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Lake Arrowhead, CA Recommendations from a Local
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items I live in Lake Arrowhead and get asked all the time where to eat, what to do, and what’s actually worth it when visiting. This list is a mix of my favorite local spots and helpful things to have if you’re coming up the mountain.
Map
Sections
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Eat & Drink Local Favorites
What To Do In Lake Arrowhead, CA
Where To Stay/Cabin Life Must-Haves
Eat & Drink Local Favorites
Restaurants, cafés, and spots in Lake Arrowhead that I genuinely love, frequent, and happily recommend.
This is hands down by far the best restaurant in lake arrowhead area. Chef Bev the owner makes every dish farm to table. Locally sourced and is delicious! Lots of vegan and vegetarian options. My family orders from here at least once a week!
Spade & Spatula-Ca. Gastropub
As a local this is one of my favorite places to go! The owners are local and awesome! The Beer is brewed on site. They have seasonal brews it's right by the lake and Village “adjacent”. It's the most fun place to take friends when they come up! The l...
Lake Arrowhead Brewing Company
This is our “go to” restaurant for taking friends and family when they visit and want to see the lake! The views are spectacular (we usually do the 4th here also). The food is good the bar is great! The staff is super friendly and it's another good l...
Lakefront Taproom
This is my family's favorite mexican on the mountain! The staff is super friendly, the food is authentic excellent mexican and they are always up for adding/subtracting ingredients to customize it for us. We order from here often. It's a little out o...
El Pájaro Azul Mexican Grill
Located smack in the middle of the village this is my favorite local coffee and tea place! They make amazing latte's, tea's, and have everything you need to customize it. They also have yummy pastries and gelato if you need a quick bite. One of my fa...
Tea & Coffee Exchange
This is my family's favorite “fast food” if we want to pick something up fast. They have delicious bowls and have tofu for the vegans. They also have a great variety of Kombucha's. It conviently located in the Village and quick.
Rippin Bowls
If you want donuts, bakery items, the best bread in town then head to Jensen's Grocery Store in Blue Jay! They have the BEST BAKERY on the mountain!! They even do a “Dossant” which is their version of a cronut. They have home made donuts, cakes, cupc...
Jensen's Blue Jay Bakery (and Grocery)
This is a fun locals bar and we go here for drinks, pool, meetups and Tuesday night sushi. Yep that's right. If you want excellent sushi on the mountain head on over to Dogwood's the sushi chef is there on Tuesdays and is excellent. The draft beers a...
Dogwood Tavern
What To Do In Lake Arrowhead, CA
My favorite things to do in Lake Arrowhead, including great options even if you don’t have a lake access pass.
If you want an easy hike that is easily accessible and is really pretty this is the trail for you. I don't do this one often (we hike our backyard and it's more advanced) BUT when I have friends and guests who want an easier hiking trail this is wher...
Dogwood Campground Loop, California - 2716 Reviews, Map
This is one of my favorite places on the mountain! It's so fun to take people and you get to learn about the local flora and fauna. It's peaceful, educational, and a great day out!
Heaps Peak Arboretum
If it's the warmer season and you want to have some fun on the lake book a ski session with McKenie Ski School! It's the ONLY way to be on a boat on the lake without knowing a local and it's super fun! They even have lessons if you need it. The staff...
McKenzie's WaterSki School
So this is our “downtown” here in Lake Arrowhead. It has a new look (recently renovated) and has new big fire places and open areas to walk. You get great views of the lake and some decent stores to shop at. Some of my favorite places I go as a local...
Lake Arrowhead Village
This is a tucked away hidden gem here on the Mountain. I love our little mountain museum and it's worth a stop in for some local history and fun. This is a great outing to do with the kids also!
The Mountain History Museum - Rim of the World Historical Society
This is a gorgeous hike. It's intermediate to advanced depending on where you go (if you are climbing the rocks). My family loves this hike, we actually catch it from our backyard trail which is Tunnel Trail. Make sure you are preppared with proper h...
Pinnacles Trailhead
If you want to do a fun family activity that isn't outside hiking or on the lake I highly recommend Rim Bowling in Crestline. It's on minutes away from Lake Arrowhead and is a fun family time!
Rim Bowling & Entertainment Center
Where To Stay/Cabin Life Must-Haves
Where I’ve stayed, or my friends and family have stayed, and what I recommend bringing when visiting Lake Arrowhead as a local.
This is the ONLY larger place I have my friends and family stay in Lake Arrowhead! The UCLA Lodge is gorgeous, sprawling acrage, lake front beach, activities and a great restaurant. (we have local nights for the restaurants). It's not always available for the public to stay here but it's way better than the only other place to stay...
UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge