Clair Tappaan Lodge - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

The setting and location can't be beat, any season. It's not a regular hotel, more of a hostel, with a staff and chef that prepares family style meals. Note it gets booked out for events, so you can't always get a reservation here.

We stayed with a group in the dormitory style bedroom with included multi-person bathroom and showers. The area was divided into semi-seperated areas. The bunks were up to three high in the largest area and were a little small for large kids and adults. Otherwise the facilties had a large dining area, several lounging areas, and laundry facilities. The staff kept the place well and provided great hot breakfasts, lunch for our crew, and dinners that everyone enjoyed. We did have to hike a short ways to get in, and they provided sleds to shuttle bags, so be prepared if snowy. Great spot for home base while exploring the area!

Perfect lodge close to nature:)

This year will be 30yrs since my sister & I stayed a week at the Clair Tappaan Lodge during a Sierra Strolls light hiking trip. It’ll always be my favorite vacation! Food was fantastic! At first wasn’t sure about having to do chores but once we signed up for dinner dishes I was good. I loved everything about staying there. Before I left I found enough money to buy a long sleeve gray t-shirt with the name & a outline of the lodge on it. I still have it. It has a few holes in the front. I’m unwilling to part with the last item. I found photos from the trip. My sister & I might be the only ones remaining from our group since we were the youngest ones. I always am concerned when I hear of wildfires and pray that nothing happens to this place. I would love to come visit again if I can get my husband to come. Missing you from Cleveland Ohio.

The lodge was rustic and in a beautiful setting. Food was hearty and delicious. We had a scout troop stay for the weekend and had a wonderful stay. We encountered some difficulties with front desk communication regarding our reservation but in the end we all had accommodations. The kitchen staff was delightful. The first night I think the heat wasn’t turned on in the cubicle rooms and was chilly but the 2nd night the heat was turned on and we were cozy. I would stay again!

My wife and I had a fantastic stay at the Lodge the last three days. Of course it helped that we were the only ones there and therefore had a large room to ourselves. But nevertheless, I've been staying here for many years, almost always in the winter when you can x-country out the door, but in the gorgeous fall weather it was a great place to be for hiking around and above Donner Summit. I would add that the food was excellent! A cut above what I was used to in previous stays--plenty of it but a bit utilitarian. This time we had a tasty pulled pork sandwich with mild peppers on it in a Brioche bun, with veggie sides, for one dinner and beautifully prepared white fish for next night with cucumber salad, rice, another veggie I forgot, and hand-made tartar sauce when I requested it. Desserts were exceptional and sandwiches for lunches made to order. Oh, and not to forget the bacon, sausage, eggs and hash browns for one breakfast and Shaksuka the next. I didn't even know what it was and then the recipe was in the Times the next morning! Great place to stay.

I recently spent a week here working remotely and getting long lunch turns in at Sugar Bowl -- there was a huge storm that closed the highway a bunch so being a half mile from the resort made for pratically empty lift lines on the weekend and a foot of powder each day to ride! I was one of the only people staying at the lodge and felt like an absolute princess. I had read reviews about rooms being cold, so I was proactive and talked to the staff about my concerns being a cold sleeper and I had forgotten my 0 degree sleeping bag - they brought me five extra blankets, a sleeping bag, and put me in a warmer room that I had to myself! 10/10 can't wait to go back -- every single staff member was so kind and went out of their way for me (making sure the parking lot was plowed, lighting fires in the great room, etc.) DO NOT MISS DINNER! Because the dinner food was so amazing. My recommendation for others is to be communicative w/ the staff because it is a hostel situation so unless they're aware of something that's bothering you they can't really resolve it -- like how I approached my cold sleeping concerns. I was SO WARM each night as a result!

The food. The vibe. The people. The stuff. The price. The Location.

