Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA): Membership & Lake Rights Explained

What the Arrowhead Lake Association actually is

The Arrowhead Lake Association, usually called the ALA, is the private, member-owned organization that holds Lake Arrowhead's use rights. The Village waterfront may look public, but the docks, beach clubs, and lake surface are controlled by the ALA, whose patrol enforces the rules on the water.

ALA membership is attached to real estate, not to people. Lake rights are deeded to qualifying properties inside Arrowhead Woods, roughly the neighborhoods around the lake. Buy one of those properties and you can join; own a home outside the boundary and you cannot buy your way in.

Who can join, and who can't

There is no public ALA membership. Owners of Arrowhead Woods properties with deeded lake rights are eligible; the eligibility comes with the property.

The public, day visitors, and most owners just beyond the Arrowhead Woods line are not eligible, even with a lake view. If lake access drives a purchase, get the parcel's lake-rights status in writing before closing.

Dues and eligibility rules can change, so confirm your case with the ALA office at (909) 337-2595 instead of relying on a listing summary.

Guests, renters, and resort guests

Three groups get on the water through someone else's rights:

Registered guests of members — members can bring or register guests under ALA rules; guests generally need to be accompanied or registered by the member.

Short-term renters — renting a vacation home inside Arrowhead Woods does not automatically give you lake rights. Some rentals advertise lake access through special arrangements with the owner; treat that as a claim to verify with both the host and the ALA before you pay, not a guarantee.

Resort guests — the Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa has its own private beach for registered hotel guests, which is a separate arrangement from ALA membership. What's permitted (swimming, dock use, watercraft) varies, so confirm with the resort when you book.

Boats, kayaks, and the decal rule

Every watercraft on Lake Arrowhead — including kayaks and paddleboards — needs a current ALA decal, and the person using it needs ALA membership or guest registration. Non-members cannot launch a personal kayak here: there is no public ramp.

For public paddling, Lake Gregory and Green Valley Lake rent kayaks and paddleboards to anyone.

If you don't have ALA access

You can still enjoy the lake without membership — you just can't get in it. Anyone can ride the Arrowhead Queen tour boat from the Village (no membership needed), walk the waterfront, and shop and eat there.

For actual swimming, three public mountain lakes are 15–30 minutes away: Lake Gregory (closest, with a sand beach and waterpark), Green Valley Lake (the quiet one), and Silverwood Lake. The full rundown is on our swimming guide and the "can you swim in Lake Arrowhead" explainer.