Stanford Sierra Conference Center

As a Cal undergrad, I was told nonstop to hate everything about Stanford. I heard that while the Cal summer camp was rustic and charming, as camps should be, Stanford’s was awash in hoity toity gourmet food, actual structured cabins with real beds and heating, and even GOLF CARTS.
Well, fast forward a few years and I’m all about those fancy amenities. I visited Sierra Camp for a wedding a few weeks ago and it was the perfect balance of nature and comfort. If the wifi was more reliable, I’d even venture to call it glamping.
I loved the nighttime star gazing tour on the lake, complete with blankets and a thermos of hot cocoa on the boat, the paddleboating (or is it peddleboating?) the next day, as well as the cozy lodges with fires burning to lounge around in and read books.
As for the most important part, the food, it was spectacular. From the gargantuan salad bar to the cookies that they set out for us at the end of the night of the wedding, it was delicious and well-​made. The service was outstanding from beginning to end, too, with the staff always smiling and on hand to provide any help needed. It’s such a happy place!
Our group was so impressed that we discussed possibly getting on the 5-​year waitlist for alum families to be able to come during the summers. Maybe by the time I’m off the waitlist I’ll have some kids who will appreciate these beautiful surroundings!

We have been going to Stanford Sierra Camp for three years now. We attend a family weekend hosted for Stanford GSB Alums and we always have a wonderful time. The staff is super high energy, happy and friendly. The lake is absolutely gorgeous and the weather this year was especially perfect. We hit the high 70s every day during the weekend of Sept 15 – 16 and it was marvelous.
I only wish the food was a bit more flavourful for vegetarians and the accommodations were a bit better. Then again, we’re up in the woods/​mountains etc.
All in all, we love Sierra Camp!!!

Rustic accommodations, spectacular setting and barely tolerable food. The lodge rooms are comfortable enough, but the floors are super squeaky and there is a motor or pump that runs 24/​7-​bring earplugs! There isn’t any cell phone service, and the wifi connection is good. The outdoor possibilities are wonderful, hiking, boating, tennis, volleyball, or just sitting and looking at the lake. The food has really gone down from prior years, it is over cooked, cold, unimaginative and the only seasoning the cook seems to know is pepper-​definite disappointment especially in light of what the all inclusive fees are. My gluten and dairy free roommate has had very slim pickings in the food offerings, luckily, the lunch and dinner salad bar is very good. Overall, would not recommend or stay here again.

Was here in 1991 for a week of corporate training. It’s perfect for such events where you both want to bond with your teammates and be away from it all. You can make an excursion 10 miles away to South Lake Tahoe if you want some of that sort of fun.

My family and I spent Faculty and Staff Weekend here– it was GREAT!!! Think of it as going back to summer camp with your kids — rural accommodations and location, gorgeous scenery, an outdoorsy existence — it was amazing! Cell phones don’t work in the area, there are no TVs in the cabins or the lodge and Wifi, forget about it! We were off the grid for three days. Oh my God, we had to TALK to each other (YIKES!) While off our technological tethers, we enjoyed hiking, we took boats out on the lake (paddle, kayak, row boats-​we tried them all) and participated in a bonfire sing-​a-​long that included marshmallow roasting and smores!
Keeping the place humming is a fabulous and enthusiastic staff of young people who each seem to be the jack and jacquelines of all trades — serving dinner, conducting boat tours, leading hikes, general maintenance and smore construction and calling numbers at Disco Bingo Night (a camp classic) were only a few of the many talents each staff member seemed to possess. And, no matter what they did, it was done with a smile. It also brought a huge smile to my face when they took my VERY active 6-​year-​old off for the day with the rest of the kids and returned her to me exhausted. Bless you people!
As far as the food, if you leave Stanford Sierra Camp in a state of hunger, you did something wrong! They make sure you want for nothing. It was a fantastic experience. If you have a Stanford affiliation, you should take advantage of this place. If you don’t have one, I’ll accept a large cash payment…