Green Valley Lake offers an alpine retreat outside of San Bernardino
Green Valley Lake is a resort alpine community in the San Bernardino Mountains, sitting at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. Surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, the community offers scenic views and a serene escape from the bustle of Southern California. Residents explore the mountains and enjoy water sports on the private 9-acre lake. "I like the peace and quiet and the fresh air. We're called the 'Lake above the Clouds," says Thomas Lawrence, resident and Realtor at Green Valley Lake Real Estate. "Green Valley Lake is a vacation destination, and most homes up here are second homes. It's a community of about 400 people, but there's almost 1,200 homes up here, and over 90% are vacation homes."
Vacation cabins and cottages dominate Green Valley Lake's market
Houses in Green Valley Lake are perched on mountainous hills, nestled among towering pines and cedar trees. Lot size is usually modest, but the forest lots provide a sense of privacy, and many homes have views of the mountains or lake. The community has a variety of log cabins, chalets, lakeside deck houses and Minimal Traditional homes, many built between the 1940s and the 1990s. Prices typically range from $210,000 to $520,000, with properties offering water views at the higher end of the price range. "There are also cottages and a few larger homes over 3,500 square feet," Lawrence says.
Outdoor activities include water sports and mountain exploration
Green Valley Lake offers plenty of outdoor activities. The lake is well-stocked for fishing from May through October, and is popular for nonmotorized boating and swimming during summer. Hiking enthusiasts can take in the mountain views and explore one of the nearby trails, including the 6-mile out-and-back Camp Creek National Recreation Trail. For winter sports, the Rim Nordic Ski Area is approximately 5 miles east, offering cross-country skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. Across the street, Snow Valley Mountain Resort usually opens in December, offering snowboarding and skiing lessons.
Nearby communities offer more shopping and dining variety
Green Valley Lake General Store carries groceries, outdoor essentials and operates a deli with hot food. Yeti Diner is right by the lake and has casual fare. Down the street, Black Dog Social Club is a live music venue with drinks and occasional food trucks. About 5 miles south in Running Springs, there are some more restaurants and shops. The popular Old Country Coffee Shop serves classics like biscuits and gravy, as well as steak and eggs. Grocery options include Running Springs Fine Foods and the local farmers market. The nearest Walmart is about 20 miles away in Highland. Lawrence says that locals can also drive to Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead for more shopping options.
Public schools offer interdistrict transfers and career programs
The community is part of the Rim of the World Unified School District, which offers interdistrict transfers through its school choice. Students may attend Charles Hoffman Elementary School and continue to Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School, which get a B-minus and a C grade from Niche, respectively. Rim of the World High School rates a C-plus, providing career and technical education courses in automotive technology and video production.
Lantern Festival kicks off summer with lakeside activities
Held in May, the Lantern Festival marks the start of the summer season, with refreshments, community activities and a release of floating lanterns over the waters. “We’ll be celebrating our 100th birthday [in 2026]," Lawrence says, "along with the Fourth of July, which includes a parade.” There will also be a scavenger hunt and other family activities.
Distance to larger communities like Big Bear Lake and San Bernardino
California state Route 18 connects the community to nearby areas, including Running Springs and Big Bear Lake. Green Valley Lake is about 30 miles from downtown San Bernardino and San Bernardino International Airport via California state Route 330. Mountains Community Hospital is about 15 miles away in Lake Arrowhead. Mountain Transit has bus stops along California state Route 18.
