Montecito Sequoia Lodge

This is my second time here. The first was 6 years ago. I really loved this place. It’s like a home away from home! The staff where very friendly and gave us tips on how to make our 2 night stay the best we can. The spa are was very clean and the campfire was sweet! The rec. room has a lot of activites to relax indoors. The lake has beautiful fish and a lot of entertainment options. It reminded me a bit of the Hyatt Regency in Tahoe. The only 3 problems where the big pillows, no exhaust fan in the bathroom, and dinner varied. I recommend keeping dinner until at least 8:45. Definitely will visit in a year or so. I stayed in the King and bunkbed room in front of the lake.

We booked this place because it was closer to Sequoia (it’s sort of in the middle of it, in fact, except on a bit of land that isn’t part of the NP), and it was on our way from Yosemite to our next destination. Because of our large group we had to get «Dandy’s Cabin», which was fine. It fit all of us, but had only one shower.
The cabin shows its age. A bit creaky. Ancient electric stove. But the facilities work, and it was reasonably comfortable. Nice fireplace, though it didn’t provide much heat. The heater was built into the floor and in a remote corner of the living room. Didn’t really heat evenly, and it was a little chilly.
Lovely setting. Small lake (or large pond) nearby, trees all around. We couldn’t hear or see any neighbors, but in the morning a lot of loud kids took to the lake in pedal boats. But it’s OK.
All in all, a pleasant stay. Rustic, a feeling of wilderness, mostly quiet. I can see staying here again if we need to stay in the area.

We were delayed getting to the resort by heavy fog and arrived at approximately 10:30p. Immediately, I had a bad feeling, as there were precious few lights on anywhere around the property and we were scarcely able to read any signs through the falling rain.
We found our way to the main lodge after spotting signage and approached the front desk, where no one could be found. Oh, there were patrons in the clubhouse area near the desk, but no staff. After standing there a few moments, we realized there was a batch of papers on the counter with our name of them. And on top of those papers… a key. To our room. Apparently, they do not staff the desk beyond 9pm! Now, I’ve been the places that don’t have 24 hour desk attendants, but in all those cases our check-​in papers and keys were located in lock boxes we could only open after entering our phone numbers. I was shocked at this lack of security.
My shock would further escalate once we arrived to our room to find the door wide open! I can’t even begin to imagine the reasoning behind this. Any one at all could have had access in the hours that it took us to crawl up the highway bogged down by the storm. How on earth could they expect to hold us accountable if anything was missing?
We booked this place for 2 nights for $ 415. At that rate, I feel there is a certain standard that needs to be met. I’ve stayed in numerous national park lodges — they are all in the same price neighborhood; elegance, possibly even opulence, are the norm. The Montecito has the ambiance of a children’s camp. During the summer they operate as a «family camp» so I sort of understand the facilities being slightly underwhelming. Truthfully, I attended Girl Scout camps that were better maintained. This «resort» seems to be falling into disrepair — knobs missing on furniture, peeling paint, cobwebs. Singularly, you can take each and shrug — but the totality tells a sadder story.
There were extra blankets on the shelves in our room, which was a nice touch… though one of them appeared to be wadded up and shoved into the storage space. A pull on one of our drawers was replaced with a twist tie (groan).
The upside: bed was surprisingly comfortable. Bathroom was a stark contrast to the room itself (in a good way). Window had a beautiful lake view. 24 hour juice and coffee available in the main lodge. Located in the heart of the gorgeous western Sierras.
Part of the resort price includes 3 daily buffet style meals. The breakfasts were decent, if a little salty. It was not as expansive as alluded to in pictures on the resort’s website. Chocolate scones fresh out of the oven were definitely the highlight. We were never able to partake in lunch as it was only one hour long and we were out hiking. Dinner was laughable; despite the website touting multiple vegetarian options at meals, the most substantial item offered was a squash casserole type option. The salad bar did not seem as fresh as it should have been, especially being in such close proximity to the agriculture capital of the state.
I would have been able to overlook any of these detractions if we were staying at a low rate inn; in fact, I dare say I’ve been more impressed at various Motel 6 locations.
If you have money to blow, by all means — do it here. Maybe it’ll help them make some much needed renovations. But don’t book with your hopes as high as mine were or you will be disappointed.

