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

Eligible Arrowhead Woods rental guests can access the lake through ALA’s registration process. Confirm your host’s registration, the required access card and photo ID before arrival. Beach clubs and ALA-owned docks are excluded; an owner’s private dock and boat use have additional requirements. See the current lake-access guide and ALA access update.

ALA also publishes access-card provisions for eligible owners who do not join. Membership benefits and underlying property access are different; confirm your category directly with ALA.

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

If you have no authorized private-lake access, you can still visit the Village and take a sightseeing cruise. 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.