Sierra Vistas and Family Fun in Tahoe National Forest, California
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Lodge
Highlights
- Hike in the High Sierra, swim in mountain lakes, and to
- Learn about Lake Tahoe ecology and conservation at the
- Relax each evening with a congenial, multigenerational
Includes
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Lodging at Sierra Club’s Clair Tappaan Lodge
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Hot breakfasts and dinners at the lodge, bag lunches
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All admissions, rentals, and parking fees
Overview
The Trip
Walk amid natural splendor of the Lake Tahoe Basin, which was inhabited by Indians centuries before emigrants crossed and laborers laid rails that make transcontinental travel possible. Splash in secluded Lake Flora and lounge on the Donner Lake beach, where kids can build sandcastles and we can paddle kayaks. View Lake Tahoe from a rim trail on Mt. Rose and up close at Sugar Pine Point State Park, where we’ll hike among giant pines, explore a boulder-strewn shore unchanged by development, and enjoy more beach time. Learn about ecology and conservation at the Tahoe Science Center from a scientist, enjoy kid-friendly exhibits, and view a 3-D film. Ride a tour boat for a popular perspective on this wonderful lake
The Trip
Walk amid natural splendor of the Lake Tahoe Basin, which was inhabited by Indians centuries before emigrants crossed and laborers laid rails that make transcontinental travel possible. Splash in secluded Lake Flora and lounge on the Donner Lake beach, where kids can build sandcastles and we can paddle kayaks. View Lake Tahoe from a rim trail on Mt. Rose and up close at Sugar Pine Point State Park, where we’ll hike among giant pines, explore a boulder-strewn shore unchanged by development, and enjoy more beach time. Learn about ecology and conservation at the Tahoe Science Center from a scientist, enjoy kid-friendly exhibits, and view a 3-D film. Ride a tour boat for a popular perspective on this wonderful lake.
Our extended family of nature lovers is inclusive: we invite parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, kids, and teenagers. Teen cousins with parental permission may join us, and venturesome adults, looking for a less strenuous outing and a unique chance to relax and learn, will find congenial company.
After each day’s medley of activities, we’ll return to the rustic lodge for hot showers, hearty family-style suppers, and relaxation (a hot tub, common room, and library are available). Kids will play under magnificent pines away from electronic devices. Relaxed, we’ll learn from a brief talk explaining how the mountains and Lake Tahoe shaped the first people (the Washoe tribe), and from a reading of Mark Twain’s description of Lake Tahoe during the Comstock Silver mining boom.
Adults, children, and teens should all bring daypacks large enough to hold lunch, at least two liters of water, and a warm, waterproof jacket. We recommend sturdy, broken-in hiking shoes for comfort and safety on our hikes. We will send a detailed clothing and packing list when participants are approved for the trip. Be sure to bring your camera and binoculars for observing vistas. Why record our activities just in photographs? You may want to bring a notebook. We’ll try to encourage children to draw or record thoughts on postcards to send to family and friends. All of us might step back and do the same instead of relying on social media.
Itinerary
Day 1: Clair Tappaan Lodge is located at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Check into the lodge no later than 3 p.m. We will assemble at 4:00 p.m. to get acquainted before dinner. After dinner we'll gather to view the week's itinerary and take a leisurely nature hike in the forest surrounding the lodge.
Day 2: We will carpool (a short ride) to the trailhead where we’ll go on an easy hike to Lake Flora, one of the leaders' favorite alpine lakes, where we'll wade, swim, splash, or lounge in sunshine surrounded by pines and stunning Sierra granite outcrops and domes. As we stand high above Donner Pass, we can view a panorama of Donner Lake and the Eastern Sierra
Day 1: Clair Tappaan Lodge is located at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Check into the lodge no later than 3 p.m. We will assemble at 4:00 p.m. to get acquainted before dinner. After dinner we'll gather to view the week's itinerary and take a leisurely nature hike in the forest surrounding the lodge.
Day 2: We will carpool (a short ride) to the trailhead where we’ll go on an easy hike to Lake Flora, one of the leaders' favorite alpine lakes, where we'll wade, swim, splash, or lounge in sunshine surrounded by pines and stunning Sierra granite outcrops and domes. As we stand high above Donner Pass, we can view a panorama of Donner Lake and the Eastern Sierra. After dinner, we’ll carpool to explore ancient Indian petroglyphs (rock carvings), admire the “China Wall,” and walk into a Transcontinental Railroad tunnel built by Chinese laborers in the late 1860s.
