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MacKay Park

4.5 (42 reviews)

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Lake Arrowhead Sunset
Rm L.

Great park for the kids to play on swings, zipline, playground, basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court and run around. Also great sunset views! And bathrooms

Steven B.

I wanted to add this review in for the views mostly. This is not a normal spot you might find when visiting Lake Arrowhead, but it super cool. It is actually a recreational park which has several attractions including a dog bark park, a children's area with swings, a pickelball court, a gazebo area, and last but not least amazing views of Papoose Lake and Lake Arrowhead. It sits up top on the mountain above the ALA. (Association of Lake Arrowhead.) The dog park always had people and dogs and separated by a large and small dog area. This is simply a very nice overlook area. Enjoy.

Dog park
RJ T.

What a great spot in the middle of the 95% day to work. In the back there is a scenic outlook overlooking the lake and its shaded, with a breeze. Fantastic spot to work or read outside if you need a break. The dog park is large, it's a desert-y feel but expansive. There are several pickleball courts, which is awesome, and they are well kept. Around 5 no one was there but by 6:30 they were almost full.

Views from McKay park
Devin B.

With Arrowhead being a private lake finding things for tourist activities is limited. If you have kids venture to McKay park for an afternoon of play and beautiful views. Located above the lake you get some of the best views and perfect breeze coming up the hillside to cool ya down after chasing a toddler. If your solo there's pickle ball courts, basketball courts and body weight workout equipment available for some movement.

Nick H.

Amazing Views, Amenities and a Zip Line For Kids! The park has tennis, volleyball and basketball courts! The kids playground area is equally great. This includes a safe zip line for the kids which everyone seems to love! Wait, that's not all! The best of all is the amazing view of the lake! The park is off the beaten track and close to the hospital. It is definitely a great place to bring the kids or even to come for some outside exercise or even a workout. It is a great place to run and they even have pullup bars! Parking is easy, plentiful and free. You can even watch the sunrise and/or sunsets here and have a relaxing carefree day. This is one great park that any kid would have A-blast at Is best of all it's 100%, is represent, completely free I am a fan and then some.

Sergio D.

Nice park with a great view and tons of history all around. Great to bring your kids and I do recommend this location.

View
Brooke B.

MacKay Park is a perfect place to go if you're visiting Lake Arrowhead with a dog or children! Really great views of the lake too :)

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10 years ago

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10 years ago

Very nice dog park I gave it 5 stars but it needs a drinking fountain. Very clean look like everyone picks up after themselves.

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Review Highlights - MacKay Park

What an awesome little place for the kids, there's a zip line, and swings, and a jungle gym.

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Heaps Peak Arboretum

Heaps Peak Arboretum

4.5
(71 reviews)
4.8 km

This is a wonderful little arboretum with free admission just north of Skypark along Highway 18…read more Be aware, however, that parking in the designated lot adjacent to the highway does require the purchase of an Adventure Pass (a mere $5/day), but the booth only appears to be open for select weekend hours. This may necessitate a visit to a nearby ranger station or business for pass purchase - and not as many local businesses carry these passes as once did. Coming from Lake Arrowhead (where the Visitor Center was closed), we tried the Lake Arrowhead 7-11 and Cedar Glen Trading Post before finding passes available at Cedar Glen Fine Foods. The trail itself is well marked, mostly shaded, and a little less than a mile in length. It's also circular in design, so you don't need to backtrack with the same scenery coming and going. A brochure on the local vegetation and points of interest is available at the trailhead, as well as public restrooms. Many trees and plants along the trail are also identified by placards. Being a dirt path, the terrain is comparatively flat, and numerous benches have been placed along the route for rest or contemplation. There are only a few spots with noticeable increases (or drops) in elevation, so it's perfect for young children, older folks, or leashed pets. Even on a Thursday around 1:00 pm we encountered other visitors along the trail, several walking dogs. Another nice touch is the walking path in front of the arboretum entrance where the meandering cement walkway between information kiosks is stamped with the prints of local wildlife species ranging from our little feathered friends to the big furries you'd not want to encounter on a forest walk. This is a great place for a quick stroll for all ages, and it showcases the diversity of the San Bernardino mountains. If you've passed it by on the way up to Big Bear via Highway 18, pull over for a quick "leg-stretcher" and check it out.

A really relaxing, short loop trail just off the Rim of the World Highway, slightly east of Lake…read moreArrowhead. Parking is $5 but I find that they rarely check for this. It is especially beautiful during spring and summer, but we stopped in during late February. The trail itself takes about 30 minutes to get through and has 25 different viewpoints that are laid out on the map that you get at the front. The main highlights you will see are different types of trees, nesting boxes, small bridges, and just really tranquil, beautiful scenery, but my favorite was the giant sequoia trees. I would say that the sequoias are the highlight of the trail and were planted in the 1930s. It's a really peaceful walk where animals are allowed and we also saw many people jogging so it really is a multi use area. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a scenic stroll through the forest.