Went up as part of a church group. We rented the entire facility for 3 days. The staff was absolutely wonderful! The full service rooms and cabins are clean and comfortable. Meal time is over the top. Their chefs go above and beyond by serving a high end buffet 3 times a day. There is so much you can do up there, relax, hike, stroll around the lake, swim, and even snow shoe & sled if there is snow. If you are planning a small family trip, family reunion, or a large retreat, this is definitely a place to consider staying!!!

I had an awesome time this weekend, my first time to Montecito. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The food was really good and surprisingly fresh. I ate too much. They had a caravan going in at 5 and out at 10am because of snow which was kind of annoying, but since we came only for one night, and our main purpose was to ski their trails, they let us leave with the employee caravan at 4pm. Thanks for that. The hot tub was super hot and clean. The free wine in the evening was a nice touch.

Montecito sequoia lodge the best place on winter
I need to come back this summer… I am impressed
No complaints it all… just happy to be here

I’ve been hesitant to write a review for a while because part of me is scared that this place is going to become super popular and I’ll never get to go back again.
We loved our stay. Food is included in the rate which is a total steal. It was delicious the days that we were there.
We enjoyed getting to talk to the others who were staying there. Everyone was so friendly.
Staff was also very helpful but not in an awkward way :)
Something to be aware of is that this is really a family destination. We were just a couple and had a great time but I could see others getting frustrated because there were kids everywhere! If you’re looking for a very quiet retreat then this may not be your spot.
It met our needs and we had a wonderful time. I seriously can’t wait to go back!

excellent! The price includes everything, and the food its sooo tasty and evrything home made ! Evrything nice and clean and the front desk everyone its nice, i was in yosemite before coming here and nothing come pares to this lodge, way better than yosemite beautifull lake, sequoia trees, the londge, the food !! Would come back for sure very soon

Kind of camping Club Med — came here w/​our kids Thanksgiving week for two nights, and wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but we all had a great time. It’s «all-​inclusive» — lodging, three meals/​day, and all your activities, which vary depending on the season. It was snowy (and snowed more) when we were there, so activities included sledding, snow-​shoeing, snowball forts and fights for the kids, smores by the indoor fireplace, hot tub, and indoor yoga. In the summer, there’s lots more — archery, trampoline, tennis, volleyball, horseback riding, pool, etc.
The meals were surprisingly good, buffet-​style, and big salad bar, which was really nice. The dining hall/​main lodge has long community tables, and we met so many nice, interesting people and families. They have lots of games to borrow, plus ping pong, fooseball, etc., and we often came early or stayed later to play games.
The lodging isn’t fancy — either rooms in the lodges, which are like hotel rooms, but you get the «luxury» of your own private bathroom. We had a rustic cabin, which we loved — spacious, king bed, plus 2 bunks, wood-​burning stove w/​free wood, big closet, and beautiful view of the mountains. Only thing missing was private bath, but the community bathhouse was close by, and warm; just a bit inconvenient for those middle of the night bathroom runs. They do have a few really nice modern cabins w/​bathrooms (pricier, but more luxurious) if you prefer.
All the staff, including those leading the activities, are so patient and friendly. The girls really want to come back for family summer camp, and I hope we’ll be able to!

