- Sierra Club
Sierra Club Mountain Lodges and Backcountry Huts
Historic hike-in huts and mountain lodges near Lake Tahoe.
6 campgrounds
Peter Grubb Hut
1. Peter Grubb Hut
Soda Springs, CA · 2 units
Nestled near Castle Peak and just north of Boreal Ski Resort, Peter Grubb Hut is a beloved Sierra Club backcountry hut in the Tahoe region, set just off the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a classic base for high-country adventure, with skiing and hiking options in all directions and a real sense of being out in the mountains—without being far from Donner Summit.
Access is by human power only: the hut is reached via an approximately 3-mile hike or ski approach. Once you arrive, you’ll have a simple, communal space to warm up, cook, and settle in for a night (or a multi-day trip) in the Sierra.
Please note, this is serious mountain terrain. Use extra caution: surrounding slopes are steep, avalanche hazard can be frequent, and conditions can become dangerous quickly when weather turns.
Inside the hut you’ll find:
• Upstairs sleeping loft accommodating up to 15 guests
• Main room with wood-burning stove, tables, and kitchen area
• Side rooms for storing firewood and limited maintenance supplies
• A two-story outhouse is located 75 ft west of the hut.
By booking Peter Grubb Hut, you’re helping support the Sierra Club’s ongoing stewardship of these historic huts so they can continue welcoming visitors for generations to come.
Toilets
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from
$55
/ night
Ludlow Hut
2. Ludlow Hut
Tahoma, CA · 2 units
Set near Lost Corner Mountain on Lake Tahoe’s west shore, Ludlow Hut is a classic Sierra Club backcountry shelter that rewards capable travelers with a true hut-in-the-woods experience and a real sense of solitude.
You can drive to Ludlow Hut in summer. In winter, there is no car access—expect a challenging ~5.2-mile approach on skis or snowshoes, with approximately 1,100 ft of elevation gain from the Rubicon–McKinney trailhead area. The traditional winter route follows the summer road along McKinney Creek past Miller Lake toward Richardson Lakes.
Set back from the lake and blended into the snow and trees, the hut can be difficult to spot in winter. Once you arrive, you’ll have a simple, communal base for exploring the surrounding terrain—whether you’re heading out for winter touring and snow travel or summer hiking in the high country.
This is serious mountain terrain. Please use extra caution: surrounding slopes are steep, avalanche hazard can be frequent, and conditions can become dangerous quickly when weather turns.
Inside the hut you’ll find:
• Upstairs sleeping loft accommodating up to 15 people.
• Main room with a wood-burning stove, tables, and a kitchen area.
• A two-story outhouse is approximately 100 ft southeast of the hut.
By booking Ludlow Hut, you’re helping support the Sierra Club’s ongoing stewardship of these historic huts so they can continue welcoming visitors for generations to come.
Toilets
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from
$55
/ night
Clair Tappaan Lodge
3. Clair Tappaan Lodge
Soda Springs, CA · 46 units
Tucked among the pines near Donner Summit, Clair Tappaan Lodge is a historic Sierra Club alpine lodge offering a warm, communal base for mountain adventures year-round. Built in the 1930s and cared for by generations of Sierra Club members and volunteers, the lodge has long welcomed skiers, hikers, and outdoor travelers into the heart of the Sierra Nevada.
The drive-in lodge features private two-person rooms, larger rooms, and simple, cozy bunk-style accommodations, with twin-sized bunk beds and shared bathrooms. The lodge boasts shared common spaces, and a library perfect for winding down after a day outdoors. Guests can enjoy cooked communal meals (extra fee) and a relaxed, social atmosphere that reflects the lodge’s deep roots in outdoor culture and conservation.
In winter, Clair Tappaan Lodge provides direct access to classic snowshoe and cross-country ski routes, with nearby ski areas including Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge, Boreal, and Donner Ski Ranch. In warmer months, the surrounding trails open up for hiking, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. Lake Tahoe and major resorts like Palisades Tahoe and Northstar are also within easy reach.
