By Cordelia Bergin, SB Presidio Staffer
 

 
If you love spending summers in or around Lake Tahoe, but if you find yourself in Southern California instead, Lake Arrowhead is the place to go. Located in the San Bernardino Mountains just east of Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead provides a Lake Tahoe-esque experience that is perfect for a day trip when you want to experience nature in Southern California. Lake Arrowhead is a smaller area than Lake Tahoe and Big Bear (Tahoe’s Southern California equivalent as far as I’m aware) and closer to Los Angeles, but there is still plenty to see and do for adults and families alike. In this guide, I’ll be outlining the amazing trip that I had to Lake Arrowhead over Memorial Day weekend and including a packing list and other suggestions since I didn’t even get a chance to experience everything in one day.

The Basics

 
The most important part of any day trip is making sure you pack everything you need for all of the fun activities you’ll be participating in. Since our trip included hiking, water sports, and casual exploration of the village, versatility was key. Here’s what I recommend:

Hiking shoes

I was wearing Hoka Arahi 6’s since I didn’t have my usual hiking boots (Columbia Crestwood Waterproof). They’re technically road-running shoes, but I didn’t have any issues on the trails we were on. I would recommend trail runners or actual hiking shoes for hiking though if you’ve got them! I have friends who enjoy the Hoka Torrents and Columbia Newton Ridge.
 

Hiking socks

To go with your hiking shoes/trail runners! I have a pair of Merino wool Darn Tough socks that are comfortable, cute, and great at wicking sweat.
 

Water shoes

For when you visit the lakes and enjoy your water activity! I was wearing Birkenstock Arizona Eva’s which are waterproof, but any flip-flop or sandal will work.
 

Daypack/backpack

I don’t go anywhere without my Osprey Daylite Plus and highly recommend it for both casual use and adventures in nature. Backpacks are great so that you can always have layers, water, sunscreen, and snacks while still being hands-free.

What goes in my backpack

 
Water (absolutely necessary!)

I hiked and kayaked with a 20 oz Hydro Flask to keep my water cold all day and kept a 32 oz Hydro Flask in my car to refill the smaller bottle.
 

Snacks

I like to always carry a protein bar (Builder’s or Rx) and apple slices (Stasher bags are a sustainable alternative to Ziploc bags) since I get hungry easily. If you want to save money, packing a lunch is also a great idea. I use Stasher bags for snacks and a Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar for an entree.
 

Sunscreen (self-explanatory)

I always carry a small tube of SunBum SPF 70.
 

Layers

I prefer to be prepared for any climate that I might encounter out in nature, so I always have a light long-sleeve layer (I recommend Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily for added UPF) and a windbreaker.
 

Sunhat

A big floppy one to protect your face and your neck is the best way to go (like this one from Outdoor Research), but I only had my fun bucket hat from Patagonia for this trip.
 

Sunglasses

I love my Sunski Dipseas but also recommend Goodr sunglasses since they’re really affordable at $25-$35.
 

Cameras (optional)

I love taking pictures, especially of nature. I may or may not have been carrying around three different film cameras the entire day!

What to wear

 
I get warm pretty easily so I prefer to hike in shorts, a tank top, and a sun shirt on top. My base outfit for this trip was a pair of Patagonia Baggies that are lightweight and water repellent, an athletic tank top that wicks sweat, and the Patagonia Self-Guided Hike Shirt. I also brought a sweatshirt and sweatpants for the car rides since we left early in the morning and returned later in the evening.
 

 
In general, wear what you feel most comfortable in to hike and possibly get wet! Some people prefer to wear pants when outside for both sun protection and to avoid any unpleasant interactions with plants and animals. Materials that offer sun protection are great so that you don’t have to worry about dangerous exposure. Layers will depend on the weather, but since I recommend visiting Lake Arrowhead during the summer when you can enjoy being outside and in the water, you likely won’t need anything too heavy; lightweight shorts or pants with a lightweight short sleeve or tank top will probably do the job perfectly!

Itinerary

 
Now that you know what you need to pack to have a great day, let’s get into my itinerary recommendations!

8 AM: Head out to the mountains

I know it’s early, but leaving in the morning is the best way to A) beat the traffic that LA is known for and B) maximize your day in the mountains. My friends and I left the west side of LA at 8 AM on a Saturday and it only took 1.5 hours to reach our first destination in the area. Once traffic picks up, it can take up to 3.5 hours, so better to leave early!
 

9:30/10 AM: Take in the beauty of being above the clouds

Our first stops on our trip were scenic viewpoints located along Highway 18. There are quite a few of them on the side of the highway, and you can just pull over whenever you feel inspired. We visited Rim of the World Viewpoint, another viewpoint further also called Rim of the World, Red Rock Scenic Overlook, and other unnamed pullouts. The weeks leading up to Memorial Day Weekend were extremely gloomy in Los Angeles, but once we rose above the clouds on the way up Highway 18, we finally got to feel the sunshine directly on our skin. From the viewpoints, you can see the rolling hills below and Los Angeles through its infamous smog.
 

 
10:30 AM: Hike!

There are a few hikes in the area, and we opted for two before lunchtime. Our first hike was at Will Abell Memorial Trail. We did a 2.25 mile loop with only a 570 ft elevation gain that had plenty of shade and a fun vista point where you can see Lake Arrowhead. We also saw beautiful pink flowers, a coyote, and a few Blue Jays on our hike. The loop took us about 50 minutes total and was a nice way to start our morning. There was free parking onsite, and we had no trouble finding a spot since we were there pretty early. The trail wasn’t crowded at all, and we only saw three other groups spaced pretty far from each other during our hike.

