Lake Arrowhead
Baiting Hollow, New York · Baiting Hollow Scout Camp Easement
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $600/Scout
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is a freshwater lake inside Baiting Hollow Scout Camp, a Suffolk County Council (Scouting America) property on Long Island's North Shore that has operated since 1926. The lake serves as the camp's freshwater swimming hole and gives campers a lake to swim in, with a designated waterfront swimming area that hosts the camp's dedicated Aquatics Camp program, alongside a separate saltwater beach on Long Island Sound elsewhere on the property.
The lake sits within the wooded, multi-hundred-acre Baiting Hollow Scout Camp property near Long Island Sound, close to the hamlets of Baiting Hollow and Wildwood on Long Island's North Shore. The camp's official map shows Lake Arrowhead in the interior of the property, separate from the Long Island Sound beach at the camp's northern edge, with a boathouse, swimming area, and restroom/shower building clustered along its shore near the Cub Scout Area.
Swimming at Lake Arrowhead
Swimming at Lake Arrowhead takes place in a supervised, designated waterfront area used for Scout swim instruction and the camp's week-long Aquatics Camp specialty program, which layers in canoeing, kayaking, rowing, sailing, snorkeling, lifesaving, motorboating, and water skiing on the same lake. No independent description of water clarity, depth, or bottom conditions was found.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Not a hike-in spot. The camp map shows Lake Arrowhead and its designated swimming area reached by walking along the camp's paved/unpaved interior road network from the main or lower parking lots near the Sound Ave entrance; exact distance was not documented on the map (scale 1 in = 200 ft), but the walk appears to be on the order of a few hundred yards to under half a mile, well within camp grounds rather than a backcountry trail.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lake Arrowhead's swimming area is a supervised camp waterfront (site of the Aquatics Camp program with lifesaving instruction), but access is restricted to registered Scouting America (Suffolk County Council) program participants and their families during camp sessions -- it is not an open public swim beach for general families to just show up to.
Parking
Lot
Camp map shows a main parking lot and a separate 'Lower Parking' lot near the Sound Ave entrance/Silverman Chapel area. No public day-use parking fee was found; parking is for registered program participants (weekend cabin/campsite guests pay $7/person or $125-$500/cabin per the camp reserve page, unrelated to the lake itself).
Restrooms
Yes
Official camp map shows a restroom/shower building ('The PARR') directly adjacent to the Lake Arrowhead swimming area near the Cub Scout Area; additional restroom/shower buildings are shown elsewhere on the property (e.g., near the Campmaster area and Training Lodge).
On the water
Restrictions: Watercraft use appears limited to camp-owned equipment operated as part of supervised, registered Aquatics Camp / waterfront programming (kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sailing, motorboating, water skiing per camp program materials). No evidence that visitors may bring or launch personal kayaks/canoes/paddleboards, since the lake is inside a private camp property without public access.
All watercraft activity found in research ties back to the camp's own Aquatics Camp specialty program rather than general recreational or bring-your-own use.
Backstory
Baiting Hollow Scout Camp has operated on Long Island's North Shore since 1926 under Suffolk County Council, Scouting America.
Lake Arrowhead: FAQ
Does Lake Arrowhead charge a fee?
No public day-use swim fee was found. Access is through registered Scouting America programs; the 2026 week-long Aquatics Camp specialty program (held at Lake Arrowhead) is priced at $600/Scout before April 1 and $625/Scout after.
Is Lake Arrowhead kid friendly?
Lake Arrowhead's swimming area is a supervised camp waterfront (site of the Aquatics Camp program with lifesaving instruction), but access is restricted to registered Scouting America (Suffolk County Council) program participants and their families during camp sessions -- it is not an open public swim beach for general families to just show up to.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Arrowhead?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Arrowhead?
Camp map shows a main parking lot and a separate 'Lower Parking' lot near the Sound Ave entrance/Silverman Chapel area. No public day-use parking fee was found; parking is for registered program participants (weekend cabin/campsite guests pay $7/person or $125-$500/cabin per the camp reserve page, unrelated to the lake itself).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Arrowhead?
All watercraft activity found in research ties back to the camp's own Aquatics Camp specialty program rather than general recreational or bring-your-own use.
When is the best time to visit Lake Arrowhead?
Camp runs spring, summer, and winter sessions; the dedicated Aquatics Camp specialty program at Lake Arrowhead is scheduled August 16-21, 2026.
What are the rules at Lake Arrowhead?
Lake Arrowhead is inside Baiting Hollow Scout Camp, owned/operated by Suffolk County Council, Scouting America. Swimming occurs as part of supervised camp waterfront and aquatics programming for registered Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers rather than as open public access.
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