Day 3: We’ll carpool to the new Visitor Center in Donner Memorial State Park. There we'll watch a film about the events that gave the area its name, view multi-cultural exhibits, and take a self-guided walking tour of historic sites near the center. Then we’ll carpool (a short drive) to Donner Lake’s West End Beach, where we’ll eat lunch and spend the afternoon swimming, splashing, making sandcastles. We’ll also have two kayaks to paddle the lake near the beach. In the evening, we’ll hear a presentation about the importance of this area in the past and present culture of the Washoe tribe.
Day 4: After carpooling to Lake Tahoe, we'll hike on a short segment of the Tahoe Rim Trail, where we’ll eat lunch. A longer hike on this trail is possible for adults who request it. In mid-afternoon we’ll visit the Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village, Nevada where a scientist-docent will be our guide. We’ll board a virtual UC Davis research vessel to learn how scientists monitor water quality in the Lake Tahoe watershed. Kids will especially enjoy a hands-on lab project and observe how a watershed changes by using a sophisticated, digital sandbox -- an educational “marvel” for all ages. In the evening, we’ll listen to a brief reading from Mark Twain’s Roughing It, his reflections on Lake Tahoe when he was new to the area in 1862.
Day 5: We’ll carpool to Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park on Lake Tahoe, where we’ll take a shoreline hike amid the pines, view the panorama of the Carson Range in Nevada, and explore a segment of boulder-strewn shore unchanged by development. We’ll have a beachside lunch and have time to wade, swim, and build sandcastles and relax in the shade. Tours of an historic mansion, as well as kayaks, are available (not included in trip price). We will end the day with a ride on the Tahoe Gal, a paddle-wheel tour boat. We’ll have our last dinner at a restaurant near Lake Tahoe’s shore (not included in the price of the trip).
Day 6: The trip will end after breakfast. You can pack a lunch to take with you as you leave for home or continue your vacation.
While leaders will make every attempt to follow this itinerary, all hikes and programs are subject to change depending on a variety of factors, including trail conditions and weather.
Logistics
Getting There
The most popular and closest airport to the lodge is Reno, Nevada, only 60 minutes away; limited shuttle service and taxis are available. Other airport options are Sacramento, California, 1.5 hours away, and San Francisco, about 3 hours away. Those arriving by air or being dropped off at the lodge should plan to rent a car or make arrangements to carpool with other trip participants.
Due to insurance regulations, all transportation to the lodge, trailheads, and tour sites is the responsibility of each trip participant. Sierra Club leaders are not allowed to make carpool arrangements for participants, but the leader will provide a participant list for those who wish to make carpool arrangements. Do not make transportation reservations until the leader approves your participation in the trip
Getting There
The most popular and closest airport to the lodge is Reno, Nevada, only 60 minutes away; limited shuttle service and taxis are available. Other airport options are Sacramento, California, 1.5 hours away, and San Francisco, about 3 hours away. Those arriving by air or being dropped off at the lodge should plan to rent a car or make arrangements to carpool with other trip participants.
Due to insurance regulations, all transportation to the lodge, trailheads, and tour sites is the responsibility of each trip participant. Sierra Club leaders are not allowed to make carpool arrangements for participants, but the leader will provide a participant list for those who wish to make carpool arrangements. Do not make transportation reservations until the leader approves your participation in the trip. The trip leaders will provide information to guide your drive to the lodge.
Accommodations and Food
Located in majestic pine forest among mountains near Donner Summit, Sierra Club-owned Clair Tappaan Lodge is an historic, rustic retreat known for warmth, good company, and family-style meals. A professional kitchen staff prepares hearty and hot breakfasts and dinners, and provides a daily sandwich buffet from which you can pack a bag lunch. Guests are asked to assist with a chore, such as preparing meals, setting tables, serving, and cleaning up—taking about 20 minutes a day. Vegetarian options are always available, and the staff can usually accommodate other dietary restrictions with advance notice.
Coffee and water (tea available for purchase) are served with breakfast. Participants are invited to bring their additional beverages of choice—two refrigerators are available in the basement for guest use. Each morning before breakfast you will prepare your lunch. We highly recommend you bring a reusable plastic container to carry your sandwich in a daypack to reduce plastic/paper consumption and waste.
