SCHNEESTERN - A Summer and Winter Cabin in Serene Lakes - Soda Springs, CA

Our mountain cabin is in the Serene Lakes area of Soda Springs, California. The 2 mountain lakes are located at the top of Donner Summit, (elevation 7200 ft. ) just 12 miles west of Truckee, CA. It is still close enough to the big Ski resorts and still far away from the congestion of the big resorts.

The area is surrounded by National Forest Land and Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Area. It is a small community of around 500 homes from low key forty year old cabin to multi million dollar chalets populated with 2nd home owners and year round residents.

It is quiet and peaceful nearly all the time and feels like a time travel back in time.

We Our small cabin is just one block away from the cross country ski tracks of Royal Gorge and 5 minute bike ride down to the Lakes, which are drink water reservoir and used in the summer for swimming, non-motorized boating, and fishing.

The area also provides in summer excellent hiking, mountaineering and mountain biking opportunities. Tennis and Horseback riding is 15 min away, as is kayaking and river rafting which can be done individually or with large rafting companies providing guides to help you navigate the rapids. Water skiing on Donner Lake is also 15 minutes away.

In the winter, Soda Springs is said to get more snow than any other town in North America (including Canada) , so it is a superb area for cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and sledding just out the front door. We are within 5 minutes of 4 local ski resorts and only 20 min. from Squaw Valley USA and many other popular California ski resorts for downhill skiing, snow boarding, snow tubing and ice skating on an open air, Olympic size rink.

In the summer, many of the ski resorts offer mountain biking down the slopes with chair lift rides up the mountain. Some also offer lifts up the mountain for backpackers and day hikers looking for an easier way to access the high country.

The town of Truckee is like a piece of the "Old West" yet offers great shopping, restaurants and galleries. Lake Tahoe is just a beautiful 35 minute drive away and offers gambling and shows in addition to pristine beaches, and other natural attractions. Reno, Nevada is 1 hour away and has an international airport, as well as the wild and crazy night life with large casinos, and world class entertainment.