10 Best Things To Do In Lake Arrowhead, California

things to do in lake arrowhead
Francesca
Francesca 
Updated
| 5 min read

Within the popular San Bernardino National Forest, you’ll find Lake Arrowhead. The mountain forest surrounding Lake Arrowhead gave the destination the name “The Alps of Southern California”. Every activity in this destination is located within nature, making it a paradise for nature lovers and a great escape for people from the city. One of California’s hidden gems, a weekend getaway to Lake Arrowhead will be filled with adventure and therapeutic activities such as ATV rides or a calming boat ride around the lake. Lake Arrowhead is such a great place to unwind, that you can also find celebrity homes around the lake. Read on to find out the 10 best things to do in Lake Arrowhead, California.

1. Explore the Lake Arrowhead in an ATV ride with Enjoy The Mountain Off Road ATV Adventures

ATV
Source: Unsplash

One of the best things to do in Lake Arrowhead is to go on an ATV adventure. There are many ATV rides you can take all over the world, but none will be as exciting and breathtaking as the one in Lake Arrowhead. Imagine cruising across mountains and all you see are the sky and mountain tops. There are different routes at different difficulty levels to choose from. Each adventure includes an ATV, safety equipment, guide and fuel with a minimum age of 14 to participate.

Enjoy The Mountain Off Road ATV Adventures

Address: Pinnacles OHV Staging Area, Lake Arrowhead

Website: Enjoy The Mountain Off Road ATV Adventures

Opening hours: 8am - 7pm (daily)

Visited this place?

2. Meet the magnificent wild birds up-close at Wildhaven Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Eagle
Source: Unsplash

Wildhaven Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is not a zoo. Instead, this Wildlife Sanctuary is more of an education centre where you’ll learn about the native species as well as animals at the brink of extinction that are found in San Bernardino Mountains. Some native and endangered animals you will encounter are black bears, coyotes and wild birds. The must-see animals are especially the wild birds such as falcons, eagles and turkey vultures, which are birds you wouldn’t otherwise get to meet up-close if you spot them in the wild.

Wildhaven Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Address: 29453 Pineridge Dr, Cedar Glen, CA 92321, United States

Website: Wildhaven Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Opening hours: Wed, Fri, Sat: 1pm - 2.30pm (closed on Sun - Tue & Thu)

Visited this place?

3. Browse through the artworks of local artists at Mountain Arts Network & Gallery

Lake Arrowhead
Source: Unsplash

An art gallery with a good cause, the Mountain Arts Network & Gallery displays artworks of artists from mountain communities. The artworks consist of handmade crafts, oil paintings, photography, jewellery, and more. The gallery also hosts regular art classes, which you can register online at their website. With the gallery located at the shores of Lake Arrowhead, you’ll find your inner Picasso easily as you draw inspiration from the surrounding nature.

Mountain Arts Network & Gallery

Address: 28200 CA-189, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States

Website: Mountain Arts Network & Gallery

Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 11am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)

Visited this place?

4. Dig into scrumptious Mexican fare at Papagayos

Mexican food
Source: Unsplash

At Papagayos, they don’t only serve fantastic views of Lake Arrowhead, but also mouthwatering Mexican dishes. A hot favourite among locals, you must make a reservation as Papagayos is always full. Make sure to request for the patio seats for the best views of the lake. Papagayos extensive menu includes all sorts of Mexican food, from burritos to chilaquiles and beef tacos to poké tacos.

Papagayos

Address: 28200 CA-189, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States

Website: Papagayos

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

Visited this place?

5. Know the lake's history on a sightseeing vessel with Lake Arrowhead Queen

Lake Arrowhead
Source: Unsplash

Take a one-hour boat ride surrounded by beautiful sights on Lake Arrowhead Queen. Your boat Captain will be your guide for the ride, telling you about the rich past of the area, as well as, showing you the celebrity homes around the lake. For a fun and therapeutic experience, expect your tour with Lake Arrowhead Queen to be filled with laughter, jaw-dropping moments, and you may even make new friends at the end of the tour.