I really have no complaints about this place. I wanted to be in a quiet peaceful place, part of the time solo, to get away from civilization and reset. I went late September and rented a rustic cabin (sleeps 6) while my friends came later and rented one of their newer cabins (really nice!).
Meals were included and let me tell you, it was awesome! I’m not a vegetarian but I appreciate a well prepared vegetable dish and they did not disappoint. I like my beef rare, which isn’t possible with buffet feeding so I didn’t eat beef but thoroughly enjoyed burgers, pork, ribs and chicken. They also had my all-​time favorite beer, Anchor Steam. It wasn’t crowded so I could easily dine alone and not have to socialize. Robert, one of the chefs, was very friendly and made me feel welcome.
The hot tub was a very nice touch. There were also activities, such as archery and target shooting, but I did not try those.
I managed to twist my ankle walking down a dirt path (I’m a clutz and known to do this walking down a perfectly normal street) and staff immediately came to help me and took me in a golf cart to the lodge and got me a bag of ice for my ankle.
I’ve heard the place can get crazy with kids so I probably went the right time of the year to avoid that. I had to leave a day early and they didn’t charge me for the last day.
Oh, and mustn’t forget the wine reception, decent wine and excellent cheeses.

We had a wonderful evening, wished we could have stayed longer. Food and activities are all included. The room was clean and quaint with a great view of the mountains. My daughter loved the bunk beds. Very comfortable. We slept well
The food was good and healthy, much better than expected for buffet. We loved the family style seating. They have fuse ball, ping pong, games, crafts and a wide variety of books. Two huge fireplaces with comfy leather sofas. If you want to bring your own wine you can.
We will definitely return and stay longer to take advantage of the activities. Highly recommended!

Well there are not many choices at National Parks and this private camp in between Kings Canyon and Sequoia NPs is typical. Way overpriced for average accommodations that elsewhere you would not want to pay $ 80/​night but here it’s all about location!
Most of the summer they require a many night stay for family camp but at the end of the season they will rent for one or two nights. That is what we did (it was supposed to be two but we switched it to one when the fire in Kings Canyon closed the road into the canyon itself and we changed our plans).
The room in the main building was pretty basic and a bit worn out though it did have its own bathroom. Carrying our luggage and gear up the stairs and down the long hallway with more stairs was a hassle. The camp itself has so many activities it boggles the mind — we used the pool and that was it since we were here to see the parks not learn archery or to be in a talent show.
The meals were good though without kids in tow the chaos of the «school lunchroom» setting was not our ideal dining experience. The dinner was hearty but just okay. The breakfast was made-​to-​order pancakes, eggs, sausages and was very good.
The whole place seemed ragged and tattered but I suppose you cannot be choosy in the National Parks (and if you have kids I’m sure they’d love this place).

Let me preface this with the fact that I am not the outdoorsey type, nor do I have some urge to make friends while on vacation and I especially am not into having to listen to other people’s children cry and complain constantly. Save the judgement, I’m just explaining my preferences. Anyway, this prob wasn’t the place for us to stay but:
1. Too many rules (tv off at 930, «no active diarrhea in the hot tub or within 14 days,» whisper in the hallways, etc.)
2. Too many screaming babies and noise pollution in general
3. Mess hall style eating (the food was decent, but it’s like going to summer camp-​be prepared to fight for the good food)
4. The staff is friendly, but they aren’t there to be ur hotel concierge.
Anyway IF u have a family with kids and u want something moderately rustic that will tire ur kids out so u don’t have to deal with them than this may be the place for u. :)

