Our Serene Lakes cabin is located in an idyllic setting for year-round family fun. It is one block from the lakes and a short walk to the boat launches. There are many activities close by to enjoy in both summer and winter.
In the summer, the beach is a great place for kids play. Swimming is allowed in the larger lake and non-motorized boats can be used in both. There are also many hiking and biking trails in the area.
We are minutes from several ski resorts. Sugar Bowl, Soda Springs and Boreal are all conveniently located within a few miles drive. Royal Gorge is home to some of the best cross country skiing in the world. Its trails wind around the neighborhood and the Royal Gorge trail head is a short walk from our front door.
Our bright and sunny cabin sleeps eight comfortably, (two queen sized beds, one full bed, and a set of twin bunk beds) and can accommodate three additional guests on two pullout sofa beds. The master bedroom looks out over woodland and the two upstairs bedrooms also have great views.
We have conventional propane heating, plus a log fireplace in the great room for cozy winter evenings. The two lounge areas in the great room are perfect to gather your family around a board game or movie, and it opens out onto a wide deck. We have a large, well-equipped kitchen that has all the amenities for family cooking. Our dining table easily seats ten. Other features include a foosball table, Wi-Fi access to DSL internet, a full size washer/dryer, and large single-car garage.
Come spend some time in our cabin and you’ll want to return again and again.
Placer STR # STR22-6426 Good Neighbor Flyer http://tinyurl.com/4bu3m6ap Keywords: Cabin
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Soda Springs
Serene Lakes, a neighbourhood in Soda Springs, is home to this cabin. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Donner Lake and Donner Memorial State Park, while Emigrant Trail Museum and Old Truckee Jail Museum are cultural highlights. KidZone Museum and Olympic Museum are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
Boreal Mountain Resort - 8 min drive - 8.9 km
Donner Lake - 15 min drive - 18.1 km
Northstar California Resort - 34 min drive - 35.1 km
Palisades Tahoe - 41 min drive - 47.0 km
Getting around
Truckee Station - 24 min drive
Truckee, CA (TKF-Truckee Tahoe) - 24 min drive
Restaurants
Upper Deck Bar (at Boreal) - 9 min drive
For Real Dough - 10 min drive
Village Espresso - 14 min drive
The Pub At Donner Lake - 15 min drive
Mid-Mountain Lodge - 15 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Sierra Retreat Second to None! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Sierra Retreat Second to None!?
As of 16 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sierra Retreat Second to None! on 19 Apr 2026 start from £221, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Sierra Retreat Second to None!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Sierra Retreat Second to None!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Sierra Retreat Second to None!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Sierra Retreat Second to None! located?
Located in Serene Lakes, this cabin is within 1 mile (2 km) of Tahoe National Forest and Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort. Soda Springs and Sugar Bowl Resort are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This house was great for a stay near the Royal Gorge. Big kitchen with a huge table and 2 nice seating areas in the living room. Only 4 of us but could easily accommodate more without being too crowded. Kitchen had everything we needed. Would stay here again.
This is a quintessential ski chalet with everything that you need. It has plenty of space for a large group with a large lovely living room. There is a great mud room too with a foosball table and garage. Everything was very clean and easy. The hosts were also very accommodating.
The neighborhood is well plowed considering how much snow they get up there and is very close to Royal Gorge and the Sugarbowl.
We’ll definitely be back!
Once we were able to get into the property and actually drive up the driveway into the garage we had a great time. There was no cell service outside the cabin and the lock box code didn’t work. Also it wasn’t clear how to use the code to the front door and clear it so it would work. We had to drive to Soda Springs Rd to get cell service to send a message to the owner to call us. It was getting dark and this made it a bit stressful. Thank goodness he got the message and called. Also the driveway was very steep and icy we couldn’t get into the garage. Finally the property manager sent a person to put salt on the driveway. It would have been helpful to have a phone number in the listing to call if there were problems. The owner was VERY helpful once we got inside. There was a house phone he was able to call me on. The trip was VERY successful for our family and 4 grandchildren’s first snow trip. We played on the local snow hill at Cascade and Acorn with the sleds and saucers and we walked onto Serene Lake too. The cabin was great for the number of people we had. A fun time was had by all. We had all our meals in the house the kitchen worked out great!! This was my first time doing a VRBO.
This home was perfect for our stay. Enough bedrooms for all 6 people and was clean and comfortable. Large kitchen and plenty of space. Being able to use the kayak was perfect. Serene lakes was great for hiking and water play after the snow fall in mid June.
Overall good property. Main full size refrigerator down in the basement. That’s very inconvenient and weird to not have a full size fridge in the kitchen. Also listing says it sleeps 11. It doesn’t really sleep 11. Only 8 really - couch has pullout bed but with all adults can’t sleep 11. Very misleading.
Group enjoyed their stay.
We had a good time skiing Sugarbowl, and then the cabin was a great retreat: easy in and out, nice fire, good kitchen for cooking, big table for games, fabulous natural light, and well-stocked with linens/towels/soap/shovels/wood. We hope to come back.
The house is modern and very comfortable with easy access to all the outdoor recreation possibilities in Serene Lakes. The owners were responsive and very accommodating. We will definitely stay here again!
House has a lovely big kitchen and living room. It also has a huge kitchen table with 14 chairs where we had fun family meals. There is only a half fridge in the kitchen and no freezer in the kitchen which is tough if you like to cook like we did. (There is a full size fridge and freezer on the story below.)