Our second hike was more of a leisurely stroll where we were searching for an overlook of Lake Arrowhead because Google said there was one. We couldn’t find it, but we still took the opportunity to walk and talk. We parked at the end of Old Toll Road off of Highway 189/Grass Valley Road, and it was only a few minute drive away from Will Abell (if you plug in “Forest Overlook of Lake Arrowhead” into Google Maps, it’ll lead you to the road). Old Toll Road is a flat, wide trail that was only about 1 mile one way to the end. It wasn’t paved, but it was just dirt and we saw a family pushing a stroller and a few other families with young children on the road as well. You can also access the back end of the loop of the Will Abell Memorial Trail from Old Toll Road, which we did accidentally end up doing while in search of the supposed overlook. If you don’t opt to follow the uphill trail that leads back to Will Abell, the walk will be very easy and relaxing with plenty of shade.

These two hikes were great to get our bodies moving in the morning and work up an appetite for lunch, but they are not the only options in the area. Our other contenders included Dogwood Campground Loop which is a 3.8 mile loop with 465 ft elevation gain, Lake Gregory Loop which is an easy 2.3 mile loop, and Heart Rock Trail which is a 1.3 mile loop with 272 ft elevation gain with, you guessed it, a rock that has the shape of a heart.
 

12 PM: Lunch at Hortencia’s @ the Cliffhanger

If you like Mexican food and eating on a patio on the side of the cliff, you must visit Hortencia’s. The Mexican restaurant is located right off Highway 18 and has stunning views of the mountains below. The restaurant has indoor and patio seating, both with the ability to take in the view. The patio is partially covered so that you’re not completely baking in the sun, and the sides are full glass panes so that you can see the mountains. Their chips and salsa are delicious, and they have a full assortment of Mexican dishes. While we opted to eat here for lunch, I’m sure that the views during sunset would also be breathtaking.
 

 
If you decide to be economically savvy and pack your lunch, I’d recommend picnicking at Lake Gregory (next stop on the itinerary) or in Lake Arrowhead village (also coming up on the itinerary soon :).
 

2:00 PM: Head to Lake Gregory for water activities

Lake Arrowhead itself is technically private-access only, but Lake Gregory is nearby and publically accessible! This lake is only a 5-minute drive from Hortencia’s and provides the perfect opportunity to swim, play on an inflatable playground on the lake, kayak, stand up paddle board, or fish. There is an entrance fee to the lake (more info found here), but it’s definitely worth it to get out onto the water. You can bring your own water vessel (Sports Basement rents very cool inflatable kayaks and paddleboards) or rent there. My friends and I rented kayaks for an hour, which was the perfect amount of time to loop the whole lake and experience the peace of floating in the water. You also don’t need to pay the entrance fee if you are paying for the water rental!
 

 
If the weather isn’t quite warm enough to be in the water or you prefer staying on land, I’d recommend checking out SkyPark at Santa’s Village. We didn’t get a chance to visit, but the park has a wide range of activities including a bike park, zipline, rock climbing, and more. My friend has visited before and said it was super fun and also great for families.
 

4:00 PM: Explore Lake Arrowhead Village

Now that you’ve seen the areas leading up to Lake Arrowhead, it’s finally time to see the lake itself and the main village. Lake Arrowhead Village is a 20-minute drive from Lake Gregory, and there are a few more scenic viewpoints to pull over to on the way! Once you make it to the village, there is a ton of free parking. We spent the rest of our day in the village exploring the shops and eating. Here were some of the stores we visited that we loved:

• Leroy’s - A cozy retail shop with surfwear brands and souvenirs
• Arrowhead Sporting Goods - A smaller version of your favorite Sports Basement with outdoor gear and clothing
• Village Ice Cream and Sweet Shoppe - Can’t go wrong with ice cream on a summer day. They even have different color cake cones!
• Rocket Fizz - Sometimes you have to let your inner child have some fun and go to a candy store
• Big on Bears - A classic souvenir store with anything you could ever want that says Lake Arrowhead
   

 
Other stores include big-name brands like Pendleton and Coach as well as local shops like Sondra’s (women’s boutique) and Mountain Watch and Clock Works. The village was also putting on a concert event the night that we were there, which looked fun. There are plenty of stores and cafes to wander into in Lake Arrowhead Village, and we also enjoyed just watching people driving their boats around the lake before we set out for dinner.
 

7:30 PM: Dinner at Jettie’s Waterfront Kitchen and Drink

The best time to eat dinner is right before the sun sets so that you can catch the beginning of it while still at the lake and the end of it as you drive back down the mountain. We ate at Jettie’s, one of multiple American restaurant options with a variety of burgers to choose from. There was no wait at Jettie’s while it would have been over an hour at some of the other restaurants (more American and Mexican food, mostly). Jettie’s is casual and family-friendly, and it has great views of the water with both indoor and outdoor seating. Watching the sunlight change the color of the trees that surround the lake was one of the highlights of my day.
 

8:00 PM: Drive back to LA, with another stop or two on the way

The timing of our dinner and drive home could not have been more perfect. By the time we made it back onto Highway 18 and its various scenic vistas, the sunset was leaving a beautiful pink glow in the sky. We had to pull over, of course, and enjoy the view before it was gone. It was a great way to end our day in the mountains, and we didn’t encounter any traffic on our way back to LA either since it was relatively late in the evening.
 

 
As a San Francisco native living in LA for college, I had never heard of Lake Arrowhead until a week before my trip there. I wasn’t sure if such a localized area would fulfill my deep-down desire to be in Lake Tahoe as the weather warms up, but it truly did and I really enjoyed the trip. I got to escape gloomy Los Angeles, see mountains, see water and kayak, eat good food, and explore a cute lakeside village with beautiful views. If you’re looking for a fun day trip where you aren’t exercising too hard but you still get to enjoy nature and explore, Lake Arrowhead is definitely the place to go!