Clair Tappaan Lodge is a rustic mountain lodge at the top of Donner Pass.  The Lodge is owned and operated by the Sierra Club, but you don't have to be a Sierra Club member to stay at the Lodge.  It is open year round, offering an excellent location for visiting the Sierra and doing a wide range of outdoor activities. 

Winter at Clair Tappaan offers the highest average snowfall in the lower 48.  This makes for some of the finest Nordic and Alpine skiing you will find anywhere in the Tahoe area.

Summer at the Lodge offers a quiet, relaxing atmosphere with easy access to events throughout the Truckee and Tahoe areas. All summer Clair Tappaan hosts programs (go to the activities page of our website for our current offerings) ranging from week-long group outings to weekend workshops.  There are plenty of superb trails for day hikes and mountain bike rides, beautiful mountain lakes to swim, rivers to fish or boat, and extensive areas for both beginning and advanced rock climbing.

The Lodge has sleeping accommodations for 140 persons, all in single bunk beds.  The bunks are arranged in rooms of various sizes: two-person semi-private rooms, group rooms that sleep from five to twelve people, and larger single-gender dorms.  Common areas include the large living room that has an enormous stone fireplace, the cozy library, a large communal dining room, a ping pong room, a lounge, and a hot tub.

Plan Ahead and Prepare - Know Before You Go
(General Lodge Procedures)

The staff at Clair Tappaan Lodge wants you to have a truly great experience while you are here.  We have compiled a list of reminders to help best serve you and the other guests.  Please read these over.  Thank you.  J

Things To Know Before You Come To The Lodge:

• All Guests need to provide their own sleeping bag, toiletries, towel, and a bathing suit if you wish to use the hot tub.
• Rooms are heated to ?? o so a 3-season sleeping bag will do)
• All Guests are asked to choose a chore to do for each day they stay at the Lodge.
• Doors to the rooms do not lock. However, we have lockers. If you wish to lock up valuables, you can either bring your own lock or rent one from the Lodge office.
• Sorry, NO PETS of any species (except service dogs) are allowed to stay at the Lodge.
• From the road/parking lot to the Lodge there is an uphill path about 100 yards long. In the winter it can be snowy or icy, and in the summer it can be dusty and rocky. A good pair of hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes is recommended. A flashlight can be handy if you plan to arrive late at night.

Arrival:

Carts for wheeling your luggage over the bumpy dirt road are available at the north entrance.

Check in at the office (or find your room assignment on a sheet below the phone down the stairs to the left of the office)

Sign up for a chore for each day that you stay here.

While you are here:

• Arrive at dinner, lunch, and breakfast at posted times.
• Observe quiet hours from 10:00 PM until 7:00 AM
• Mattresses and pillows should never be removed from guest rooms.
• Turn out the lights in rooms as you leave. (Note: The timer switches in the bathrooms can be turned backward to off.)
• Limit showers to a reasonable time to conserve hot water.
• Be aware of all the fire exits.
• Keep exterior doors closed.
• Recycle all paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic in our bins.
• Observe the hot tub hours: opens at 2:00 PM and closes at 10:00 PM and always shower before entering the hot tub.
• Help by keeping the lodge clean and picking up after yourself.
• Report any areas that may need staff attention.
• Refrigerators are available for our guests in the downstairs lounge.  Please mark items with name and departure date.
• No smoking in, around, or near the lodge.

Chores:

• Arrive for your assigned chore on time.
• Do not cross out your name on the chore list.
• If you can not show up for your chore, please find a replacement or alert the staff.
• An adult must sign up with all children under 13. 
• See a staff person if the duties associated with your chore are unclear.

Kitchen etiquette:

• Check with the chef or a staff person before entering.
• Wash your hands upon entering the kitchen.
• Wear closed-toed shoes in the kitchen.
• Clean up your station when finished with your chore.
• Children under 13 must be supervised by an adult.
• Do not sign up for kitchen duty if you are sick.

Before you leave:

• Clean out your room of all trash and food (deposit in appropriate bins).
• Sweep your room, mop if necessary, and see a staff member if you need cleaning products.
• Remove pillow cases and place in dirty linen containers located on each end of the building.
• Leave the mattress cover on the bunk, unless it is dirty.
• Close windows, curtains, and exterior doors.  
• Vacate room by 11:00 AM, unless arrangements have been made with the front office for an extension.