Photos
Variety flowers are in bloom different times of the year
Variety flowers are in bloom different times of the year
View from the trail
View from the trail
Just take a moment and soak it all in. You'll be glad you did

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Just take a moment and soak it all in. You'll be glad you did
Crest Park Picnic Area

Crest Park Picnic Area

4.0
(2 reviews)
3.3 km

Crest park is nestled in San Bernardino mountains, located near big bear. It is a small park with a…read morefew parking spaces. However, it is such a lovely park to visit as for a picnic nature is surrounded all around. Often times when you visit you could be the other visitor at the time visiting almost like the whole area to yourself. Certain times of the year there could be snow and everything looks even more magical covered in snow. There are restrooms and every time I have visited it was as clean as clean gets. Don't miss the chance to stop here when I'm the area as the views are quite lovely. A recreation/local adventure pass is required. Adventure on! "Adventure is not outside people; it is within!"

Small picnic area on Highway 18, we had to burn some time before check in time and this was an OK…read morepublic area to pull over and see some snow during the off season. The picnic area itself is on the sunny area of the mountain, and the snow melts faster on this side. There are 4-5 picnic tables with benches underneath some trees near the parking lot. It's right on the edge of a mountain with no gates or paved trails so you can wander off and truly feel like you are in the wild. Because we went in February if you want snow action head across the street. There is a large area here with trees and leftover snow, there are flat areas and a small river for kids to make snowballs and play in. Spread throughout are also small hills good for short sledding with the benefit of not having to trek far back uphill over and over.

Photos
There's a story to tell here, no idea how this smashed table ended up somewhere so remote.
There's a story to tell here, no idea how this smashed table ended up somewhere so remote.
Plenty of clean snow in February but check snow reports and livecams before you go!
Plenty of clean snow in February but check snow reports and livecams before you go!
Short walk from the side of 18 to the snowy area.

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Short walk from the side of 18 to the snowy area.
Will Abell Memorial Trail at Arrowhead Ridge

Will Abell Memorial Trail at Arrowhead Ridge

4.5
(17 reviews)
2.4 km

Great short hike, about 2 miles round trip, easy to moderate trail, beautiful trees, serene views,…read morepeaceful, and not busy. Stayed at an Airbnb close by and my kids wanted to explore the outdoors. Found this trail and it was prefect for what we were looking for. My 8 year olds enjoyed the view from the top, saw squirrels and birds, and only got tired towards the end. There is a dirt path and signs posted making it easy to follow. There were lots of trees providing shade and a cool feel. There were a few areas (stumps/down trees/rocks) to sit and rest at and some inclines, but nothing too strenuous or steep. It was very quiet and peaceful, and it felt like we were the only ones out there. Although we ran into 3 couples during our hike, we had the trail pretty much to ourselves. There is limited parking, but we were able to park along the curb and didn't have an issue. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

We came here on a Saturday and it wasn't very busy. The temperature was roughly 70 degrees, perfect…read morefor a hike. When we arrived, there was limited parking and no restrooms from when I seen so be sure to handle your business before you come. We weren't exactly sure where the trail began so we walked up the steep paved road and took a right at the top of the road and began the hike. This trail is full of incline areas so if you are expecting a nice stroll around the woods, you'll be sadly mistaken. I'd say this hike is closer to medium difficulty but it's a great time and very rewarding once you reach the top. Sadly you only get a "peek a boo" view of the lake due to the trees being in the way but hey that's nature for ya! This trail took a little over an hour for myself and my wife to complete and that's with peaks and taking in the scenery. I highly recommend this trail, the views, fresh air etc. is amazing!

Photos
Will Abell Memorial Trail at Arrowhead Ridge
View point
View point
View of the lake from the peak

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View of the lake from the peak
SkyPark at Santa's Village

SkyPark at Santa's Village

3.8
(730 reviews)
4.3 km

I grew up in San Diego and I've lived in LA for many years and a year after year I keep telling…read moremyself that I have to check this place out. For this most recent long three-day weekend in Lake Arrowhead we decided to finally give this place a try. We are two adults in our 30s with no kids. It is important to note that because honestly, this place is for children 10 and under. It is not for teens or adults. It is honestly pretty underwhelming if you are an adult, but it can be quite charming if you are a child. It is also $55 per person and $15 for parking which is a bit expensive, but I understand the inflated price due to the location and having to staff it. One thing about this place that is nice is they don't have a bunch of add-ons once you get inside, so you really do just pay one price unless you decide to get food as well. The other part of this park is specifically designed for people into mountain biking. They have six different trails ranging in difficulty from easy to difficult and about half of the visitors seemed to be doing that which we would go back specifically for. The activities for adults are pretty limited, so the main ones that we did were the bike in the air that goes around the rim of the property. This is the ride that you see in all the marketing and is the most popular. It was probably the most fun we had but it was honestly a bit scary once you get to the steepest point. It's about 50 feet above the ground so it would be quite a fall down. After that, we tried some archery and ax throwing which was surprisingly fun. After that, there was honestly nothing else that we could really do given our age and size so we headed out after that. This would be a great place to visit during December with children 10 and under because they do have Santa Claus and people in costumes and what not and each of the buildings is alpine themed and is very quaint. They also have a very large area that serves as a wedding location so I'm sure that is also another part of this place. There is a large free parking lot attached in front with EV charging available as well.