I hosted my 30th birthday party at the lodge with 20 friends over New Year's weekend, and it was the perfect place to celebrate together. The staff was incredibly accommodating, and went above and beyond to make it a special weekend. Everyone loved having immediate access to beautiful trails and outdoor activities. We got over 2 feet of snow on our second day, and Mark and JR were out in the parking lot with us helping dig out our cars. It was such a relief not needing to think about cooking for everyone, and we loved the family-style meals shared with all the lodge guests. I would book another trip in a heartbeat. One of the best weekends ever!

I'm not sure why Clair Tappaan is called a hostel when we were spoiled rotten during our recent 3 day visit. How many hostels do all the cooking for you, including scallops, their own bread, and freshly whipped cream with the morning pancakes? Breakfasts and dinners included many different gourmet dishes, despite the small number of visitors. The staff was more than welcoming, and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well-educated about recreational options (so many!). The library was very cozy (but not too small) and we loved dozing by the big fireplace in the living room. We don't have children, but we recommend Clair Tappaan to friends who do; it's very kid friendly! We have been guests at Clair Tappaan for many years, and think that the post-Covid resurrection is spectacular! While the sleeping quarters may be spartan, the rest of the experience more than makes up for it.

An amazing place where we were welcomed in a very warm way! Ideal to enhance your walk in the beautiful surroundings. The building is historical and very well maintained. Thank you so much to the whole team for your kindness and for the impeccable service. And of course to Cheftorious and his buddies for the exceptional cuisine !!

Este lugar es muy bueno para divertirse en temporada de nieve, mis hijos lo disfrutan mucho.

Still not open to the public yet, hoping for a midsummer opening. On site crew is making some improvements and upgrades to the lodge and surrounding property, this will be an excellent destination for those wishing to take advantage of local hiking and biking trails.

Nicest lodge I’ve ever stayed at. The food was only alright but the area and the lodge are beautiful.

Its so nice i brought my own tv because they don't have any the view is amazing

Rustic but very pleasant when I am solo for the food, friendliness of staff and other guests, and the delightful quiet of the library as well as the conversations and even singing in the great room make this my favorite venue since 1950.

Nice location. I walked by it and didn't go inside. I was visiting Heidelmann Lodge which is right next door. I hadn't been there in 40 years. I took a wonderful hike/saunter in the woods nearby.

We had an amazing weekend with our military families.

Clair Tappaan Lodge is a wonderful place in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. About two hours from Sacramento, it has great views of snow capped mountains and the crystal clear lakes. The lodge is dedicated to the preservation of the Sierras and encourages this through its mission. Meals are family style and guests participate in meal preparation and clean up. This is an excellent lodge for youth organization activities and others who wish to experience nature. I highly recommend Clair Tappaan Lodge!

Great place for large parties and school trips. Everybody pitches in and does set up and clean up for meals. Great place fir skiing and snowboarding.

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, open and welcoming community atmosphere

I ski at Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge, and I live 125 milers away in Chico. If traveling alone, I double my god mileage by staying overnight At Claire Tappan. Yesterday, it was awesome to walk up to falling snow, also to see the twinkling stars the night before. Such a bargain. Thank you to Cook Denny for the substantial and nourishing meals. Another plus is the new like minded friends I met and share conversation and a glass of wine with. Accommodations are Spartans, but facilities clean and well maintained.

Cool place to get some XC skiing in. Rustic digs, friendly staff, and nice dose of nature. Cool cross between hotel and hostel feel with amazing farmhouse food smells. All the staff, especially Pete, were super helpful and a pleasure to be around.

Great place, staff could have been a bit more accommodating and nice

Fun place has a lot of history. Breakfast is at 8:30 sharp. Community environment

Awesome ! Snow shoeing and XC skiing ! Rental gear. Sugar bowl is nearby. In the summer, great hiking, mountain biking, swimming.

Perfect for skiers who want to share stories with others over meals at a Sierra club run hostel!

This year's trails and vista's hike really cool performing arts on a hike!