My friends and I rented this cabin for a girls getaway and I loved it so much I ended up extending my stay a few days. The cabin is clean and spacious and the neighborhood is beautiful. Serene Lake is just one block away and it’s perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding. It was the perfect summer getaway!
This is a wonderful home in a great location, and had everything we could have needed. The owners were also incredibly attentive. We couldn’t have been happier with our stay.
Really nice property, as advertised. We could not find the shovels but we made so. Small leak in the shower. Owners really nice to give us a 3rd night at a discounted rate. Would rent this again for sure.
John G.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Verified
6/10 Okay
Joshua J.
16 Mar 2019
Great house, poor snow removal service
Overall, house was great, enjoyed our stay. Driveway was not plowed and it was a big snow weekend so it was a total hassle. Luckily we were able to hire someone to clear the driveway. Owner was very responsive but failed to rectify issue for 1.5 days. Then the owner expects us to wake up at 5am and dig out and move cars for plow each day. Not exactly ideal for a vacation. He did refund us $250 but I feel that was minimal for the difficulty it caused us. Beware of asnow service if you stay here. -josh
Joshua J.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Anna L.
29 Jan 2019
Wonderful Family Cabin
We stayed here for New Years and loved it, the cabin was warm and comfortable. We loved the big table with seating for 10. Our children built a sledding run on the hill surrounding the cabin. We'd love to come back sometime.
Anna L.
Verified
8/10 Good
Jean H.
14 Jan 2019
This is a great house.
One thing that characterizes this house is the quality and modernity of fixtures (e.g. gold tub faucets that atypically have a pull-down insert to start the shower flow; a thermostat set by finger touch as with a smart phone touch screen). The kitchen is supplied with a large quantity of top of the line appliances (e.g. Bosch stove/oven) and cooking/serving supplies, including lots of knives that are very well sharpened—unusual in my experience. We also appreciate the housekeeping, though they may need a better check list for essential supplies such as garbage bags.
We did OK with the small counter-level refrigerator, since there was a very large one on the ground level, but people who don’t like taking stairs might find that inconvenient. There is a very large toaster though we would have appreciated also a toaster oven.
The table seats 8 easily, and more chairs are stored in ground level room. The beds were comfortable and furniture was beautiful. However, we had to move shelf-loads of towels and blankets from built-in closet shelves in the first floor bedroom in order to have the equivalence of drawer space for clothes, as there was no bureau. (This could be rectified by having housekeeping store such extras in a different spot.) In fact, the whole house was beautifully furnished, with Native American art on the walls.
A functioning fireplace and plenty of wood were appreciated. Two of the three bathrooms had deep tubs for soaking after a day of skiing, and there were lots of thick quality towels. (Unless the owner changes the situation, you should bring your own washcloths.)
All the rooms except kitchen and baths had nice Berber carpet. The downstairs room was also carpeted and a great place to take off skis, store outdoor clothing, etc. From this house one can walk just 6-7 blocks to access Big Ben trail and from there ski 5-10 minutes up to Summit Station to purchase ski passes. No need for a car to get to Royal Gorge.
The internet is fast and reliable, but the TV has a relatively small screen of 31” with murky sound. We could use Verizon sometimes by stepping outside onto the deck.
When it snowed, the snow plow service removed the snow immediately. Still, the driveway is steep and we found we couldn’t easily get in and out due to sheet ice.
Jean H.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Ivette L.
24 Aug 2018
Perfect house close to the lake!
My family loved this home for our summer week at Serene Lakes! Easy short walk or bike ride to the lake beach! Family friendly :)
Ivette L.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2018
Archival
8/10 Good
adam s.
9 Mar 2017
great winter cabin
Great cabin. really good layout for a family or maybe even 2.
Thanks Richard!
adam s.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2017
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Katrina P.
7 Mar 2017
wonderful cabin
Very nice, spacious cabin, upgraded and well maintained, comfortable bedrooms, large living area, and very well stacked kitchen. It took us a while to find a large refrigerator in the laundry room downstairs.
Katrina P.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Chalida A.
7 Jan 2016
Perfect for families in the winter
Just returned from a wonderful stay at this Sierra Retreat. A 10 minute drive from skiing. A driveway for the little ones to sled. Tons of snow. Felt like a winter wonderland and a short walk from snow-shoeing on the lakes. The house is spacious and comfortable and the kitchen is well-stocked for lots of cooking! Our 4-year old cried when we had to leave!
Chalida A.
Archival
6/10 Okay
Sherri F.
4 Mar 2015
Great Location, but we had challenges sleeping
My sister's family and my family went there together for a skip trip. The cabin is beautiful. The living area is spacious and the kids liked playing with the snow in the balcony. The owner was very responsive to all of our inquiries and was very helpful in the process. We went to Soda Springs and to Boreal, and both were very close to the lodge. The location is amazing! However, I don't think I will go back for 2 reasons:
1)
The biggest challenge we had was that the heating vent in the room downstairs is set right below the bed, and the room was at least 10 degrees hotter than the rest of the house. The kids kept waking up crying and feeling ill, and we couldn't sleep either. We ultimately escaped into the living room and slept on the couch. We were all exhausted at the end of the trip because of lack of good sleep. My sister's family who had the upstairs bedroom was fine though.
2)
We also struggled because of lack of hot water. Only 2 of us could shower in the evening because the hot water ran out shortly after. We don't take long showers so it was surprising and disappointing. We wanted to all take a hot shower after a long day of skiing, and we couldn't do that.
If the owners can fix these two things, I think it will be an amazing place for both the winter and summer.
Sherri F.
About the host
Hosted by Hemingway
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests