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    JJ’s Guide Service

    3.0 (1 review)

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    2 years ago

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    Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Hot springs piping

    Drakesbad Guest Ranch

    3.6(41 reviews)
    19.4 km

    I change nothing about my review of 2020, I only wish to respond to a more recent review: please,…read moredo not add or make improvements to the Wi-Fi and internet. It would be a massive mistake. One of the best things about Drakesbad is NOT being connected to such things. I believe that the one party who wished such was also unhappy with how long it took to get to the main entrance to the park from Drakesbad. That's the point. The idea is to get away, slow down, and disconnect. I wouldn't want to go to meals and see nothing but a sea of zombies hunched over their cellphones. Plus, most national parks are huge and it takes hours to go from one "point of interest" to another. If you're touristing like that, maybe Drakesbad isn't for you. I've stayed in lodges in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Death Valley. Drakesbad still beats them for overall experience; as close to an original off the grid, free from the maddening crowds, experience as you can find.

    Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Beautiful setting, but still room for improvement…read more Drakesbad Guest Ranch is set in a truly spectacular location, but a few operational issues prevent it from being the exceptional experience it could be. We booked a two-night stay in one of the Annex 2 cabins. About a week before arrival, I attempted to extend our reservation by an additional night. I called multiple times and left messages but never received a return call. I also sent an email and never received a response. As a result, the extra night was never added. When I arrived, I brought it up in person and was told by the property manager that I would need to return at 3:00 p.m. to see if anything was available. He explained that their communication system had been experiencing issues and that calls and emails sometimes do not come through because of limited connectivity and spotty internet service. Unfortunately, this was my first impression. Needless to say, the additional night was never added. This communication issue really needs to be addressed. If guests need to modify, confirm, or cancel reservations, they should be able to reach someone reliably. The ranch itself is located in a remote meadow valley within Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is surrounded by forest recovering from the devastating 2021 Dixie Fire. Burned trees still cover many of the hillsides, but the landscape is showing remarkable signs of recovery. The meadow is filled with tall green grass, colorful wildflowers, and deer grazing throughout the fields. Despite the fire's scars, the setting remains stunning. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find no clearly marked reception desk or office. There are no signs directing guests where to check in, so you may need to find an employee for assistance. The property manager personally checks guests in using a laptop and escorts them to their room or cabin. There is also no information provided in the rooms. No guest guide or information sheet was available, so be sure to ask questions about meals, amenities, and property operations. Since there is no cell service, I asked about Wi-Fi. The ranch uses Starlink, but during our stay the signal was only reliably available outdoors and not inside the cabins. Given today's connectivity expectations, a mesh network or Wi-Fi extenders would significantly improve the guest experience. That said, being mostly off the grid was actually refreshing. Guests should also know that the Annex cabins do not have electric lighting. Small solar-powered lanterns are provided and offer just enough light to get around after dark. In addition, power to the ranch is shut off nightly from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., so plan accordingly and charge devices during the day. The Annex cabins appear relatively new and are in good condition. My only design criticism is the deck railing. It sits almost exactly at eye level when seated, partially blocking what should be one of the cabin's best features--the VIEW. One of the highlights of our stay was the dining experience. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, and the staff were consistently friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The food exceeded expectations, and it sounded like the kitchen was happy to accommodate dietary restrictions. They also offered a nice selection of beers from local breweries, which was especially enjoyable after a long day of hiking. Unfortunately, horseback riding was unavailable during our visit. From what we were told, reservations appear to depend heavily on a single staff member. If that individual is unavailable, horseback rides may not be offered, which was disappointing. One important clarification for prospective guests: despite what some older information may suggest, Drakesbad no longer has a hot spring pool. The pool was damaged during the Dixie Fire and later destroyed by flooding. Today, all that remains is a pipe flowing hot spring water into a nearby creek. The surrounding hiking trails, including Devil's Kitchen, Boiling Springs Lake, and Terminal Geyser, were excellent and provided some of the best experiences of the trip. A few sections were heavily overgrown with thorny vegetation, so hiking pants are recommended. In some places the trail became difficult to follow because of vegetation encroachment. During the summer months, you'll also encounter hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, which adds a unique element to the experience. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and but probably not return. The setting is undeniably beautiful, the staff are friendly, and the food is surprisingly good. However, improvements to communication, guest information, signage, Wi-Fi coverage, and activity coordination would elevate Drakesbad Guest Ranch from a pleasant stay to a truly exceptional destination.

    Photos
    Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Plenty of deer to see.

    Plenty of deer to see.

    Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Gorgeous meadow.

    Gorgeous meadow.

    Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Outdoor seating near dining room.

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    Outdoor seating near dining room.

    Independence Lake Preserve - Trees

    Independence Lake Preserve

    5.0(4 reviews)
    149.4 km

    Independence Lake is a beautiful glacier-cut lake located less than an hour's drive from Truckee…read more Here, you can borrow one of the small fleet of kayaks and fishing boats ~after first filling out a registration waiver~. No outside watercraft are allowed! This is to protect and preserve the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that are native to this habitat. Outside watercraft are risky because they may unknowingly transport foreign mollusks that are detrimental to the health of the trout living there. If fishing waders are used, there is a wader scrubbing/washing station located at the registration area. There are Nature Conservancy staff people on site if you have further questions. I found them informative and helpful. The loaner kayaks are located to the left side of the lake. The ones on the right side are for staff members. Every other week, ~only~ the kayaks are allowed out. Call to check the calendar schedule to avoid disappointment if you want to use one of the motorized boats. They require a motorized boater's card {available online at https://www.boat-ed.com/california/) There are single person and tandem person sit-on-top kayaks available. after 8AM Thursdays through Sundays. Loaner PFDs are also available in standard sizes. I recommend getting there early morning after opening while the water is calm. I was told that later in the day, the wind can pick up. This makes paddling a kayak to get backk across a lot more difficult. You may fish using barbless hooks. Only artificial lures are permitted. All trout caught must be released. Kokanee salmon are an invasive species here. Fishermen are allowed to keep those. Limit 5 per day, or 10 per trip, total. No live bait. There is no overnight camping on the Conservancy's grounds. There are campgrounds at nearby Webber Lake and Lake of the Woods.

    Independence Lake Preserve is an amazing place to enjoy the high Sierras. The best part is the free…read morekayaks that are available to anyone who signs a waiver. How cool and inclusive is that? You get to Independence Lake Preserve from highway 80 by heading north on 89 and then turning L at the "Little Truckee Summit OHV/Snowmobile" area, which is on a road labeled "07." It's the turn you'd take if you wanted to go to the Mt. Lola trailhead or Webber Lake Campground, which are also nearby. You'll need an offroad capable vehicle to make it over a water crossing and two miles of rocky road. There are lots of signs that explain that no watercraft are allowed, because Independence Lake is one of the two places in the world with a wild, self-sustaining lake population of Lahontan cutthroat trout. That's why they care so much about not letting folks put their own watercraft on the lake: they might unintentionally introduce invasive species. When we pulled up (with a canoe on our Jeep: we didn't know the rules beforehand), a ranger came out to verbally explain things to us and to let us know about the free kayaks to use. I was pleasantly surprised that there were not a lot of bugs out in July 2022. The last time we were in this area, which was maybe July three years ago, there were so, so, so many bugs. We came armed with bug spray but didn't need it! There are hiking trails around the preserve as well. The lake is large and beautiful, and the view of Mt. Lola is spectacular.

    Photos
    Independence Lake Preserve - Trail

    Trail

    Independence Lake Preserve - Lizard

    Lizard

    Independence Lake Preserve - Lake

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    Lake

    JJ’s Guide Service - fishing - Updated August 2026

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