I did not stay or use any services, we just stopped by to see the place. Really nice staff and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a good place to use as a base for the hiking trails in the area. I will return!

Beautiful rustic setting, great access to trails, skiing, staff friendly

Yes it is a cool out of the way place the staff is phenomenal everyone there is so friendly

Very warm and welcoming lodge. My son and I had been camping out for a few days and were able to freshen up after a long day of snowboarding in the communal style showers. Had to hit the road after but would def come back when in the Truckee area.

A beautiful authentic historic mountain lodge.

I have been going to Clair Tapppaan lodge for 30 some years .it is great place to stay .The food is OK rooms as well.

Great base camp for winter activities.

The Clair Tappaan lodge was great. We rented snow shoes and went for a hike.

I take a group of high school seniors here every year to act as our base camp b for learning be about the history, engineering, and ecology of the area. The lodge is maintained by volunteers from the Sierra Club, so has a more family feel. When you book a room you can choose to do the meal plan which turns the lodge into a bed and breakfast. I highly recommend the meal plan. Location wise, it is hard to beat. Just down the street from two wonderful ski resorts and about a 10 minute scenic drive to Truckee. The 1 star off is for a couple of things. Single rooms (not the dorm or group rooms) are really tiny and I am sure are against modern building code ( room size is about 4x8 ft). The walls are very thin, and the bunk beds are a concussion waiting to happen.

Unpretentious accommodations. Great sledding hill. Beautiful natural setting. Public hot tub and rec room. The food was good when we there. Public great room with fireplaces. Hot chocolate and coffee available all day. Parking is by the road and you have to bring your luggage in on a sled.

There was no zero or near zero. This is a rustic lodge, so this isn't on a 5 star scale: there are chores, shared bathrooms, you need to bring your bedding, etc. With that in mind, this is an amazing slice of the sierras hooking up with some beautiful wildreness!

Awesome Sierra Club Lodge very rustic. Kinda like 'summer camp' used to be

Beautiful and reasonably isolated. Quiet. Great staff

Die lodge ist echt super bietet sehr viel, die Zimmer sind nicht so der Hit, aber da muss man ja nur schlafen.

Great people, great guides! Love it and can't wait to come back!

Cheap, provides all three meals. Great to stay while skiing at nearby Sugar Bowl, to which you can easily walk.

I have been to this place three times in the last 25 years. It is a great place for families and a great place for single parents and their kids. Very rústic lodge with hostel like accommodations and you are expected to sign up for a choros which really adds to the sense of Community. The staff is super nice. Everyone ests at the same time for breakfast and dinner. The food is plentiful and healthy. My son always has a blast with all the other children that come to the Lodge. He loves the playing room and the fireplace room. I like the quiet and warm library. Good Wifi connection, no good T mobile reception. The parking is a far, so you have to haul your gear uphill. Travel light!

The Clair tappaan lodge is a nice cosy lodge situated off Donner pass road. A short walk separates it from the road. The service is nice, every meal is served in the main room. There is an amazing sledding hill right outside, and a hot tub out back. The rooms are small and cozy, and the internet is not bad. All in all, not a bad stay.

Very nice place tucked away in the mountains. Awesome when its snowing. Amazingly helpful staff.

It was a nice place to visit you would have fun hanging out

Only a quick stop. No real opinion to offer.

Neat lodge located up near Donner Pass. Very friendly group runs this historic location. Didn't stay here, but was lucky enough to eat and hang out here a bit

Great library and entertainment room!

The Best affordable lodging on Donner Summit!! Friendly, staff, Beautiful structure throughout. an amazing library filled with history, etc. ❤️❤️❤️highly recommend!!

Nice cheap accommodation near sugar bowl. Food offered is pretty good.

Great place to stay on Donner Summit. Rustic and in the mountains. Very close to Sugar Bowl and any other outdoor activity. Recommended!