The San Bernardino Mountain Communities

Lake Arrowhead is the crown jewel of the San Bernardino Mountains — a private alpine lake ringed by dogwood, cedar, and pine, less than two hours from Orange County and Los Angeles. From storybook cabins in Arrowhead Woods to lakefront estates with private docks, the market here spans every price point of mountain living.

Running Springs sits at the crossroads of the mountain — where CA-18 and CA-330 meet — putting Snow Valley ski resort, SkyPark at Santa's Village, Lake Arrowhead, and Big Bear all within minutes. It is the community Cyndi calls home, and it consistently offers some of the best value per square foot in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Crestline is the first town travelers reach on the Rim of the World Highway, wrapped around Lake Gregory Regional Park — a public lake with a swim beach, fishing, and a waterpark in the summer. It is famously the most accessible and most affordable of the major mountain communities.

Twin Peaks is the quiet stretch of the mountain between Crestline and Lake Arrowhead — a community of tall timber, historic lodges, and homes tucked along winding forest lanes. Residents love that they are minutes from both Lake Gregory and Lake Arrowhead Village while living in genuine forest seclusion.

Blue Jay is Lake Arrowhead's walkable village neighbor — home to shops, restaurants, the beloved Jensen's market, and the ice rink where Olympic skaters have trained. Living in Blue Jay means village conveniences at your doorstep and Lake Arrowhead Village five minutes away.

Cedar Glen is the rustic, creekside quarter on Lake Arrowhead's east shore — a community of vintage cabins, artist studios, and the landmark Cedar Glen Malt Shop. It offers the Arrowhead lifestyle at some of the area's most attainable prices.

Skyforest clings to the southern rim of the mountain, where clear evenings deliver hundred-mile views across the valley to Catalina Island. It is best known today as the home of SkyPark at Santa's Village — the adventure park whose bike trails, ziplines, and holiday festivities draw families year-round.

Big Bear is Southern California's four-season resort town: two ski resorts, a seven-mile lake, and one of the strongest vacation-rental markets in the state. From A-frame ski cabins in Moonridge to lakefront estates on Big Bear Lake's north shore, the market serves everyone from first-time investors to luxury buyers.

Arrowbear Lake is the small community that travelers pass between Running Springs and Snow Valley — and the ones who stop discover a tiny lake, a tight-knit cabin community, and some of the most honest values on the mountain.

At roughly 7,000 feet, Green Valley Lake is the highest lake community in Southern California — a hidden hamlet reached by a winding spur road off CA-18, centered on a quiet trout-stocked lake with a swim beach.