Travel is about more than checking destinations off your list. It’s about joining a long legacy of people who have experienced, loved, and stewarded places throughout time. In Donner Pass, sits Hutchinson Lodge. A place where the past and the present coexist.
Built by Lincoln and James Hutchinson, and their friends, in the summers of 1924 and 1925, the Lodge served as a winter and summer base for their mountain adventures. Sierra Club members and volunteers built the larger Clair Tappaan Lodge right next door, so when, in 1955, the aging Hutchinson group decided it was time to offload the property, they decided Sierra Club was a natural fit. Under Sierra Club’s management, Hutchinson Lodge has continued to welcome skiers, hikers, and all outdoor enthusiasts for decades.
Hutchinson Lodge is a living time capsule. As you enter the Lodge, it feels a bit like stepping back through time. Windows with shutters that could be original, soaring wood beams, and two wood-burning stoves to warm the space. Alongside the historic features, exists modern comforts such as cozy lounge spaces, a full kitchen, and even a sauna to warm up after a long day on the slopes.
Sierra Foothills Living put it beautifully:
“Walking into Hutchinson Lodge is akin to opening a riveting novel filled with tales of pioneers, adventurers, and families seeking respite from their journeys. The very walls of the lodge seem to resonate with stories from times long past. But what’s even more compelling is the lodge’s resilience to stand tall, with its charisma intact, through the changing times.”
If you’re interested in venturing to the Sierras this winter or beyond, consider experiencing a piece of true Sierra Club history by staying at Clair Tappaan or Hutchinson Lodge. | 
