Becoming a Member

To become a member of the California Alpine Club, please download and complete the membership form. (Note: requires Adobe Acrobat reader.)

Download Membership Form

	CAC Early History (PDF)
	Play Alpine Club Song (MP3)
	View Alpine Club Song Lyrics (PDF)

About Us

The California Alpine Club (CAC) is an outdoors-oriented social club with special interests in outdoor education and environmental protection. Members of CAC host an interesting variety of travel outings, hikes, events and activities centered around the environs of its two historic properties: the Alpine Lodge in Marin County, and the Echo Summit Lodge in El Dorado County (Lake Tahoe), California. Both CAC lodges have full, professional kitchens, private bedrooms and separate men's and women's dormitory facilities that are available for the use by members and associate members.

Scheduled CAC activities are published in the Club's newsletter, TRAILS, published ten times each year. The lodges may also be available for private party rentals, such as weddings, business meetings, and family reunions. Inquiries for private rentals must be made well in advance.

The CAC is active in conservation work and contributes regularly to the support of numerous environment organizations. As of December 2008, we have about 850 members residing mostly throughout California and the western United States. Family membership is encouraged.

The California Alpine Club will celebrate its 100-Year Anniversary in just a few more years! Please read about the CAC's Early History, compiled and written by Mrs. Verna Steele West of San Francisco, whose family has taken leadership positions and been active members of the Club for four generations!

CAC Lodges

CAC owns and operates two lodges: ALPINE LODGE, acquired in 1925, and ECHO SUMMIT LODGE, acquired in 1952.

Alpine Lodge

Alpine Lodge is located on the south slope of Mt. Tamalpais, at 730 Panoramic Highway, Mill Valley, California 94941 (one block from the Mountain Home bus stop). [View map (opens in new window).] For rental information and reservations call 415-381-4975. To contact someone at the lodge call 415-388-9940. The lodge is open to members every Sunday offering scheduled hikes, hospitality, and refreshments. Revenue from lodging and CAC events provides funds for maintenance and improvements.

Echo Summit Lodge

Echo Summit Lodge is located at the summit of Old Meyers Grade above Lake Tahoe, one mile from U.S. 50 on Johnson Pass/Meyers Road. [View map (opens in new window).] The phone number is 530-659-7274. It is a large, comfortable, year-round mountain lodge in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 7,365 feet. The lodge commands a superb view of Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding mountains. Forty thousand acres of rugged granite peaks and the Alpine Lakes of Desolation Valley Wilderness Area are within easy walking distance for hikers, mountaineers, and fishermen. Echo Lake, a mile from our lodge, is a delightful place in the summer for swimming, fishing, and boating. In winter, the area excels for ski touring and snowshoeing. Nearby well-known downhill ski areas include Heavenly Valley, Sierra at Tahoe, and Kirkwood.

Maintenance And Operation

Insofar as possible, members, on a volunteer basis, perform the maintenance and operation of both lodges.

Echo Lodge US Forest Service Use Permit
Echo Summit Lodge is under Special Use Permit with the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

In accordance with Federal laws and the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.