Lake Arrowhead Queen

Address: 28200 CA-189 c100, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States

Website: Lake Arrowhead Queen

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

Price: 23.95 USD

Visited this place?

6. Paddle along the lake with Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa (from 367 USD)

Kayak
Source: Unsplash

Popular for its great location by the lake, take a look out of any window at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa and you’ll either see trees, blue skies and Lake Arrowhead. If the resort’s outdoor pool isn’t enough, head to the private beach area for some water sport activities. Kayaking tours are one of the hottest things to do during summer and these tours are planned by the resort for all guests.

Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa

Address: 27984 CA-189, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States (see map)

Price: from 367 USD

Star Rating: 4-star

Travelers Review: Good 7.2 (from 228 reviews)

Visited this place?

7. Get the best photos of your hike to the hot springs with a photographer (from USD 80.0)

The best time to go on a hike to the hot springs is during winter. With temperatures ranging from 65 to 118 degrees, this is the best time to relax and swim in natural hot springs as if summer never left. Plus, the hot springs and surrounding nature will make the best backdrop for Instagram-worthy photos. While you hike to the hot springs, Echo, your photographer for the trip will snap candid photos along the way, so you can take home tangible memories from your trip in Lake Arrowhead.

Visited this place?

Hot Springs Hike With Photographer

Duration: 6 hours

186 reviews

8. De-stress and improve muscle strength in a yoga class at Bullworx Fitness

Yoga
Source: Unsplash

Working out at Bullworx Fitness feels more like a therapeutic workout than a hardcore one. The gym offers a wide range of classes daily, from strength training to yoga and meditation classes. Set within tall pine trees, Bullworx Fitness is all about fitness combined with spiritual meaning. The gym offers Jnana-Hatha yoga, which combines classic yoga movements with focus on our inner being. Bullworx Fitness also offers restorative yoga, which welcomes people of all ages and life stories.

Bullworx Fitness

Address: 29001 Oak Terrace, Cedar Glen, CA 92321, United States

Website: Bullworx Fitness

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6am - 7pm; Sun: 9am - 5pm

Visited this place?

9. Look for unique pieces from over 50 waterfront shops at Lake Arrowhead Village

Lake Arrowhead Village, California
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user shadowhound used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Lake Arrowhead Village is a favourite central place for locals and tourists alike to meet and hang out. The village is essentially an outdoor shopping mall, with over 50 waterfront shops offering dining, entertainment and shopping activities. Mountain Arts Network & Gallery and Papagayos are also located within Lake Arrowhead Village. You can also find Belgian waffles, fitness centre and luxury brand Coach housed in one of the iconic cottage-style structures, giving the mall its village vibes.

Lake Arrowhead Village

Address: 28200 CA-189 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352

Website: Lake Arrowhead Village

Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 7pm

Visited this place?

10. Find your favorite tea flavor at The Tea & Coffee Exchange

Cafe
Source: Unsplash

For the best tea experience, head to The Tea & Coffee Exchange. While most patrons get their drinks to-go, it is recommended for you to enjoy your drink at the shop as not only are there over 95 teas and organic coffee to choose from, The Tea & Coffee Exchange also offers freshly baked panini, croissants and crepes. Besides tea and coffee, their smoothies have also received rave reviews from visitors.

The Tea & Coffee Exchange

Address: 28200 CA-189 Suite S250, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352, United States

Website: The Tea & Coffee Exchange

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 6pm

Visited this place?

Discover the best getaway within nature

With lots of fun things to do, Lake Arrowhead is nothing short of a perfect getaway. You may not find towering skyscrapers filled with shops after shops but instead, thick forests and vast blue lake will keep you entertained in its own naturalistic way. Whether you like adventure or searching for a laid-back getaway to reconnect with nature, there’s one for all in this list of the 10 best things to do in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of the attractions / restaurants may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from the websites. 

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

I believe that the world is a museum, if we look carefully enough.

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Lake Arrowhead
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.