Our family has returned six summers in a row to this all-​inclusive family camp. Let me tell you what this is… and isn’t.
It is a rustic but clean lodge, with cabins that share communal bathrooms, a bit like camp grounds, and a few luxury, new cabins. The lodge rooms fit a family of four or five nicely. The rooms have no phones or TVs. The wifi is spotty. You are off the grid. There is a satellite phone in the lobby, and a TV in the main lodge that gets turned on for major sporting events. It’s not the Ritz; but it is a huge step up from camping.
The dining is communal, with a buffet of lots of fruits and veggies, vegetarian options, soups do the day, and it’s all pretty good! Taco Tuesdays, fried chicken, and crab and prime rib on the last night of summer family camp! It’s not gourmet, but it is usually very good, and there is plenty of it. They will even pack you a lunch if you’re leaving camp to go hiking. Kids can free feed from the cereal in the kitchen, and milk and juice free flow. Soda isn’t included, thank goodness.
The amenities are more than any child (or childish adult) could want: arts and crafts, paintball, tennis, fencing, air riflery, trampoline, horse back riding, archery, foosball, ping pong, hiking, mountain biking, sailing, wake boarding, water skiing, bouldering, and on and on. Massage and small cocktail bar for the parents!
The staff consists mostly of college-​aged camp counselors from around the world. Each night has a theme… carnival night, coffee house, international night, free choice. From 8am until 9 or 10pm, you and your kids are busy… or you can soak in the hot tub while your kids have the time of their lives… even little ones are taken on bug hunts and fort building. The self contained atmosphere is safe and fun.
The linens aren’t Turkish cotton, but they are clean. The rooms have no air conditioning, and at that altitude, 70 feels like 80, so bring layers and be prepared for an occasional thunderstorm. Oh, and they’ll even do your laundry mid-​week!
Each day has an agenda, and kids are grouped by age with specific counselors assigned. All guests are given wide latitude, so don’t blame the staff if children (or adults) misbehave. But we come back the same week every year, and it feels like a family reunion. It’s like no other place on earth.
All this in amongst some of the most magnificent scenery California has to offer: the majesty of the Sequoias.
Beware: your kids will want to come back every year. And if you let yourself be taken, by the campfire singing at night, the morning ritual of silly skits and songs, the staff with names like «Chewie» and «Ares» and «Icarus», the communal dining, trying new things… you will want to, too.
Oh, and GPS is useless once you start climbing the mountain, so know where you’re going. And bring bug spray and sunscreen, and drink lots of water. It’s nature, y’all!

First, some caveats and clarifications. We came on one of the 6-​night weekly summer family camp programs with a 6-​year-​old and a 3-​year-​old. Our goal was essentially to be out in the woods somewhere for a summer vacation but not kill ourselves with logistics and discomfort. If you’re looking to sleep in a tent or cook beans on an open flame, stop reading this. If you’re looking for a fancy resort where you sleep on thousand thread-​count sheets and are pampered like a prince, stop reading this.
That said, this is one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve had as a family. Montecito Family Summer Camp is an opportunity to build a relationship with something. Maybe it’s other parents, it’s your kids making new friends, or even a relationship with your inner self. It’s the «Treat Yo Self» version of summer camp.
The most important elementals are those who bring you this service: the organizers, camp counselors, junior counselors in training (KILTS), and the lodge staff. They are positive, energetic, thoughtful, creative, funny, and it’s clear to me that they love what they do. There is never any pressure to be or do something. But if you come with an open heart, you will be rewarded. The kids also love them and get attached to their counselors within the first few hours. It’s amazing to watch as your 3-​year-​old would rather snuggle with their new friends during the first night of campfire.
Activities and opportunities may be almost too much. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, archery, rifle range, yoga, art projects, jiu jitsu, a pool, a jacuzzi, a masseuse, and more. There’s a lake right there with pier fishing, paddle boats, sailboats, and sand play. How can you take part? You drop off your kids with their counselors and you go do them. They have their own adventures (including napping smaller kids). Let me repeat: they will nap your kids. The hot spot for kids is the trampoline. Cap off the evening with some campfire songs (we even had one with violin backing one night), and you’re going to be really, really tired (and so will your kids).
There’s a social/​party like atmosphere, too, but clean (although there is a bar in the lodge). It’s a safe family environment. Every night something is happening to bring folks together. Themed dance parties, open mike night, talent night, etc. The camp creates a community that welcomes and cheers you on.
We stayed in the lodge, which is essentially a hotel with bathrooms and beds. There are options on either side of the scale. Don’t expect room service or turning your bed every night. The rooms are really just a way to store your stuff and sleep. The action is everywhere else.
The food is buffet style, but restaurant quality including gluten-​free and vegetarian options. The fact that you don’t have to cook or clean is a vacation in itself. Some nights feature a full, handmade dessert bar or prime rib/​crab leg feast. You have to be jilted in life not to appreciate the effort it takes to feed 100 – 200 guests three square meals.
Also, it’s picturesque. King’s Canyon, even in rain, is a model for why we need to keep our National Park system alive. And because the lodge is 7200 feet above sea level, getting anything higher than an 80-​degree day in the middle of summer is an anomaly. We had a storm in the middle of July so it became a rain day with activities and socializing all moved indoor.
As I said, this is a place to build relationships. You’ll meet people who are incredibly nice and nonjudgemental. Many of the folks who come, make it a point to come every year and there is an impromptu village aspect. Families watch their children grow here first as camp goers then as KILTs then as counselors. We even had a couple get married here this week.
It’s hard not to have a smile here each day. And if vacations are about relaxing and rejuvenating, this is a great place to do so. «Rejuvenate» means to replenish, but also comes from «being juvenile again.» You will feel you’re a kid once more in your life, if you seek your inner child while you fuel the lives of your outer children, if you enter with the right attitude.
Some other caveats:
There is no mobile coverage (that’s a good thing), but there is some light WiFi. Don’t stream anything, but if you need to check Facebook or email, it’s not a hardship. The best signal is next to the jacuzzi. Weather is all over the place so bring options. You will never get to do it all, so you almost have to come back if you’re that kind of completion-​oriented. Kids are everywhere: they’re noisy, dirty, and opinionated, but parents often outnumber them (with the help of the counselors and the KILTs) or at least it’s a fair fight.

