If you fancy falling asleep in a luxury glamping yurt in the middle of yellow aspen groves in the Sierra Nevadas, then you need to book an October stay at the Desolation Hotel Hope Valley.
Formally the Wylder Hotel, the Desolation is a luxury mountain property with cabins and glamping yurts tucked just below South Lake Tahoe. My friend and I have been lusting over this place for years, so we finally booked a stay in this iconic California hotel.
And it was magical.
Desolation Hotel Hope Valley Luxury Glamping Yurts
I love to glamp and there are some fantastic glamping spots, but Desolation has taken glamping to a whole new level. Beyond a large bed and wireless phone chargers next to each side, we walked into find a huge soaking tub with a view of the mountains.
There’s a fireplace for all the vibes, Bluetooth speaker to stream music or podcasts. There’s a firepit out back if you wanted to roast marshmallows under the stars.
A stunning luxury glamping and cabin resort in the Sierra Nevadas in the heart of Hope Valley. Come in autumn for stunning fall colors. Enjoy their dining, sauna, hiking trails and more.
Each luxury yurt in Hope Valley has:
- King or Queen size beds
- Skylights for Stargazing
- Jotul Gas Fireplaces
- Deluxe Frette Linens
- Down-Alternative Comforters + Pillows
- Dog-Friendly Accommodations
Enjoy Luxury Amenities In The Mountains
What I loved about the Desolation Hotel property was all the amenities that made us want to stay on-site, despite all the stunning California fall foliage around.
Sorensen’s Cafe has delicious dishes like salmon and steak, with craft cocktails and a wine menu to sip the evening away. There’s also the newly opened Hope Valley Bar and Grill for more casual bites and beers.
Beyond food, we loved taking advantage of the hotel’s sauna hut. After living in Copenhagen for a summer, I’ve become obsessed with cold plunging and sauna culture, so I was thrilled to relax in the sauna hut one morning to ease my aching bones from all the hikes we were doing all the trails.
They have plenty of swings, chairs, and firepits around the property. We found ourselves grabbing coffee in the morning and wandering around the trails and paths, just soaking in all the fall foliage views.
The Most Magical Hotel In California’s Fall Foliage
But, of course, the perk of staying in the middle of the Sierra Nevadas right next to Lake Tahoe is going on all the hikes and exploring the area. Lake Tahoe / Hope Valley has THE best fall leaves in California.
There’s nearby Popo’s Trail ( 8.2 mile loop), Picket Peak (6.4 mile in and out trail) and the Connector Trail, an easy .6 mile loop around the property. Of course, you can take a quick drive up to South Lake Tahoe to walk around the lake, check out Vikingholms Castle, or drink a lot of beer if that’s up your alley.
Justina and I had such a wonderful time here. We came from June Lake Loop and Mono Lake the day before, and arrived in the afternoon. We immediately opened up a bottle of wine and enjoyed it on the patio while soaking in the fall leaves.
For dinner we had steak and more wine, then feel asleep looking at the stars under the dome in our yurt.
And of course, waking up to tons of yellow leaves out our front door was the star of the show. I can’t wait to come here in another California autumn season.
Happy fall leaf hunting!!
