Lake Arrowhead Lake Access: Who Gets On the Water
The lake is private, but there are three doors in: own (or be hosted by someone who owns) an Arrowhead Woods property with ALA membership; stay at a resort with private lake access; or ride the Arrowhead Queen tour boat from the Village — $26.95 adults / $24.95 seniors / $19.95 kids 2–11, no membership needed.
The facts
- Public boating/swimming
- Not permitted — ALA members & registered guests only
- Arrowhead Queen tour
- $26.95 adult / $24.95 senior / $19.95 child (2–11), infants free
- Tour times
- 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:00 (1-hour narrated cruise)
- Kayaks & SUPs
- ALA decal + boater registration required — no public launching
- Fishing
- ALA members/guests only from shore or boat
- ALA office
- (909) 337-2595
Getting there
28200 Highway 189, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
Phone: (909) 336-6992 (Arrowhead Queen)
Get directions →Door #1: ALA membership (property owners and their guests)
The Arrowhead Lake Association owns the lake, and membership is tied to property: homes inside the Arrowhead Woods boundary carry deeded lake rights, and their owners can join the ALA to swim at the beach clubs, keep or launch boats, and fish. Members can bring registered guests — the practical route onto the water for most visitors is simply knowing a member.
What membership does not transfer to: short-term renters. Booking an Airbnb in Arrowhead Woods doesn't come with the owner's lake rights, so if a listing promises 'lake access,' make the host spell out exactly what that means before you book. Questions go to the ALA at (909) 337-2595.
Door #2: resort and lodging access
The Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa, on the water next to the Village, maintains a private beach area on the lake for registered hotel guests — the main way to touch the water without owning property. Amenities and rules (swimming vs. lounging, seasonal hours, watercraft) change; confirm what's currently included at (909) 336-1511 before booking a trip around it.
A small number of other lodgings advertise lake privileges through their own arrangements. Treat every such claim the same way: ask specifically what you can do, where, and in what season — and get it in writing.
Door #3: the Arrowhead Queen (anyone can ride)
The one no-strings way onto Lake Arrowhead is the Arrowhead Queen, a Mississippi-style paddlewheeler running one-hour narrated cruises from the Village waterfront. Tickets in 2026: $26.95 adults, $24.95 seniors, $19.95 children 2–11, infants free — sold at LeRoy's Boardshop, dockside in the Village (28200 Hwy 189), with departures at 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, and 5:00. Private charters are available.
It's genuinely worthwhile: the shoreline tour of celebrity-history mansions and the lake's odd private history is the only way most visitors will ever see Arrowhead from the water. Book ahead on summer weekends; boats fill. Info: (909) 336-6992.
Kayaks, SUPs, and boats: the decal rules
Every watercraft on Lake Arrowhead — down to the smallest paddleboard — must carry a current ALA decal, and paddlers need ALA membership or guest registration (paddleboarders additionally need an ALA boater's card). Lake patrol checks. There is no public launch ramp, and bringing your own kayak up the mountain won't change any of that.
Want to actually paddle or launch a boat? Silverwood Lake, 30 minutes away, has a public launch ($10/vessel) and rentals; Lake Gregory and Green Valley Lake rent kayaks, SUPs, and rowboats on-site in season (private craft rules vary — check each lake's page).
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors ride a boat on Lake Arrowhead?
Yes — the Arrowhead Queen tour boat is open to everyone: $26.95 adults, $24.95 seniors, $19.95 children 2–11, one-hour narrated cruises from Lake Arrowhead Village with departures between 11am and 5pm. It's the only public way onto the water.
Can I bring my own kayak or paddleboard to Lake Arrowhead?
Not unless you're an ALA member or registered guest — every craft needs a current ALA decal and there's no public launch. Silverwood Lake (30 min) is the nearest public launch; Lake Gregory and Green Valley Lake rent paddle craft in season.
How do you get lake rights at Lake Arrowhead?
By owning property in the Arrowhead Woods boundary and joining the Arrowhead Lake Association. Lake rights are deeded to the property — they can't be bought separately, and they don't transfer to short-term renters.
Can hotel guests use the lake?
Guests of the Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa get access to the resort's private beach area on the lake. Exactly what's included varies by season — confirm with the resort at (909) 336-1511.
Can you fish Lake Arrowhead?
Only as an ALA member or registered guest. For public fishing, Lake Gregory (stocked trout) and Green Valley Lake are open to everyone with a California fishing license, and Silverwood is a well-known striper and largemouth lake.
Facts on this page last verified July 17, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.