to appear on the fairways from time to time.

When winter comes, Lake Arrowhead and the San Bernardino Mountains become a playground for Southern California's alpine sports fans. Snow Valley is the pick of the area's resorts, where Schighridj (pronounced “sky-ridge”) is heaven for boarders.

For first-time visitors, it might seem odd that the lake itself is largely out of bounds. The reason is because Lake Arrowhead is classed as a private lake, so access is controlled by local residents, who have exclusive fishing and boating rights. However, you can water ski, providing you do so with the McKenzie School. But fishing is not permitted.

The truth is that there's not really a bad time to visit the resort. It's beautiful in every season. Then again, summer is definitely the peak period for vacationers, as the village hums with commerce and cultural life, and the weather is sublime for outdoor activities. Being at a lower altitude, it's slightly warmer than nearby Big Bear Lake, which is something to “bear” in mind.