Staying here helps support the ongoing stewardship of this special place, ensuring continued access to the Sierra’s mountain landscapes for generations to come. Whether you’re planning a snowy weekend escape or a summer hiking trip, Clair Tappaan Lodge offers a rare chance to stay somewhere with real history, purpose, and connection to the land.
Check in from 15:00–23:00.
Check out at 10:00.
Toilets
Showers
Wifi
from
$82
/ night
Benson Hut
4. Benson Hut
Soda Springs, CA · 2 units
Benson Hut is a historic Sierra Club stone refuge built in 1939, tucked beneath the north face of Anderson Peak at roughly 8,350 ft. Set along the Pacific Crest Trail, it offers extraordinary views to the east, north, and west—and a true high-Sierra hut experience for experienced, well-prepared groups.
Access varies by season: in summer, Benson Hut is reachable by vehicle, while in winter it requires a ~5.5-mile hike or ski approach (expect roughly 1,800 ft of elevation gain on the typical route). Many guests use it as an overnight stop as part of more advanced backcountry routes and multi-day traverses.
This is serious mountain terrain. Please use extra caution: surrounding slopes are steep, avalanche hazard can be frequent, and conditions can become dangerous quickly when weather turns.
Inside the hut you’ll find:
• Upstairs sleeping loft accommodating up to 12 people
• Main room on the ground floor with wood-burning stove, table, & kitchen area.
• (Six fold-down bunks can be used when the main room isn’t crowded)
• Side rooms for firewood and limited maintenance supplies
• A two-story outhouse approximately 100 ft west of the hut.
By booking Benson Hut, you’re helping support the Sierra Club’s ongoing stewardship of these historic huts so they can continue welcoming visitors for generations to come.
Toilets
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from
$55
/ night
Bradley Hut
5. Bradley Hut
Sunnyside Tahoe City, CA · 2 units
Bradley Hut is a classic Sierra Club backcountry hut in the Tahoe region, reached via an approximately 4.7-mile hike or ski approach. It’s a favorite among ski tourers planning multi-day adventures, with backcountry terrain in all directions from the hut.
The hut sits near Silver Peak in the Pole Creek area (north of Olympic Valley/Palisades Tahoe). The approach is a steady climb, with roughly 1,600 ft of elevation gain from the Pole Creek trailhead area.
This is serious mountain terrain. Please use extra caution: surrounding slopes are steep, avalanche hazard can be significant, and conditions can become dangerous quickly when weather turns.
Inside the hut:
• Upstairs loft accommodating up to 15 people
• Main room with wood-burning stove, tables, and kitchen area
• Two small side rooms used for firewood and limited maintenance supplies
• A two-story outhouse is approximately 40 ft north of the hut.
By booking Bradley Hut, you’re helping support the Sierra Club’s ongoing stewardship of these historic huts so they can continue welcoming visitors for generations to come.
Toilets
Campfires
Cooking equipment
from
$55
/ night
Hutchinson Lodge
6. Hutchinson Lodge
Soda Springs, CA · 1 unit
Perched above Donner Lake near Donner Summit, Hutchinson Lodge is a historic Sierra Club mountain retreat built in 1924 as the original Sierra ski lodge. Set in the woods next door to Clair Tappaan Lodge (also listed on Hipcamp), it offers a quiet, rustic base for year-round Sierra adventures.
This lodge is unstaffed and self-sufficient, designed for groups who enjoy a simple, communal experience. Inside you’ll find shared sleeping lofts with pads, a fully equipped kitchen, bathrooms with showers, and a sauna, along with efficient wood-burning stoves that keep the lodge warm during winter. Guests should bring their own bedding, towels, toiletries, and food.
Drive-in accessible year-round, Hutchinson Lodge provides a quiet, communal base for winter hiking, snow play, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, with easy access to nearby ski areas and trails. In warmer months, it’s equally well-suited for hiking, group retreats, and relaxed mountain getaways.
With space for up to 25 guests, staying here supports the ongoing care of a nearly century-old Sierra Club lodge and helps keep this special place open for future generations.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from
$700
/ night