Discover Why “It’s Better Up Here!”®

"Up Here" is where we come from — from mountain spring water sources in the United States and Canada that provide great-tasting mountain spring water.

Historic photograph of arrowhead shaped rock formation

Here is our history: High on the south slope of California’s San Bernardino Mountains, the home of Arrowhead’s first cold-water spring, is a remarkable slice of the natural world. Hot springs bubble up from the Earth’s surface. Caves can be found filled with steam. Several cold-water streams carry some of the world’s most delicious pure spring water from the mountains above. An arrowhead-shaped rock formation, several acres in size, points to these springs.

According to a Native American legend, an arrow from heaven burned the formation on the mountainside to show tribes where they could be healed. During the mid-nineteenth century, “Dr.” David Noble Smith claimed that a saint-like being appeared before him and told of a far-off land with exceptional climate and curative waters, marked by a gigantic arrowhead. Smith’s search for that unique arrowhead formation began in Texas, and eventually ended at Arrowhead springs in California in 1857.

By 1889, word of the springs, along with a hotel on the site — and belief of the effect of the water from the springs on health — had grown considerably. Hotel guests often raved about the crystal-clear water from the cold springs, which prompted Seth Marshall to set up a bottling operation in the hotel’s basement. By 1905, water from the cold springs was being shipped to Los Angeles.

We've gathered all of the rich history of Arrowhead — from the discovery of the first spring to becoming part of the family of Nestlé Waters North America Inc. — and placed it in this timeline. Take a look and satisfy your thirst for more information about Arrowhead!

Through the years, Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water's popularity and distribution has grown beyond California. Today, the brand’s sources span from the United States to Canada, including sources as far north as the Canadian Rockies. Arrowhead® Brand Mountain Spring Water is proud to have been part of the Nestlé Waters North America family of bottled spring water brands since 1987.

Today, you can find us in Arizona, Nevada, The Rockies, and even the Pacific Northwest. But no matter where you are, you'll be enjoying great-tasting spring water drawn from mountain sources in the United States and Canada.

For a deeper look into Arrowhead heritage and history, explore the Arrowhead Interactive Timeline .

Consumers reach for Arrowhead because it embodies all that is good about the mountains. Carefully selected mountain sources, in the United States and Canada, and the balance of minerals, ensure our spring water is refreshing and consistently delicious. With a taste straight from the outdoors, Arrowhead is an easy way to make the goodness of nature a part of everyday life.