High Sierra Camp, LLC — Hotel in Exeter

My husband and I just returned from a four night stay at the Sequoia High Sierra Camp, and we've been raving about the experience to friends, so let us rave to you Tripadvisor readers as well!||||First of all, we are really glad a few negative reviews didn't dissuade us. This remote location is heavenly, but if you are bothered by a 2 mile drive down a wilderness road followed by a mile uphill hike then perhaps this isn't for you. That's fine, that leaves more cabins for people like us who are desperate to get away from it all, are thrilled to have comfortable beds and incredibly delicious meals waiting for us so all we have to think about is which hike to take each day, or whether to just spend the day reading, relaxing and gazing upon the beautiful views.||||We traveled with another couple, one of whom had mobility issues, and they were accommodating of her needs, giving them a closer in cabin so the hike to the bath and shower facilities was brief. There are some cabins with particularly lovely views farther uphill, but you do have to be ready to hike up or down. Just let them know what you're up for, and give yourself time to acclimate to the high elevation. We had a cabin midway up, near the outdoor lounge/library (stocked with a fascinating collection of books, as well as many board games). ||||When we arrived at the central dining "temple" - I really don't know how else to describe it - our jaws dropped. Set on an outcropping with gorgeous views is a space designed to bring the outdoors right to your dining table. Not only is it beautiful, it's as if it were designed for COVID, with plenty of fresh air so you can relax and enjoy the delicious meals and end your day with stunning sunset views. The food is of a really high caliber - the appetizers are fantastic, San Francisco restaurant quality!||||We enjoyed meeting fellow travelers, all interesting, dynamic people who were up for adventure - many educators and world travelers. One family left early because the Mom and kid were just too scared of the outdoors - but they were quickly followed by two families with little children who were thrilled with being out in nature and who had a great time!||||The cabins are large and very comfortable. And yes, there is dirt in a National Park and sometimes you might track some dirt or rocks into your room. LOL. The beds are very comfortable, plenty of blankets, and there are lots of places to relax with a book both in and around your room and all around the camp. ||||We spend the first day on a 5 mile roundtrip hike to Rowell Meadow which was a great way to start - a few switchbacks uphill but then a pretty easy hike after that, lots of wildflowers and a lovely meadow to have the lunch (which they give you to pack ahead, sandwiches with ciabatta bread!) There is a more strenuous hike to Mitchell Peak, or a longer hike to Seville Lake (rewarded by a swim!) or a moderate hike to Lookout Point. You can also drive to other nearby hiking bases or into Grant Grove and other Sequoia/Kings Canyon spots. The road in/out is not for the faint of heart, but really if you've been on national forest roads before it's not a big deal! This is how you get away from it all.||||Thank you, Suzanne and Burr for the exceptional experience you've created. We can't believe we hadn't stumbled upon this amazing place before, and we can't...

Suzanne and Burr have clearly put their heart and soul into SHSC, and it shows. I cannot even imagine how much work it takes to maintain such a high-quality facility up in the back country. Just before our visit, the U.S. Forest Service closed all the national forests because of fire danger, but because this property is privately owned and not merely run by concessionaires, they were exempt, and, as we had booked well before the closing order, they quickly communicated with us to reassure us that they were open. That said, they still had to travel the 12+ miles from the camp to unlock the USFS gate to let us in and out at the beginning and end of our stay. This they did cheerfully, even though the forest closing must have been a terrible inconvenience for them. | But on the the Camp itself. What to say that isn’t already contained in some of the other recent five-star reviews? The setting, the food, the service, the comfortable tent-cabins, and the general laid-back atmosphere of the Camp were all superb. I guess I just don’t understand people who don’t read the SHSC website carefully and then expect to be escorted to the Ritz. It is a hike in, the altitude is high, it is constructed on dirt and gravel, there are tents!, you have to walk to the shared bathrooms, there is no internet or cell phone service . . . AND it is the perfect getaway. | Before our drive to SHSC, we had stayed a number of days at a more traditional lodge in Sequoia National Park at 7200 feet of elevation and had done several hikes in the parks. With the spectacular weather and the easy-going camp atmosphere, we decided to just hang around camp and read our books rather than take any “easy” hikes during our two night stay. It was the most relaxed I’ve felt in weeks. If you are not physically fit or are concerned about staying in a tent in the true back country, then please stay away. Otherwise, I cannot recommend SHSC...

First of all, this camp is located in a very beautiful setting, but it is very remote. About 1 hour off the main highway which includes about a 2 1/2 mile drive on a very rough dirt road. The website says 1 mile, but we clocked it. Be prepared with a suitable vehicle. After you arrive in the dirt parking lot, you will need to strap on your gear and hike another 20 minutes or so up a pretty good incline. If you're coming from a lower elevation as we were, you will not be prepared for the over 8,000 ft. elevation and how it affects your body. We were very winded, being average hikers. The tent cabins are spread out all over the property on the side of the mountain. Only about three cabins are on pretty flat ground with close access to the bathrooms. Our cabin was downhill from the bathrooms and main lodge, so we were making many trips up and down a hill for access. If you want to leave the property, you are facing another hike up and down the hill to the cars. To us, this is the biggest drawback to the property. There are several nice hikes near the property, but other than that, not much to do other than relax around the camp. The cabins were pretty warm the days we were there, so not too comfortable to hang out too long. On the positive side, the food is very good! The service was prompt and efficient. Breakfast and dinner were very nice along with the make-your-own brown bag lunch to take out hiking. Overall, the price seems high, but I can see how the remoteness of the camp must be more...