We spent a fabulous weekend in Kings Canyon, partly thank to Montecito Lodge. I had some reservations about this place in the beginning due to the fact that it is a «summer camp» with kids and we are up here on an anniversary celebration. Maybe we still came early enough before the summer family crowds…
The lodge itself is in a great location. While you’re not technically in Kings Canyon or Sequoia park like some other options, it’s right in between the two so it makes visiting both parks quite easy. We explored Kings Canyon one day, the Sequoia the second day on our way back to LA which worked out perfectly.
The property consists of a main lodge and several smaller buildings as well as cabins. It sits on a large area of land and next to a private lake. Had it been warmer, I’m sure it’ll make a nice swimming hole. But even when it’s cool, have no fear as there’s a pool and a hot tub to enjoy. Additional amenities include basketball and tennis courts and even a trampoline. So if you have kids, there’s plenty to do. There were a number of kids on our first night that made some noise in the evening but they left the next morning which made things a lot more peaceful.
We had a room with king bed in one of the smaller buildings. Nothing fancy, on the small side but had all we need. Oh yea there’s no TV, no internet in the rooms; and no cell service. Not the worst thing to completely unplug for a weekend!
One of the best parts of staying here is that meals are included. Sure it’s no 5 star dining but there were plenty of options with a full salad bar, fish and meat entrees, sides, soup and dessert for dinner. Sure some people complain about the quality of the food, but to be honest, it’s pretty damn good, and that’s not even taking account that it’s included in your already very reasonable room rates. The trail lunches are also simple but great to have on a long hike the next day!
Oh and don’t worry, despite being a summer camp location and all, they do serve alcohol in the restaurant/​bar area. Couples and parents rejoice!
We would definitely stay here again!

My family and I really liked this lodge. In summary, this lodge suited all our needs in terms of needing food, water, and shelter. I mean come on, if you’re visiting Sequoia National park, you’re really here for the view and experience rather than for the hotel/​lodge you’re staying at. This place fulfilled all of our basic needs for a very justified/​fair price. Highly recommend.
–Ample parking space
–Good, friendly, accommodating staff
–Free dinner and breakfast (buffet style)
–Lots of activities hosted by the lodge
–They have a pool
–FANTASTIC view (especially during winter, gosh the snow is gorgeous)
–Large rooms with lots of beds

Best place to stay in the park. 1^st time and exceeded my expectations. Will definitely be coming back and splurging for newer cabin next time. All inclusive resort, great value for families.

