Cedar Glen, CA Properties | Metro Realty Advisors

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Cedar Glen is an unincorporated mountain community in San Bernardino County, California, situated within the San Bernardino National Forest immediately east of Lake Arrowhead. It lies at an elevation of about 5,403 feet, and California State Highway 173 passes directly through the community, connecting it to Lake Arrowhead and the wider mountain region. The population is small — roughly 800 residents — supplemented by a substantial number of seasonal and second-home visitors drawn by the area's roughly 590 houses and cabins. The community's identity is rooted in its forested setting. Cedar Glen developed as a mountain resort area surrounded by stands of cedar, and by 1950 local reporting described it as a fully formed resort community with its own amenities and a steady flow of weekend visitors. That history as a high-country retreat still shapes the place today, which blends full-time mountain residents with cabin owners and vacationers seeking a quieter alternative to the busier lakefront. Cedar Glen functions largely as a residential and recreational enclave within the Lake Arrowhead orbit. Its economy is modest, tied to vacation rentals, small local businesses, and the broader tourism economy of the San Bernardino Mountains, while many full-time residents commute down the hill to the Inland Empire for work. Students attend the Rim of the World Unified School District, which serves the mountain communities of the region. The community's appeal is its landscape: towering cedars and pines, forest quiet, and easy access to Lake Arrowhead's lakefront village about ten minutes away, with the national forest providing endless hiking, and seasonal snow bringing winter recreation to the area. Cedar Glen suits those seeking a forested mountain lifestyle near Lake Arrowhead, whether as a full-time resident, a weekend cabin owner, or a vacation-rental investor. It appeals especially to people who value nature, privacy, and a slower pace over the conveniences and congestion of the valleys below.

Population 828

County San Bernardino County

Active Listings 74

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Cedar Glen in?

Cedar Glen is in San Bernardino County, California, within the San Bernardino National Forest. It sits immediately east of Lake Arrowhead, in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California at an elevation of about 5,400 feet.

What is Cedar Glen's elevation?

Cedar Glen sits high in the San Bernardino Mountains at an elevation of about 5,403 feet, with California State Highway 173 running through the community. It is roughly ten minutes from Lake Arrowhead and its lakefront village amenities.

What is the history of Cedar Glen?

Cedar Glen developed as a forest resort community surrounded by cedar stands, and by 1950 it was described as a fully formed mountain resort area with its own amenities and a seasonal, cabin-oriented character.

What school district serves Cedar Glen?

Cedar Glen is served by the Rim of the World Unified School District, which provides schools for the San Bernardino mountain communities, including Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and the surrounding mountain area.

What is Cedar Glen known for?

Cedar Glen is a quiet, forested mountain community known for its cedar stands, cabins, and high-country setting. It is a residential and vacation area near Lake Arrowhead, popular with seasonal and second-home residents.

City Guide

About Cedar Glen

Real Estate & Housing

Cedar Glen's housing stock is dominated by mountain cabins and modest forest homes, many built for seasonal or weekend use, set among cedar and pine stands on the community's winding roads. The area's roughly 590 housing units reflect its history as a resort settlement, with a blend of original cabins, renovated retreats, and a smaller number of year-round single-family homes. Development is low-density and constrained by the surrounding San Bernardino National Forest, which keeps the community's forested, spread-out character intact. Buyers are typically second-home seekers, vacation-rental investors, or those pursuing a full-time mountain lifestyle near Lake Arrowhead.

Neighborhoods

Cedar Glen has no formal subdivisions; it is a dispersed mountain settlement strung along State Highway 173 and the forest roads that branch toward Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding hills. Cabins and homes sit on wooded parcels, often set well back from the road, giving the community an open, forested feel rather than a conventional neighborhood pattern. The highway forms the community's spine, with small commercial and gathering spots scattered along it, while the cedars and pines provide the visual continuity. This layout means privacy and natural surroundings are the defining features of "neighborhood" life here.

Lifestyle in Cedar Glen

Life in Cedar Glen is quiet, forested, and distinctly mountain-oriented, with a pace that slows with the seasons. Residents live among towering cedars and pines, and daily life centers on the outdoors — hiking, lake recreation at nearby Lake Arrowhead, and the simple rhythms of high-country living. The community has a mix of full-time residents and seasonal cabin owners, lending it a relaxed, come-and-go atmosphere. Ten minutes down the road, Lake Arrowhead Village offers dining, shopping, and lakefront activity, while the surrounding national forest provides near-unlimited trails and scenery. It is a place for those who prefer trees and trails to traffic and crowds.

Schools & Education

Cedar Glen is served by the Rim of the World Unified School District, which provides public education for the San Bernardino mountain communities, including Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding area. Students attend the district's elementary, middle, and high schools, located within the mountain region along the State Highway 18 and 173 corridors. The district's small size and mountain setting give it a close-knit, community-oriented character, though families should expect longer travel times between campuses and limited course breadth compared with larger valley districts. Private and specialized options are available in the Inland Empire communities down the mountain.

Getting Around

California State Highway 173 is Cedar Glen's main road, running through the community and connecting it west toward Lake Arrowhead and the mountain highway network. Residents reach the Inland Empire and points beyond via State Highway 18 and the winding mountain routes that descend into San Bernardino, with commutes down the hill affected by weather and seasonal traffic. There is no public transit in the community, so private vehicles are essential, and winter conditions can require chains or four-wheel drive. The town's mountain setting makes transportation one of the main practical considerations for full-time residents and commuters.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Cedar Glen is defined by the San Bernardino National Forest and nearby Lake Arrowhead. The surrounding forest offers hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing along miles of trails, while Lake Arrowhead, about ten minutes away, provides boating, fishing, and lakeside recreation for residents with lake access or through the village's amenities. In winter, the area's elevation brings snow and access to nearby sledding and skiing options in the San Bernardino Mountains. The community's forested setting also makes birding, stargazing, and simple outdoor living part of everyday life, with the larger mountain resort amenities a short drive away.

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