Green Valley Lake Beach

Green Valley Lake, California · on Green Valley Lake

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $7
SEASON: Best in summer

About Green Valley Lake Beach

Green Valley Lake Beach is the designated swim beach on Green Valley Lake, a small 9-acre, spring- and creek-fed reservoir created in 1926 by the Green Valley Dam at 7,000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains. The lake and its beach are privately operated as a paid recreational concession by GVL Recreation, Inc., a subsidiary of the Green Valley Lake Mutual Water Company, and this high-altitude swimming hole is open to the public seasonally with lifeguards.

The lake sits in the small unincorporated mountain community of Green Valley Lake, about four miles off State Highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains, surrounded by San Bernardino National Forest land, roughly 90 minutes from the Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego county areas.

Swimming at Green Valley Lake Beach

Swimming is confined to a designated, float-enclosed swim area with floating docks in the small mountain lake; a sandy beach adjoins the water with a children's playground. A lifeguard-supervised deep-water float allows diving, while the shallow end prohibits diving; a spillway on the north side of the swim area is off-limits. The setting suits families and casual waders more than open-water or long-distance swimmers, given the enclosed swim zone and shallow-end/kids' emphasis.

How to get to this swimming hole

Located in the community of Green Valley Lake, about four miles from State Highway 18 in the San Bernardino Mountains; roughly a 90-minute drive from the Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego areas.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up/walk-up paid beach in the community of Green Valley Lake, not a hike-in swimming hole; no trail is involved in reaching the swim area.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Swimming is confined to a fenced, floating-dock-enclosed swim area with a shallow end where diving is prohibited (diving is allowed only off the separate deep-water float); a lifeguard is posted during the public season, there's a children's playground right on the sand beach, and kids under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Caveats: the beach is only open to the public when a lifeguard is on duty (Memorial Day-Labor Day, posted hours), and the lake sits at 7,000 ft so water stays cold even in summer.

Water clarity

Clear

The lake community's own website describes the lake as offering 'crystal-clear water' as part of its general appeal. That is the operator community's own description; no independent visitor reports confirming or contradicting the claim have surfaced.

Hours

Public swim season runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (2026 season beach opening posted as May 23), with a lifeguard on duty 10am-4pm weekdays and 10am-5pm weekends/holidays; days/times are subject to change based on staffing and events, and the beach is closed to the public whenever no lifeguard is present. The boathouse rents watercraft 7am-6pm daily from Opening Day (~May 9) to Closing Day (~October, weather-dependent).

Swim smart

Swim area is fenced/enclosed by floating docks and swimming outside it (including in fishing areas or near the spillway) is prohibited; the operator periodically treats the lake for nuisance lake weed and, in hot months, potential algae/cyanobacteria blooms that can affect water quality for swimmers; when no lifeguard is present, swimming is explicitly at the swimmer's own risk.

Rules: Public swimming is permitted only during posted lifeguarded hours (10am-4pm weekdays, 10am-5pm weekends/holidays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend); when no lifeguard is on duty the beach is closed to the public and open only to shareholders at their own risk. Swimming is allowed only inside the designated float-enclosed swim area (not in fishing areas); diving is allowed only from the deep-water float, never the shallow end; the north-side spillway is off-limits. The beach is alcohol-, smoke-, and dog-free (service animals only, leashed, not permitted in the water); children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; inflatable floats/swim aids under 8 feet and 1-2 person capacity are allowed. Lifeguards have authority to remove swimmers from the water or beach, and rule violations can result in loss of Beach Club Pass privileges.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

KayaksPaddleboardsRowboatsPedal boat

Restrictions: Only non-motorized watercraft are permitted on the lake. Personal boats on the water are restricted to Green Valley Lake Mutual Water Company shareholders with a current boat tag (subject to Quagga Mussel inspection); the general public must rent from the on-site boathouse. Watercraft other than small inflatable swim aids (under 8 ft, 1-2 person capacity) are not permitted inside the fenced/floating-dock swim area itself.

