Looking for an escape from it all? Check out our latest post where we’ll take you along the best hikes in Lake Arrowhead. Kevin visited Lake Arrowhead for the first time a few years back with our friend Kim, while I was on a work trip in Alaska. And what a great little find. Known as “The Alps of Southern California,” — given its high altitude — Lake Arrowhead is one of the best kept secret on the West Coast.
In the summer, you’ll find families and outdoor lovers of all types gathered around the lake and hitting the nature trails. In the winter, we’re told its winter activities like snowshoeing and sledding. Though, that’s all hearsay. We’ve never been here in the winter. I gave up on snow when I moved to LA!
Where is Lake Arrowhead? And How Do I Get there?
Located high in the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest, Lake Arrowhead is only a 2 hour drive east of Los Angeles (or less without traffic) and 3 hours north east of San Diego. It is located high in the mountains so keep the seasons in mind when traveling here. Heavy snow typically falls from December through the end of February. But always check the conditions before setting out. You’ll need chains up here in the winter. Plus, four-wheel drive is probably not a bad idea either.
Why Are the Best Hikes in Lake Arrowhead?
If you’re like me, you might be wondering, “Why should I drive all the way to Lake Arrowhead, when I have great hiking where I’m at?” Good question. What you’ll find in Lake Arrowhead is so different than most of California. Or as the locals in Lake Arrowhead say, “the flatlands.”
LA and so many of the desert communities, provide your typical sandy, desolate hiking conditions. You know, where your shoes end up getting filled up with sand and you slap on SPF 50 since there is virtually zero shade. Lake Arrowhead offers a cool, pine-scented escape at about 2,060 meters high. Meaning: you are in store for some incredible views without having to work too hard (since you’re already on top of a mountain!).
We’ll take you along 3 very different hikes — the ones we think are the best hikes in Lake Arrowhead. And break down what makes them so unique. Plus, we’ll share the best spots to eat afterwards since you’ll likely be hungry. You know our true motivation to hiking (brunch!). Don’t judge, we’re from LA after all. Check out our journey.
3. Best Hikes in Lake Arrowhead: Dogwood Campground Loop (Easy 3.3 mile hike)
The Dogwood Campground Loop is one of the best trails you can do — especially for families. You’ll truly feel like you’ve escaped into the wilderness, passing by curious squirrels, lizards and other forest animals all looking for food. We suggest arriving here early — before 9 AM — since there is no parking at the campground. Parking is first come, first serve along Daley Canyon Access Road. You can’t miss it since it’s located just by the campground sign (and you’ll likely see other cars lined up).
You’re literally about a 1 minute walk to the trailhead, located right after the Dogwood Canyon Campground sign. It’s immediately to your left and goes down a little hill.
The 3.3 mile trail has some slight inclines, but overall is pretty easy, breezy. We highly recommend following along on the map on the All Trails app.
The first half of the hike is pretty easy to follow, but once we got into the campground, we got a little lost. You will be walking on some roads at this point. But since it’s a private campground, it won’t be too busy. Just keep your eyes open for cars if you have little ones that can run off.
The trail seemed a lot longer the 3.3 miles (though truth be told, we did get lost a few times). After doing the loop, you’ll arrive right back at your car and are just a short 5 minute drive to Lake Arrowhead Village where you can enjoy a well-deserved lunch at Jettie’s Waterfront Kitchen.
Jettie’s is great if you’ve got kids (since it’s loud) or are a bunch of friends (given the fun vibe). There is outdoor seating along the lake and cool, indoor seating. It’s pretty casual — order at the front counter, where you’re given a number for the server to deliver your food and drinks. They even have a full bar. Mimosa’s for everyone! Just kidding. We stuck to milk (for the kids) and coffee for the dads.
2. Lake Gregory: A Flat Walk Along the Water (2.3 Miles)
There are several mountain communities you can explore beyond Lake Arrowhead — with the tiny community of Crestline being one of our favorite spots. It’s here where you’ll find Lake Gregory, which opens up for swimming and activities in the summer. When we visited, it was actually the very first day of the season (over Memorial Day weekend). We’re not beach people so we stuck to the trail, which is a mostly flat 2.3 miles walk around the lake.
If it isn’t a busy holiday weekend, we suggest parking at the Goodwin and Sons grocery store parking lot. But do keep in mind on the busier holiday weekends, they are known to tow the cars if you are there too long (or not shopping). With that said, you’ll find plenty of street parking nearby as well.
This is a nice and easy trail — giving you a chance to see all the lake activity. On our hike, we saw plenty of locals fishing here and just enjoying some quiet time lounging by the lake. We followed the map along the All Trails app, but it’s virtually impossible to get lost on this one. If you make a wrong turn, you’ll know since you’ll end up in the lake! It was such a beautiful spot, and best of all? After the hike, you can drive 30 seconds into town to enjoy some brownies from Espie Bakes (get the gooey fudge brownies and thank us later). Or a coffee from Paradise Mountain Coffee right in downtown Crestline.
Also, you’ll definitely want to check out the soda fountain inside Goodwin and Sons grocery store. Okay, we couldn’t help ourselves and ordered a cream soda. We earned these calories (our true motivation for hiking!).
1. Best Hikes in Lake Arrowhead: Mill Peak Trail (Hard, 3.7 miles)
If you’re looking for a more strenuous trail, look no further than the Mill Peak Trail. You’ll definitely want to follow along on the All Trails app. Though keep in mind that cell service is pretty limited on most of the trails around Lake Arrowhead. Parking is pretty limited at the trailhead with tiny parking spaces located on both sides of the main road. So arrive early for the best parking options.
Even though this is a much tougher trail than the other two listed, it’s still doable with the family. We hit the trail going clockwise and felt the burn as we headed up the mountainside.
It’s listed as “moderate” on the All Trails app but we both felt it edged much more into the “hard” category. There is one section where we literally were scaling the steep trail — taking 3 steps forward and slipping 2 steps back (or so it felt like!). The trail eventually takes you up to the top where you’ll get views of the lowlands below. It’s truly beautiful. It’s also one of the less popular trails so you won’t likely see many people along your trek.
After wrapping up your hike, head back to the car and make the side trip to Keller Peak Fire Lookout. During our visit, the lookout tower interior was closed due to COVID-19. But it’s still worth making the journey to chat with the lookout ranger and hear what it takes to be a volunteer. In one word: peaceful. Though our ranger volunteer was very chatty. Clearly, he didn’t see many people this weekend besides us!
As with all of our hikes, we love a good meal after. We suggest backtracking (30 minutes) towards Lake Arrowhead where you can grab some Mexican food with a view at Hortencias at the Cliffhanger. We sat down and saw a mountain climber right outside the window. I was amazed and thought it was the coolest thing ever (while Kevin hoped she didn’t plunge to her death before our very eyes). Yikes, dark Kevin…Someone get this guy some chips and dip to put a smile on his face!
There you have it! The best hikes in Lake Arrowhead with a side of snacking and coffee. Yep, what else would you expect from us? Looking for other ideas of things to do in Lake Arrowhead? Check out our recommendations for a first-time visitor to Lake Arrowhead. Like road trips? Visit our top picks for a weekend in Joshua Tree for your next vacation in lockdown. Finally, check out all of our quarantine ideas including a drag queen, sangria-making class. Obviously, we haven’t skipped a virtual activity idea that exists!