We've been here 4-5 times and it was time for a review. Ticket prices are high, but I thought it…read morewas OK for 1x a year trip or once every 2 years. We've been here during the fall and winter and I would recommend coming for the winter decorations. The crowd varies during the year, when we came during the fall weekday, it was empty and there was no wait for any of the activities. We came last week (3 days before Christmas) and we had to wait for each activity. It wasn't bad, but it did make the day longer. If you plan to eat, I would eat earlier because in the afternoon lunch our food took about 1hr. The highlight of the trip for my kid is santa and I'm glad we did that first to get a reservations. We did the mountain bike part earlier in the fall and that was nice if your kid is into it. We rented all the gear and opted for the tour guide to help us get use to it.

Photos
Patterned after the original Santa's Village train ride, this electric-powered train takes you on a tour through our beautifu...
Patterned after the original Santa's Village train ride, this electric-powered train takes you on a tour through our beautifu...
No visit to the Royal Games would be complete without stopping by the NorthWoods Sharpshooter Gallery...
No visit to the Royal Games would be complete without stopping by the NorthWoods Sharpshooter Gallery...
Tucked away in the heart of SkyPark, The Reindeer Room is a hidden speakeasy where the warmth of a rustic mountain lodge meet...

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Tucked away in the heart of SkyPark, The Reindeer Room is a hidden speakeasy where the warmth of a rustic mountain lodge meet...
Tavern Bay Beach Club

Tavern Bay Beach Club

3.5
(10 reviews)
1.4 km

First review for Tavern Bay Beach Club though we've been coming here for 15 years. This is as well…read moreas Burnt Mill, a private beach so you must show your Lake Arrowhead Association card to get in. Between Burnt Mill and Tavern Bay, Tavern Bay I believe is more child friendly. They've always had a better playground and even better now since they renovated a couple of years ago. Better food consesseion (a must with kids) a larger beach (not so much this year) and a larger swim area. They have a large covered picnic area as well if you want to stay clear of the sun. If you want to paddle board, Tavern Bay is second to Burnt Mill. You cannot use your board in the swim area and where your able to paddle board, the water is typically choppy from the boats so this is where Burnt Mill wins out which has a larger no wake zone and a easy paddle to Lone Pine Island. Tavern Bay also has a large overflow parking lot which is great on a busy weekend.

Spotlessly clean, decent amount of parking, playground, snack bar and plenty of chase lounges at…read moreyour disposal. That's all good and well but the two real highlights are: 1. Looking across the water to the teeny, tiny swimming area buoyed off for UCLA as compared to what you have; makes you feel real fancy. 2. As long as its not glass, they let you pass. Feel like getting nice and buzzed up at 9:00AM then going for a dip to feel fresh water kelp comb between your toes? The world is your oyster my friend (BYOB).

Photos
Good spot!
Good spot!
Tavern Bay Beach Club
Beach

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Beach
Peace On Deep Creek

Peace On Deep Creek

3.8
(5 reviews)
6.8 km

Just went the other day, the road was still open to make it just a very short hike to get to the…read morecool creek and bridge area. IT DEFINITELY IS STILL ILLEGAL TO VISIT UNTIL MAY 21st 2021 at least. The website doesn't say so but several signs out here do and there is no reversal of that order anywhere to be found in the internet. Honestly was a cool place that i can't wait to explore more but I'm thankful it's closed because it's too easy too access which enables non nature people to go easily and trash it and disrespect the area, and not responsibly socially distance. If you aren't a local please don't visit this spot Go explore trails and nature area in your home towns and if there isn't enough than get your voice heard in local city council meetings and demand some more.

This spot was absolutely perfect for a family hike and some fun splashing about in the river and…read moreswimming holes. It is an extremely simple hike, no rough terrain and clearly marked. We had driven from Arizona for some cooler weather and had the hardest time simply finding a good spot for the kids to play and swim without needing to pay a fortune (We dont have to pay to swim in lakes in Arizona which I didn't know was a novelty??) We rented a cabin by Arrowhead lake and found out AFTER we got there that it is a private lake. We were told by locals that a great family lake was Lake Gregory which was about 20 minutes away. We drove to lake Gregory only to be told by park rangers that we cant swim in the lake unless we go to the designated family beach area and pay $10 per person (adults and children included) to use a small crowded beach area. That particular day I gave in and paid so my children could have some fun outside and in the water. I was determined to continue looking... FINALLY, I searched for rivers, streams and hiking nearby to get some peace and adventure and came across this little gem. Maybe we got lucky since it was in the middle of the week, but there were very few people on the trail, not to mention only one other family with kids at the swimming hole that my kids played with. The water was clean and cool, it was not crowded, there was ample shade and sandy beach areas...it was PERFECT. I would highly recommend this area for family use.

Photos
Peace On Deep Creek
Adventure pass
Adventure pass
Deep creek climb was tiring but pretty.

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Deep creek climb was tiring but pretty.

MacKay Park - parks - Updated June 2026

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