How you can help Clair Tappaan Lodge:

• If you had a good experience, write Sierra Club National to let them know.

Sierra Club National Headquarters
85 Second Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA  94105 
Phone: 415-977-5500
Fax: 415-977-5799

.       Buy a t-shirt at our office to help support and advertise the lodge.

• Book another trip.
• Buy a Scrip Booklet (coupons good for future visits)
• Take some CTL literature with you and spread the word.
• Tell a friend and encourage them to come to CTL.
• Make a donation to Clair Tappaan Lodge at the office.

We, the staff of Clair Tappaan Lodge, feel that the seven principles that have been established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics should be applied to Clair Tappaan Lodge and the surrounding area.  We are "dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships"*.  We want to "build awareness, appreciation, and respect for our wildlands"*.  We want to apply these principles to our lodge.

1.  Plan Ahead and Prepare - Know Before You Go (see above):   

• Know the regulations and special concerns of Clair Tappaan Lodge (see above)
• Prepare for the visit - read this Information Sheet before you come.
• Be aware of our cancellation policy (below).
• Schedule your trip early - make a reservation at 530-426-3632 or 800-679-6775, or...
• Visit our website: www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/ or contact us by email: ctl@sierraclub.org. 
• Write us at:  P. O. Box 36, Norden, CA  95724.
• Leave no trace.

2.  Choose the Right Path   

• The right path to get up to Clair Tappaan is directly in front of the lodge.  
• Enjoy recreational activities right from our lodge.
• Check out our many activities on our website: www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/activities.asp
• Visit area attractions, historical landmarks, and recreational environments. 
• Use local maps to keep your experience safe.
• Leave no trace.

3.  Trash Your Trash

• Pack it in, pack it out, or deposit it in one of our recycling choices:  Trash, / Paper / Plastics, Aluminum, and Glass.
• Inspect your room when you arrive for trash and report to staff if it is not in acceptable condition.
• Upon departure, pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter or place in appropriate receptacles.
• Leave your room as clean (or cleaner) as you found it when you arrived.
• Leave no trace.

4.  Leave What You Find 

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts while exploring the culturally rich area of Donner Summit. 
• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
• Leave no trace.

5.  Minimize Campfire/Fireplace Impacts - Be Careful With Fire

• Use only our established fire ring or fire place. Fires can cause lasting and permanent impacts.
• If a fire is allowed, keep the fire small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, or wood that has been supplied by the lodge.
• In the winter, the wood by the door to the back yard is to be used in the library.  The wood in the wood room (in the basement) is to be used for the living room.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash; put out fire completely before retiring for the night.
• If you start the fire and leave before the fire is out, make sure you find a person to take on the responsibility of the safety of the fire.
• Leave no trace.

6.  Respect Wildlife 

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely (in your room and in your vehicle).
• Leave pets at home or use the kennel services in Truckee.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
• Leave no trace.

7.  Be Considerate of Other Visitors - Be Kind to Other Visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous.  We strive to be communal. 
• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
• Leave no trace.

Source:  *www.lnt.org

Reservations - Reservations may be made over the phone or on the web (www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/booknow/) with a major credit card number.  Your credit card holds your spot and will not be debited until you arrive and register or notify us of cancellation (please see our cancellation policy below).  Upon arrival, you can pay with cash, personal check, or credit card; at this time you must show proof of membership to receive the Sierra Club member's discount.  If you wish to reserve space and not use a credit card, you must make your request in writing and include payment for 50% of the reservation fee in the form of a check or money order.  All reservation requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  We recommend that reservations for busy weekends and holiday periods be made at least a month in advance.  For information about group bookings, call the main office 800-679-6775.

Rates

Group Rate Policy -- discounts are available for schools, youth groups, boy/girl scouts etc. Sunday through Thursday nights (except during holiday periods and days*).  The adult rate is $50 and child rate (13 and younger) is $32.  Group guidelines require a minimum of one chaperone to 7 youth and that chaperones are responsible for ensuring youth follow safety rules, consideration hours, and complete chores.

Group discounts are not available on winter season (Thanksgiving - Easter) weekends or Holiday Periods and Days*.  All members of groups pay the Sierra Club adult member price of $55 per night regardless of age.

