Rustic is a word too often tossed around when marketing people try to describe their lodging properties. But for real rustic, head to the Lost Trail Lodge located off the grid in a canyon outside Truckee. Getting to the lodge is an adventure in itself, especially when the Sierra is in winter-wonderland mode. Four miles from parking when winter is in full swing, the way into the property is either on snowshoes, cross-country skis or skis with skins. Don’t worry about schlepping in gear, though, as Lost Trail Lodge has everything you need for sleeping and cooking (a commercial-grade range, refrigerator, dishwasher, pots and pans). You and your friends will have to pack food, but water comes from the lodge’s own backcountry wells and power from the sun and hydroelectric turbines. And while the Lost Trail Lodge is rustic, it isn’t spartan. It features four rooms with a variety of bed sizes, linens, bathrooms, showers and even some with Jacuzzi tubs. There is a separate cabin for rent with a fireplace that shares a bathroom in the lodge. The lodge’s comfortable common area is stocked with board games, countless books and a variety of acoustic musical instruments for impromptu jamming into the night. During summer, guests in low-clearance vehicles can get to about a quarter-mile of the lodge; those with four-wheel-drive and high clearance can drive all the way. Whether in summer or winter, the lodge is base camp for all-things backcountry like skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking or just relaxing in the surrounding solitude. Lost Trail Lodge is dog friendly, but fees and rules do apply. Depending on dates and occupancy, guests can either rent one room or the entire lodge.
Featured for Your Visit
