The Best Hotels to Book in Lake Arrowhead, California

Sitting snugly among the pines of the San Bernardino National Forest and adjacent to the lake, this chalet-style lodge in Lake Arrowhead comes with 50 acres (20ha) of leafy space. Most of the rooms include a fireplace and a deck with panoramic mountain or lake views. As well as hiking in the grounds or in the mountains, you can hit the 24-hour fitness center, splash in the outdoor swimming pool or relax in the indoor hot tub. There are seemingly endless ways to play, with tennis, volleyball, basketball, softball, foosball on offer, as well as a rock wall and a ropes course. You’ll have earned your lamb chops washed down with a glass of red for dinner.

This quaint mountain inn dates back to 1935. Wake up and breathe in the fresh air before a breakfast of home-made muffins and fresh bread. Now you’re set up for a day of activities at outdoor adventure park SkyPark at Santa’s Village. When you’re back, check out the view over the San Bernardino Valley to the twinkling lights of Los Angeles, then cozy up in your chintzy suite with a hot cocoa.

This gated chalet-style resort, a 10-minute walk from the lakefront, offers cute cottages equipped with kitchens, barbecues and decks for soaking up that pure air. There’s a ’60s feel to the place, with floral armchairs to sink into by the stone fireplace and plenty of orange pine. Lake Arrowhead Village is 1.5mi (2.5km) away, and the ski slopes of Snow Valley Mountain Resort around 18mi (29km) away.

This private vacation home in Lake Arrowhead offers a taste of mountain style with a stone fireplace, antlers on the walls and plenty of wood around the place. Three bedrooms open to patios, so you can soak in the tranquil feeling of being up in the mountains the minute you wake. Nearby, there’s SkyPark at Santa’s Village and Snow Valley Mountain Resort – or you can explore Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area and Village Bay.

This historic lodge-style hotel dating back to 1919 has hosted many of the most famous residents of Southern California, including countless movie stars. Hugged by cedar and pine trees near the entrance to Lake Arrowhead Village, it’s settled back into the forest along quaint cobblestone pathways, so it’s super-private. Enjoy rooms with large queen or king beds and gas log fireplaces; some cottages will even let you bring your pooch. Don’t miss a dip in the indoor salt water pool.

High up at 5,100ft (1,554m), Arrowhead Tree Top Lodge is fittingly named. Its architecture is perfectly blended into the topography of the local environment, offering a feeling of peace, and the fragrant scent of pine trees will inspire you, whether you’re enjoying a romantic getaway or a family adventure. Rustic rooms naturally feature lots of wood and soft furnishings, and some have kitchens and fireplaces. In balmy weather, dip in the outside pool and cook up a feast on the barbecue – everything tastes better cooked outside, after all.