My family and I have gone here several times and this last time we have said «Goodbye» to this family tradition.
First, I was once the person that would have given this place 5 stars, but now I really can’t understand why I would have ever done so. The food is not that great and really gives me the sense that everything was once canned and/​or processed.
Second, the seating in the dining room is first-​come first-​serve. This results in families staking out and marking their «table territory» hours in advance. We just spent a Thanksgiving weekend here and this behavior from other families resulted in stress within our family. «Where are we going to eat???» Ten of us pulled together four small, round cocktail tables to eat our Thanksgiving dinner. We had difficulties placing all of plates, that were holding that canned and processed food, on the tables.
Third, other reviews have mentioned the Motel feel. It definitely a Motel feel to the rooms and it isn’t dirty, however, I wouldn’t necessarily trust the cleaniness around the place. For example, I have never seen the kitchen staff where any kind of gloves or hair-​netting or hats. I have never been sick from the food, however I would suspect it would be just a matter of time.
Fourth, parents let their kids run ramshock all over the place without supervision. It is frustrating. I took it upon myself to break-​up a wrestling match between two kids. A lot of parent like to drink their wine and beer while socializing. This allows them time to ignore their children while they annoy other children and families.
The staff overall are nice, good people. That and the memories are the reason why I have given Montecito the additional star of what would be an overall one star experience.

I just got home from a wonderful 5 nights at Montecito Sequoia Lodge!
I tagged along with my boyfriend’s family of 6. We had two rooms in the main lodge. The rooms were pretty small with a set of bunkbeds right next to the king bed. Turning in for an early night’s sleep was impossible if it was a movie night since we were right above the main room and could hear everything below us. But other than that it suited our needs for sleep and showering! The shower never ran out of hot water and there was a hair dryer in the bathroom! (one of my concerns!) Housekeeping came by daily to take out trash and to see if we needed more towels or TP.
The meals are buffet style but there were always plenty of options! I had visions of being healthy and sticking to the salad bar, but the hot dishes always won me over. A main course was never repeated while I was there, and there were always 2 meat entrée options and 1 veggie option for dinner, with plenty of sides. When it’s not meal time there is a basket of snacks in the kitchen for guest use as well as cereal and bagels available ²⁴⁄₇. Thanksgiving dinner was super crowded but well worth the wait! Every dish you could hope for including a huge turkey and ham and dozens of pies! Some of the food wasn’t my favorite, but there’s so many options I’m sure everyone will find something they like. Soda and ice cream are for sale, but there’s unlimited juice, tea, coffee, and flavored water options. Tables are communal and be prepared to socialize if you sit in the main lobby. Everyone there was super friendly.
Now to the grounds – absolutely breathtaking! Trees as tall as skyscrapers, a big serene lake to your right and a snowcapped mountain range to your left with so many activities in between! There was a good sized pool and a nice hot tub I took advantage of while all the kids were at different activities.
The family I was with had lots of adventures planned offsite, but I did get to try out some of the Montecito activities. I highly recommend Archery! It truly is for all ages. Strider was a great instructor and let the 5 adults kind of do their thing while giving more instruction to the kids who needed it. We stayed the full two hours and I definitely wanted to do more! I also tried yoga two different days with two different instructors. Both were different style classes but I really enjoyed both. After 3 days of hiking that stretching felt so good! They offered several other classes, mostly for the 8 – 12 year olds, but I’m sure if any adults showed up they would accommodate.
My boyfriend, his brother, and I took a self-​guided hike up to Baldy Rock which was a bit of a challenge for us non-​hikers (about 4.5 miles round trip) but the view was more than worth it! We didn’t get a chance to do other trails but I would definitely recommend the Baldy trail, just bring water and take breaks when you lose your breath (My FitBit said I climbed 107 floors that day!)
There are nightly activities planned an hour after dinner ends. Movie night with Frozen and popcorn was a hit! My boyfriend and I made good use of the on-​site bar and split a $ 16 bottle of Pino Grigio. About every other night they had a campfire just outside the front lodge where everyone could toast marshmallows and make s’mores. And on Bingo night I destroyed those kids by winning 2 games!
Lots to do, lots to see! Several families said they had stayed there before and plan to return again. I definitely see why! This place is good for families as well as couples. I would love to stay in one of the newer cabins away from all the noise if I ever return.