• 7 or more days before arrival         -$10% of the total reservation cancelled,.
• 1 to 6 days before arrival              -25% of total reservation amount cancelled.
• Less than one day before arrival     -50% of the total amount cancelled.

Note:  Changing the dates of an existing reservation constitutes a cancellation of the dates in question. The only exception to the above policy is in the event of an official road closure by the State Department of Transportation due to weather (call CAL TRANS at 1-800-427-ROAD), in which case no cancellation fees apply. Please note that NO CASH REFUNDS are handed out at

the Lodge. All refund requests must be submitted to Clair Tappaan.

*   Holiday Periods and Days consist of 12/24-31, 2007, 1/21/08, 2/18/08.

** It is requested that children under 4 years old not be brought to the Lodge on winter weekends or Holiday Periods and Days.

Hutchinson Lodge

Introduction - "Hutch" is located just across the ravine from Clair Tappaan.  This smaller and more rustic lodge can be reserved by single groups of up to 25 people for a night, weekend, or longer.  Access entails a short hike or snowshoe of about 100 yards uphill from the road.  The facility consists mainly of one large room, with couches and benches, two wood stoves, and sleeping lofts.  There are indoor toilet and shower facilities, and the kitchen has enough equipment to cook for a group of 20 or more.  There is also a dry sauna that can be opened for a small additional charge.

Reservations - Reservation requests for the winter season and the following year are accepted only in writing and prior to November 1^st  for the upcoming winter.  All requests are processed through the priority system (work party participants are given top priority).  All written requests should include a check for 50% of the full amount of the reservation, or a credit card number with expiration date. After October 1st, requests for reservations are accepted by phone and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a ten person minimum at Hutchinson. Cancellation Policy - Deposits are refunded in full if the cancellation is made with more than 30 days before the arrival date.  The deposit is lost if the cancellation is made with less than 30 days notice before the arrival date.  The only exception to this policy is in the event of an official road closure by the State Department of Transportation due to weather (call CAL TRANS at 1-800-427-ROAD), in which case no cancellation fees apply.

Rates

Backcountry Huts

Introduction - The Sierra Club maintains four backcountry huts in the Lake Tahoe area.  Navigation is the responsibility of the user; the Sierra Club does not provide directions in winter months.  It is strongly recommended that parties not attempt trips to the huts in winter without prior experience.  Each cabin is supplied with a modest amount of firewood by volunteer work crews in the early fall.  This stock is intended to last the entire season, so you should use it conservatively with others in mind.  Visitors must bring their own sleeping, cooking, and personal equipment.

• The Peter Grubb Hut is located about three miles north of interstate 80 near the Boreal Ski area. It is located in Round Valley, north west of Castle Peak. Use the Norden 7.5 minute USGS map.

• The Benson Hut is approximately six miles south of Highway 40 at Donner Pass, along the ridge just beneath the north face of Anderson Peak.  Use the Norden 7.5 min. USGS map.

• The Ludlow Hut is above the west shore of Lake Tahoe, about seven miles up McKinney Creek at Richardson Lake.  The best map for the area of the Ludlow Hut is the Homewood 7.5 min. map.

• The Bradley Hut is in upper Pole Creek, about five miles in on Forest Road 8 from Highway 89 and about four miles southeast of Benson Hut.  The maps for the area of the Bradley are the Granite Chief and Tahoe City 7.5 min. maps

Reservations - Reservation requests for the winter season and the following year are accepted only in writing prior to October 1^st  for the upcoming winter.  All requests are processed through the priority system (work party participants are given top priority).  All written requests should include a check for the full amount of the reservation request, or credit card number with expiration date. After October 1st, requests for reservations are accepted by phone and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  All huts are available throughout the year except Bradley which is closed from mid May until mid October to minimize the disturbance of wildlife in this area.  Cancellation Policy - Reservation fees are refunded in full if the cancellation is made with more than 30 days before the arrival date.  The reservation fees are lost if the cancellation is made with less than 30 days notice before the arrival date.  The only exception to this policy is in the event of an official road closure by the State Department of Transportation due to weather (call CAL TRANS at 1-800-427-ROAD), in which case no cancellation fees apply.

The Staff at Clair Tappaan Lodge wants to thank you for coming to our lodge.  We hope that you have a wonderful stay and welcome any suggestions on how we can help keep the lodge the inspirational and unique place that it is.