Note: the lodge is a rustic retreat, reflected in its low price that covers both lodging and meals. There are a variety of room types, ranging from single-sex dormitories to small, private cubicles for couples, and multiple-family rooms. Clair Tappaan staff will assign rooms in advance, based on room availability. We will sleep on bunk beds with mattresses and pillows provided. Bring sleeping bags and/or bedding. There are two men's and two women's restrooms that have private shower and toilet stalls in each. Bring your own towels and toiletries. The lodge can provide linens and towels for an additional fee.Trip Difficulty
Our hikes may range in distance from approximately 3-7 miles (round-trip) along well-traveled trails, with elevation gains of 300-1,000 feet. Our hikes are easy to moderate. We invite a range of hiking participants, from strong hikers to those not accustomed to hiking at altitude and others who may not have hiked much recently. With encouragement, children will be able to hike these trails, though all should have had some previous sustained hiking experience. Our hikes will always have a "shorter option," so the less ambitious and those who want to take photographs need not worry about holding up others. In previous years, participants' ages ranged from six to 70+ years; we've been able to accommodate everyone who is generally healthy and in good physical condition, has regular cardio exercise and a positive attitude.
We'll be at 7,000 to over 9,000 feet elevation, where the air is thinner and acclimation may take several days. You can expect a feeling of tiredness and fatigue initially, but can ease your transition and enjoyment by getting into shape early. Being physically unprepared is unfair to yourself and other trip participants. You should be able to walk one mile briskly (and three miles on flat terrain more leisurely) without getting winded and be able to carry on a conversation while doing so. If you’re able to do this consistently, you will do fine on this trip. Children should be expecting to hike and they should also prepare by taking frequent long walks in your home area.Equipment and Clothing
No special equipment is required; however, you need a light daypack, layered clothing, two (liter or quart) water bottles or a water bladder per participant, a sun hat or cap, and rain jacket/pants. At altitude it will be hot (probably in the 80s) and sunny (generally) during our stay in the mountains. We recommend you have “seasoned” hiking boots because of uneven terrain and stones on trails. Sandals are not acceptable for hiking, but can be worn at the lodge. Bring a fleece or jacket; the temperature drops quickly at sunset and by morning may be in the 40s. We will forward a list of items for you to bring after you have been approved for the trip.
References
Books:
- Howard, Thomas Frederick, Sierra Crossing: First Roads to California. 1998.
- Lankford, Scott, Tahoe Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Stories of America’s Largest Mountain Lake. 2010. True stories and legends.
- Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. 2005.
- Makley, Michael J., A Short History of Lake Tahoe. 2011.
- Reid, Robert Leonard, A Treasury of the Sierra Nevada. 1983.
- Strayed, Cheryl, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. 2012.
- Twain, Mark, Roughing It. 1872. Short newspaper stories about the Tahoe area.
Websites:
- Clair Tappaan Lodge: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/
- Donner Memorial State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/503/files/DonnerMemorialSP_Web2014.pdf
- Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park: www.parks.ca.gov/pages/510/files/EdZbergSugarPinePointSPWebBrochure2013.pdf
- Tahoe Science Center: http://terc.ucdavis.edu/ed-outreach/tahoe-science-center/
- Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada: https://www.washoetribe.us/contents/
Conservation
Because of its year-round attractiveness to outdoor enthusiasts, the Donner Pass/Lake Tahoe area (including segments of the Pacific Crest Trail) is one of the most heavily visited in Northern California. We will learn and practice Leave No Trace principles that will minimize our impact whenever we’re in nature, on trails or water. At the lodge, we will model recycling, conservation, and minimal use of disposable products. We will witness and discuss conservation implications of intensive use of the landscape we are visiting.
Our visit to the Tahoe Science Center, where scientific expertise is demonstrated, will focus on learning about and conserving the Lake Tahoe watershed, which will teach us lessons for protecting water back home.
Your leaders are volunteer Sierra Club members with a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We hope to impart to you some of our love for the area that we're visiting as a group and an understanding of the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club's Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. While on this trip, please feel free to share with us environmental issues and stories from your area.
Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, check out the information that the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/national/carbon-offsets#neutral
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under permits from Tahoe National Forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Sugar Pine Point State Park.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners