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September 2023 by Franz Waltenspuhl
Beginning in 1998 & for 23 years following, we had standing reservations for a weekly stay in a sleeping a only cabin. We have so many great memories of our stays up until the current owners bought it. Since then the prices have skyrocketed. A sleeping only cabin does not contain a bathroom or kitchen but has a bed & small fridge. The shower room is down the trail. $80 was what we paid nightly, in the beginning. Current prices are at $218 (9/2023). The new owners have not kept the restaurant going & other options are a significant drive away. Most of the old timers no longer stay there. Most also believe that the new owner really wants the resort to become a Christian resort. But it is on USFS land & they hold a lease; they only own the buildings. I’ve been super sad since we stopped coming there each year. There are, however some other really nice places to stay in the area.
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June 2023 by Noah Armstrong
This place is absolutely amazing and the new owner Jeff is so kind. The lake is unreal, and unlike other places you can still get peace and quiet and privacy. You can't go wrong with staying at packer lake! Also it's very close to the trail head to hike up the sierra buttes to the fire lookout.
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April 2023 by Xavier C.
Three generations of my family have enjoyed staying and Packer Lake, primarily in the Maple Syrup Lodge, where you will find my initials carved into one of the beams over the loft. This summer I will introduce a fourth generation, my daughter, and my wife to the beautiful Packer Lake Lodge, their wonderful staff, and to the Sierra Butte that overlooks Packer Lake like the eye of Sauron. Not enough can be said about how equally peaceful and exciting this slice of paradise can be. Hiking, fishing, relaxing with family while enjoying the outdoors, there is no place.
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November 2022 by Bob B.
My wife & I stayed here in the 80s, and I worked at PLL when the Winther's owned it in the '50s - took guests on horse day trips in the unspoiled forest environment, was the dishwasher and handyman. Packer Lake is at the end of the road so if you want to 'get away' from the crowds and the rat race, THIS is the place. Plus there's trout fishing in Packer and surrounding lakes and streams. Or if quiet relaxation is your goal, just take a rowboat out on the lake, or a leisurely walk in the woods. Want some spectacular scenery, take a day hike to Young America Lake or to the top of the Sierra Buttes (8614 +/-).
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September 2022 by Larry Reef
Had a Time of My Life so beautiful the trees the air is so clean the lake is so fun to swim in my cabin was awesome it's a wonderful place it's so clean so quiet the best place to go to relax made wonderful memoriesThe name of our cabin was called the woodchuck it was the best one there fully loaded bells and whistles I slept outside of the porch overlooking the trees and the Stars it was so beautiful hearing the wind in the trees was so cool at night
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August 2022 by Glen Myers
My favoriteist place . Been going there since I was 2.
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July 2022 by Catherine32704
It is with a heavy heart that I am giving a low rating to Packer Lake Lodge. My family and I have been coming to Packer for over 30 years. Until recently, I would have gladly given it the highest rating. But for the past three years, the new owner, Jeff Smith, has kept the restaurant and lodge closed and instead significantly raised the rates for cabins. Both of these decisions have convinced me and others to not come again unless the situation changes. The location of the lodge is wonderful — near the Pacific Crest Trail and Lake Basin hiking, on a beautiful, swimmable lake; the cabins are rustic and simple; and everyone loved being there. But not having the wonderful lodge building open is a major disappointment. No meals were served, meaning that guests needed to travel miles away on bad roads to other restaurants or barbeque every night at their cabins. Plus, when it was open under the previous owner, the historic lodge was really the “heart-beat” of the resort. Guests gathered there day and night. It was a wonderful place! We got to know each other, ate tasty food, played bingo, told stories at the bar, read books from its library and had a convivial time. During our week there this year, f the talk among the guests was of disappointment about not having the lodge building open and fully functional. We all wanted having an owner or manager living at the facility who could welcome us, organize little events, give us advice, help us out, and stop some guests from making too much noise late at night. The loyal hired help do their best to fill in the gaps but it is not enough. This beautiful little gem of a resort needs a new owner who either does the manager job himself or hires staff to run the restaurant and manage the property with care and enthusiasm. Otherwise, sadly we don’t recommend patronizing the place.
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June 2022 by TightLine29
Jeff Smith, the new owner, closed the restaurant and let go most of the the staff. The cabins are still open but are run on a skeletal crew. What was once an amazing jewel of the lake basin is now a shell of its former self. The USFS should make them rename it Packer Lake Cabins. Many former guests have moved on to other lodges. I recommend you do too.
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July 2021 by LaRita Desimpel
Have been going for over 20 years. A little piece of paradise!
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July 2020 by Micheal Poloni
Beautiful scenery isolated
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July 2020 by Carol Martone
Rustic old school lodge overlooking the lake, we dropped in for a beer after seeing the Sierra Buttes. Tiny, charming venue with amazing friendly staff. Will definitely comeback for dinner maybe even stay in the cabins!
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July 2020 by Sara Carbone
Didn’t stay but stopped in for a bite at the lodge and to enjoy the views. Such a cute place and the staff is lovely. What a gem!
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July 2020 by Glenn wong
Incredible staff that's warm and welcoming. Perfect place to unplug and settle
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July 2020 by Meg Burley
A delightful place with delicious food and friendly staff.
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June 2020 by Roger D.
Oh no! My husband and I were taking a walk around the lake yesterday, and were talking about how we couldn't wait to come to the lodge to eat this year, when we ran into some of the lovely staff. We asked them when we could make a reservation for dinner, and they broke the news to us that there would be no dining at the lodge this season. We had looked so forward to dining outside in the beautiful surroundings. Krista's food was always the high point of our trip to the mountains. While we have a home in Graeagle, we were so anxious to come to Packer Lake to experience not only her wonderful food, but her lovely presence. She was such a special addition to Packer Lake. She will be sorely missed, and Packer Lake won't be the same without her.
