Best Spots to Shack Up in the Backcountry
Split boards await their owners outside the Benson Hut.
By Seth Lightcap
Historic Sierra Club digs offer a rustic rooftop overhead.
Whether you’re prime for a backcountry adventure or just keen for a lodging experience of yesteryear, the Tahoe Sierra Club lodges and huts provide an escape route to the wilderness unlike anything else in Tahoe. Although it’s largely BYO linens and food, these rustic Sierra Club facilities are some of the most affordable accommodations in the region at only $15 to $60 per night.
The Peter Grubb Hut
The Peter Grubb Hut is one of the most cherished shelters in the Sierra Nevada due to its idyllic location in the heart of Donner Summit, three miles north of Interstate 80. Built in 1939 as a memorial to Peter Grubb, a teenager from San Francisco who died while on a bicycle tour in Europe, winter backcountry ski enthusiasts flock to the A-frame, which provides a welcoming oasis tucked amongst world class ski runs. The three-mile approach to the hut requires complete backcountry precautions as the route meanders through avalanche-prone terrain.
The Benson Hut
For many local backcountry skiers, the Benson Hut, perched on the Sierra Crest six miles south of Donner Pass and about three miles south of Sugar Bowl ski resort, is the crown jewel of the Sierra Club hut system. Built in 1949 as a memorial to ardent skier John P. Benson, Jr., a U.S. soldier and Sierra Club member killed in World War II, the cabin’s creature comforts may pale in comparison to newer facilities, shelter, which sleeps 12, offers world-class expert ski terrain nearby and magnificent views in every direction. Taking in the vista will require a challenging effort however. The arduous approach route climbs over 1,800 feet; you can also buy a one-way lift ticket at Sugar Bowl for easier access.
The Bradley Hut
The Bradley Hut got a new lease on life in 1999 when it was relocated to its now-permanent position in the upper drainage of Pole Creek, about two miles north of Squaw Valley. Originally built in 1957 as a memorial to Josephine Bradley (the wife of former Sierra Club president and U.S. National Ski Hall of Famer Harold Bradley) it was moved when its previous site became Granite Chief Wilderness Area. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers enjoy the Bradley Hut, which sleeps 12 to 15, for its approach route that follows a mellow road for about five miles. The surrounding peaks hold gem descents for backcountry skiers, many of which are mere minutes from the hut door.
The Ludlow Hut
The unassuming Ludlow Hut is located six miles west of Lake Tahoe on the northern edge of the Desolation Wilderness. Built in 1955 by friends of Bill Ludlow, a U.S. soldier from Berkeley who loved ski touring in Tahoe and was killed in the Korean War, the 15-person A-frame is near Richardson Lake and backs up to several surrounding peaks worthy of exploration. The five-mile approach follows a summer road along McKinney Creek. The road is also a favorite snowmobile route.
The Clair Tappaan Lodge
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