Boating and swimming occupy separate parts of the small 9-acre lake: rentals/personal boats are used in the open fishing/boating water, while the designated swim area is float-enclosed and off-limits to boats.

Rentals nearby

GVL Recreation Boathouse (Green Valley Lake Recreation)

Rowboats (4-person max), pedal boats, single kayaks, double kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and duck/swan pedal boats - all non-motorized, first-come-first-served rentals at the lake's own boathouse.

Prices: Rowboat $15/half-hour, $20/1-2 hr; Pedal boat $12/half-hour, $18/1-2hr; Single kayak $10/half-hour, $15/1-2hr; Double kayak $15/half-hour, $20/1-2hr; Stand-up paddleboard $10/half-hour, $15/1-2hr; Duck/swan pedal boat $18/half-hour, $25/1-2hr (rates as posted for the 2026 season).

At the boathouse on Green Valley Lake itself, immediately adjacent to the public swim beach (0 mi away) in the village of Green Valley Lake. · 7am-6pm daily, Opening Day (~May 9) through Closing Day (~October, weather/condition dependent).

Backstory

The lake is artificial, created in 1926 by construction of the Green Valley Dam (contractors Clinton, Code & Hill, financed by Union Bank for DeWitt-Blair Co.) as part of a resort subdivision development; the community and lake operator are marking a Centennial celebration (1926-2026) in July 2026.

Green Valley Lake Beach: FAQ

Does Green Valley Lake Beach charge a fee?

Public beach access requires a paid day pass sold by GVL Recreation: 1-day pass $7 adult (13+) / $5 child (4-12); 2-day pass $12 adult / $8 child (rates as posted for the 2026 season). Shareholders of the Green Valley Lake Mutual Water Company use a separate Beach Club Pass.

Is Green Valley Lake Beach kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Green Valley Lake Beach?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Green Valley Lake Beach?

No parking-specific details (lot location, capacity, or cost) were found on the operator's (gvlfishing.com) or community (green-valley-lake.com) sites; the beach and boathouse sit in the small village of Green Valley Lake.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Green Valley Lake Beach?

When is the best time to visit Green Valley Lake Beach?

Summer, specifically Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, when the beach is open with lifeguards; the surrounding lake area sits at 7,000 ft elevation and can freeze in winter.

What are the rules at Green Valley Lake Beach?

Public swimming is permitted only during posted lifeguarded hours (10am-4pm weekdays, 10am-5pm weekends/holidays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend); when no lifeguard is on duty the beach is closed to the public and open only to shareholders at their own risk. Swimming is allowed only inside the designated float-enclosed swim area (not in fishing areas); diving is allowed only from the deep-water float, never the shallow end; the north-side spillway is off-limits. The beach is alcohol-, smoke-, and dog-free (service animals only, leashed, not permitted in the water); children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; inflatable floats/swim aids under 8 feet and 1-2 person capacity are allowed. Lifeguards have authority to remove swimmers from the water or beach, and rule violations can result in loss of Beach Club Pass privileges.

What water body is Green Valley Lake Beach on?

Green Valley Lake Beach is on Green Valley Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.

Conditions right now

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At a glance

Land access: Unknown, verify locally
Facilities: lifeguards (seasonal, weather/staffing dependent); floating swim docks; sandy beach; children's playground; picnic area; boathouse (boat rentals: rowboats, pedal boats, kayaks)
Highlights: Privately operated by a mutual water company (GVL Recreation, Inc.) rather than a government park agency, functioning as a paid concession beach; One of the higher-elevation resort communities in Southern California at about 7,000 feet; Small (9-acre) spring- and creek-fed mountain lake rather than a river or natural lake; 2026 marks the lake's 100th anniversary (dam built 1926)
Nearby towns: Green Valley Lake (0.4mi); Arrowbear Lake (3.1mi); Cedar Glen (3.8mi); North Shore (4.2mi)
Coordinates: 34.2380, -117.0784