Free Sledding Near Lake Arrowhead
The free, official place to sled near Lake Arrowhead is the San Bernardino National Forest's Rim of the World Snow Play Area: three stretches of National Forest land along Highway 18 between Crest Park and Snow Valley. The Forest Service lists no fee except the parking pass: when snow is present you need an Adventure Pass ($5 a day or $30 a year) to park, and you must be legally parked. It lists no drinking water and gives no restroom information, so come prepared. Don't sled from the roadside: San Bernardino County says snow play on the roadway is illegal in its mountain communities.
The facts
- Status
- Open to snow play when there's snow; on October 20, 2026 the Forest Service page showed "No Snow" and "Site Closed" (page last updated January 14, 2026)
- Cost
- No fee listed except parking: an Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year) or an interagency pass when snow is present
- Season
- Whenever there's snow, roughly December–March
- Parking
- Legally parked only; no roadside snow play
- Check before you go
- The Forest Service snow-play page for current conditions, and roads.dot.ca.gov for chain control
Getting there
Where the Forest Service says to sled
The San Bernardino National Forest lists three stretches of its Rim of the World Snow Play Area, all along Highway 18:
Crest Park Picnic Area to Switzer Picnic Area. East of Santa's Village to just east of Heaps Peak / Allison Ranch Road. Green Valley Lake Road to the east highway gates in Snow Valley.
The Forest Service's page links a map of the snow-play areas; check it before you go so you stay on National Forest land. The same page shows current conditions. On October 20, 2026 it read "No Snow" and "Site Closed".
Parking and the Adventure Pass
The Forest Service lists no fee for the snow play itself, only for parking. When snow is present, an Adventure Pass is required: $5 a day or $30 a year. Interagency passes are also accepted. Buy one before you drive up; our sister site lists where to buy an Adventure Pass.
The Forest Service's rules are short: vehicles must be legally parked, don't trespass on private land, and pack out what you pack in. The Forest Service says potable water is not available and gives no restroom information, so bring what you need.
Where not to sled
Not on the roadside. San Bernardino County says snow play on the roadway is illegal in its mountain communities, with fines of up to $150 or more and tow-aways. It asks visitors to play only in designated recreation areas and to obey no-parking signs.
Not on private land. The Forest Service's rule is simply "Do not trespass on private lands." Stay on National Forest land and off anyone's yard or driveway.
Not toward traffic or obstacles. The Forest Service asks sledders to pick spots "well away from roads and highways and without nearby obstructions like rocks and trees," and notes that throwing snowballs at motor vehicles is against the law.
When a paid park is worth it
At the forest areas you walk back up every run. With small kids, a tubing park is often the better day: Snowdrift provides tubes and charges by the hour, cash only, and Snow Valley's Coyote Creek Tube Park has a moving carpet back to the top and includes its snow-play area. Both are compared in the snow play & sledding guide. Rim Nordic, across the street from Snow Valley, doesn't allow sleds (child pulks only with approval).
Getting there on a snow day
Every stretch is on Highway 18, which gets chain control during and after storms. Under the most common control, R2, chains are required on every vehicle except 4WD or AWD with snow tires on all four wheels, and those vehicles must still carry chains. Check roads.dot.ca.gov before you leave, go early, and read the chains & road conditions guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free sledding near Lake Arrowhead?
Yes. The San Bernardino National Forest's Rim of the World Snow Play Area covers three stretches along Highway 18 between Crest Park and Snow Valley. The only fee it lists is for parking: an Adventure Pass when snow is present.
Do you need an Adventure Pass to sled near Lake Arrowhead?
To park at the Forest Service snow-play areas when snow is present, yes: $5 a day or $30 a year. Interagency passes are also accepted.
Can you sled on the side of the road?
No. San Bernardino County says snow play on the roadway is illegal in its mountain communities, with fines of up to $150 or more and tow-aways. Park legally and sled in a designated area.
Are there restrooms at the free snow-play areas?
The Forest Service says potable water is not available and gives no restroom information for the Rim of the World Snow Play Area, so bring water and plan stops in town.
Can you sled at Rim Nordic?
No. Rim Nordic is a cross-country ski and snowshoe area and posts "NO SLEDS OF ANY KIND"; child pulks are allowed only with approval.
Facts on this page last verified October 20, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.