San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
TWO LAKE TAHOE HOTELS, ONE INCREDIBLE OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE
Just west of Lake Tahoe is one of the most stunning outdoor retreats in the U.S., the Desolation Wilderness. The crest of the Sierra Nevada range splits this 60,000-acre federally protected natural wonderland, filled with hiking trails like the famous Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, wildlife, and some of the most breathtaking views of majestic Lake Tahoe you’ll ever experience. In winter, the surrounding area boasts the best alpine skiing this side of the Atlantic.
Regardless of the season, a visit to the Lake Tahoe region is a thrilling and rejuvenating prospect, says Richard Dunne, general manager of Desolation Hotel South Lake Tahoe.
“Desolation Hotel is perfect for the modern wilderness adventurer,” Dunne explains. “Guests at our hotel enjoy all the comforts of home but spend the majority of their time outdoors.”
Whether it be lounging lakeside on the Tahoe beaches, hiking the Desolation Wilderness with your dog, or skiing the world-class slopes of nearby Heavenly Resort, Desolation Hotel guests come for the rugged outdoor experience without sacrificing comfort or luxury. “Our guests spend the day adventuring then come home and relax in our sauna, take a dip in the saltwater pool, and enjoy gourmet dining.”
Thirty minutes from South Lake Tahoe lies pristine Hope Valley, where Desolation Hotel’s new renovated location offers guests a unique off-grid experience. “Hope Valley is an outpost for the great outdoors,” says Brandon Crudup, general manager of Desolation Hotel Hope Valley. Known for its seven elevated “glamping” yurts and 27 unique and rustic cabins, Desolation Hotel Hope Valley blends history and modernity. “We focus on guests’ experience and helping them connect with nature, disconnect with their day-to-day life, reconnect with their friends and family, while recharging in the mountains.”
Trying to experience everything the Lake Tahoe region offers is next to impossible, but spending a week split between Desolation Hotel locations is as close as you can get. When trip planning, Dunne and Crudup recommend visiting Sunday through Thursday, especially in the winter, when weekend lift lines at the ski resorts can be long. Another insider tip: Bring your dog; both Desolation Hotel locations are extremely dog-friendly, and city dogs need to reconnect with nature as much as you do.
Start your outdoor adventure at Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, where off-the-grid meets amenity-laden accommodations. Stargazing, fly fishing, snowshoeing, hiking: Hope Valley offers guests 165 acres of the best mountain terrain to reconnect with nature’s splendor. The clifftop off-grid yurts provide a surreal escape from the trappings of modernity, where glampers trade electricity and running water for a cozy indoor fireplace .The luxury yurts offer deep soaking tubs, electricity, partition bathrooms, and skylights that let in the majesty of dark-sky country.
“Desolation Hotel Hope Valley is like summer or winter camp for adults,” says Crudup, noting that with cabins, yurts, campsites, and RV sites, Hope Valley has accommodations for everyone. The elevated comfort food at Sorensen’s Cafe provides guests a farm-totable dining experience in the middle of the wilderness. After dinner, spend time in the wood-burning sauna and cold shower then retreat to your yurt, where couples can share a bottle of wine from the onsiteHope Valley Cafe & Market and watch the night sky from their private oasis.
In winter, guests explore miles of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the resplendent beauty of the valley, whose crests, rivers, and picturesque glens have led many to call this paradise a mini-Yosemite. Within a 30-minute hike, Hope Valley offers some of the best powder runs in the region, all complemented by unforgettable views of Carson Pass. Plus, access to Kirkwood, which receives 500 inches of snow per year, is less than 25 minutes away by car.
After spending the first part of your getaway reconnecting with nature, follow that experience with a rare combination of scenic exploration and luxury accommodations at Desolation Hotel South Lake Tahoe. Here, style meets accessibility. The hotel’s sleek design nods to its Japanese and Scandinavian architectural inspiration. Every room has all the creature comforts of home—huge beds, super-fast WiFi, fireplaces, and private balconies—plus some you may not have, like heated floors and oversized soaking tubs, as well as access to a sauna, jacuzzi, and saltwater pool.
Desolation Hotel South Lake Tahoe’s onsite restaurant, Maggie’s, offers intimate fine-dining American cuisine in a relaxing setting (reservations highly recommended yearround). All this and just steps from the lifts at Heavenly and close to the lake and surrounding trails, plus all the dining, shopping, and entertainment the resort town of South Lake Tahoe has to offer.
“Having a brilliant wilderness experience at Tahoe’s beaches, hiking trails, or on the slopes—then coming back to a place where you can truly unwind—has never been easier,” says Dunne. Hotel guests enjoy ski valet services, meaning your snowboard or ski gear shows up at your hotel door the day you plan to hit the slopes. Heavenly is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and Stagecoach Chair Lift, a favorite of skiers, is also nearby.
Not only that, but the town of South Lake Tahoe has a rising profile. There’s so much to do here now, says Dunne, that guests can easily pair their outdoors adventures with a variety of activities in town. Of special note is the new Tahoe Blue Event Center, which hosts sporting events, concerts, and cultural experiences all year long. Dunne recommends checking the Tahoe Blue Event Center calendar to time your visit with an exciting experience. “Everything is five minutes away,” says Dunne.
Most of all, both Desolation Hotel locations foster a reconnection with our most valuable natural resource, the empty wilderness where human beings have been seeking peace and rejuvenation for generations. No matter when you plan to visit, your wildernest awaits at Desolation Hotel.
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