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Clair Tappaan Lodge
Clair Tappaan Lodge is a rustic mountain lodge nestled in the Sierra Nevada of California at the top of Donner Pass. Built by Sierra Club volunteers in the 1930s, the lodge is an excellent home base for year-round recreation. The friendly, casual atmosphere and affordable nightly rates (including family-style meals) make the Lodge the perfect rustic getaway to the Tahoe/Donner area.
Clair Tappaan is the Sierra Club's flagship lodge, with a wide-variety of programs that support sustainable practices and the Sierra Club's mission to "explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the Earth." At the Lodge, we strive to increase awareness of the environment, foster a sense of community, increase the spirit of volunteerism, and nurture ecoconscious conduct.
The Lodge is a charming spot from which to explore the riches of the Sierra Nevada. Nestled at an elevation of 7000 feet at Donner Summit, not far from Lake Tahoe, the area receives the highest average snowfall of the entire Sierra Nevada range, making the Lodge a favorite with cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts.
For those who are really adventurous, the lodge is a great starting point for a multi-day trek to the Sierra Club's backcountry huts. If you want to explore the Sierra Nevada in the winter but don't want to build an igloo or dig a snow cave, the four Sierra Club huts near Lake Tahoe may be just perfect.
In summer, the recreational opportunities are unlimited. A network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and crystal clear lakes. The well-known Pacific Crest Trail is only a mile away and can be reached right out the back door of the lodge. The Donner Summit area is great for both road and mountain biking and is also widely known as a rock climbers' mecca. The Lodge is on the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin, with Tahoe itself only 25 miles away.
The Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee, a volunteer group committed to the continued success of the lodge, is led by Diane Boyer. Find out more about how you can support the lodge.
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About the Area
Donner Summit Historical Society
Donner Summit Area Association
Gateway Mountain Center Env Ed at Clair Tappaan Lodge
Is there snow? Check it out with the Sugar Bowl Cams
rev. April 21, 2014