Lake Gregory vs Green Valley Lake
Pick Lake Gregory if you want the full swim-park day — a real sand beach, twin waterslides, an inflatable aqua park, and lifeguards, ~15 minutes from the Village. Pick Green Valley Lake if you want quiet — a small, mellow, high-elevation (6,800 ft) beach with cooler water and far fewer people, ~25 minutes out. Gregory is the family-outing default; Green Valley is the escape-the-crowds pick.
The facts
- Open to the public
- Yes — both are public swim beaches (unlike Lake Arrowhead itself)
- Cost
- Gregory ~$17–$32/day; Green Valley day pass sold at the beach
- Drive from Lake Arrowhead
- Gregory ~15 min; Green Valley ~25 min from the Village
Getting there
Get directions →The short version
If you have kids who want waterslides and don't mind a crowd, go to Lake Gregory. If you want a calm beach day with room to breathe and cooler mountain air, go to Green Valley Lake. Both are public: unlike Lake Arrowhead itself, anyone can walk up and swim.
Lake Gregory: the full-featured swim park
Lake Gregory in Crestline is the closest and busiest public swim option — about 15 minutes from Lake Arrowhead Village. It has a proper sand swim beach with lifeguards, two big waterslides, and an inflatable aqua park out on the water. Day-use swim fees run roughly $17 general to $32 all-access (kids 3 and under free), with paid ParkMobile parking on top ($10/day max). The swim season is Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10am–5pm.
The tradeoff is crowds: on a hot summer weekend the beach and lots fill, and it feels like a water park, not a wilderness lake. Dogs aren't allowed on the swim beach. Come early, or come midweek.
Green Valley Lake: small, quiet, and higher
Green Valley Lake sits at about 6,800 feet — the highest lake in the San Bernardino range — roughly 25 minutes east of the Village. The swim beach is small and low-key: a sand beach, calmer water, and a fraction of Gregory's crowd. You buy a day swim pass right at the beach; parking is a small free lot plus street parking. The beach is open roughly early May through October, with swimming Memorial Day–Labor Day (10am–4pm weekdays, 10am–5pm weekends).
The higher elevation means cooler water and cooler air — a plus on a 90° valley day, a minus if you want bathwater-warm swimming. There are no waterslides or inflatables; the draw is exactly that it's quiet.
How to choose
Choose Lake Gregory for: young kids who want slides and the aqua park, a lifeguarded beach, the shortest drive, and a classic busy-beach-day vibe. Choose Green Valley Lake for: escaping crowds, a mellower swim, cooler air, and a smaller, more natural setting — if you don't mind the extra 10 minutes and the lack of amenities.
Either way, check the official beach status before you go: mountain lakes occasionally post algae or water-quality advisories in late summer, and Green Valley's small lot fills on peak weekends. If both are packed, Silverwood Lake (~30 min, two large state-park beaches) is the overflow option.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Gregory or Green Valley Lake better for kids?
Lake Gregory, for most families — it has waterslides, an inflatable aqua park, lifeguards, and a bigger sand beach. Green Valley Lake is better for families who want a quiet, mellow beach day without the crowds or the extra activities.
Which is closer to Lake Arrowhead, Lake Gregory or Green Valley Lake?
Lake Gregory (Crestline) is closer — about 15 minutes from Lake Arrowhead Village. Green Valley Lake is about 25 minutes east.
Can you swim in both Lake Gregory and Green Valley Lake?
Yes. Both have public swim beaches open roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, unlike Lake Arrowhead itself, which is private and members-only.
Which lake is less crowded?
Green Valley Lake. It's smaller, higher (6,800 ft), and farther out, so it draws far fewer people than Lake Gregory's full-featured swim park.
Facts on this page last verified July 28, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.