Where to Stay in the Lost Sierra

If you're making the trip to the Lost Sierra, there are a few lodging options, but the clear standout remains Nakoma Resort (348 Bear Run, Clio). With the only Frank Lloyd Wright–designed clubhouse as its centerpiece and a 42-room lodge that shares the same aesthetic (clean lines, striking angles), Nakoma stands out as an architectural gem shrouded by the forest, with modern amenities that rival its looks. Beg for a forest-facing room so you can enjoy a morning cup of joe with outdoor serenity, and keep the zen-like feeling flowing with a visit to the spa for a back flip facial, a less-intense-than-it-sounds combination of fascia releasing back massage followed by an Osmosis facial.

In the winter, the property takes pride in its groomed fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing trails (rent equipment onsite), plus a sculpted sledding hill that makes any DIY attempts look like mere mounds. If the weather turns foul, you can escape the elements inside the lodge's new Altitude Recreation Center, which features a self-belay climbing wall (especially fun after a glass of wine from the bar, an approach not officially endorsed by Nakoma); a 24-seat theater you can steal for a private screening if it's not booked for an event; and a two-story wellness and workout center that pairs well with the menu full of organic, gluten-free options for health nuts.

Where to Eat and Drink in the Lost Sierra

The best way to experience the one-of-a-kind Frank Lloyd Wright clubhouse at Nakoma is with a meal in the Fifty44 Restaurant (temporarily closed until Spring 2022), savoring fine dining situated around the centerpiece four-sided fireplace with light filtering in through the stained-glass windows. The hotel's Middle Fork Bistro + Bar serves all-day fare and drinks.

If you decide to stray off property, you'll find a range of food and drink options to appeal to everyone from craft beer buffs to chocolate fiends and dive bar aficionados—with a handful of high-quality restaurants to boot.

Sip your suds alfresco at The Brewing Lair (67007 CA-70, Blairsden), where the self-guided brewery tour called the Trail of Tastes gets you a five-beer sampler. Hiking trails traversing the hillside property let you choose your own adventure, if you will, and park in overflow and hike up to the brewery. Since the tasting experience is largely outdoors, swing by the swag shack for a beer koozie-mitten hybrid to keep your hands toasty. You can also play disc golf on the forested nine-hole course. // If you'd like something even more off the beaten path, Eureka Peak Brewing Company(72056 CA-70, Portola) hides a handy brewing operation inside Portola's Chalet View Lodge, with 10 taps, a pool table, and a small seasonal menu. // Whether you want food to soak up those pints or you're more vino focused, carve out time to visit Cuccia's Pasta, Pizza, and Wine Bar (545 Mohawk Hwy., Graeagle). The family-run restaurant highlights recipes passed down from the owner's Sicilian grandma, crafting pizzas with a daily-made dough from a 200-year-old sourdough starter sourced from the Italian island of Ischia.

What to Do in the Lost Sierra

The Lost Sierra falls largely within the federally protected Lakes Basin Recreation Area, and you'd be remiss to leave without experiencing one of the region's 50-plus lakes. The 15-mile Gold Lake Highway delivers drivers to the glacially carved lakes, whether you choose to get out on the water with a boat rental at the largest of the bunch, Gold Lake(try ice-fishing if it freezes over) or simply marvel at the clear blue waters. // For a different water-based adventure, embark on the short hike up Frazier Falls Trail(Old Gold Lake Rd.,) to its namesake cascading waterfall, which should reward with an impressive show after winter rains. // Still looking for more outdoor activity? Hike a five-mile out-and-back trail and then drag your butt up 178 steps to Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout, and your burning glutes will be rewarded with 360-degree views as far as Mt. Lassen and Castle Peak near Donner Pass.

For a truly unique slice of the Lost Sierra, time your visit for Plumas Ski Club's Historic Longboard Revival Series(Johnsonvile Rd., Johnsonville), when the ski club does historical re-enactments of 1860s-era ski racing at Johnsonville Ski Bowl. During the longboard races (planned for every third Sunday of January, February, and March in 2022), you'll get to watch skilled skiers navigate nine- to 16-foot wooden skis in historic garb and leather boots, with a bluegrass band waiting on at the finish line.

If you're staying at the Nakoma, the resort's Altitude Recreation Center can set you up with all sorts of snowy adventures including fat tire bikes, snowshoeing, tubing, and cross country skiing. There's also a game room, fitness center, and spa.

Where to Shop in the Lost Sierra

A stroll along the blink-and-you'll-miss-it shopping stretch in Graegle reveals locally owned shops teeming with one-of-a-kind treasures. The Briar Patch(114 Hwy. 89, Graeagle) is where you'll find plush robes, cozy slippers, and Tokyo Milk perfumes, along with other fun giftables and loungewear. Check the Facebook page before visiting, as the store does go dormant in the winter. // Outfit your kitchen and home at Feathers(7467 Hwy. 89, Graeagle), which will add a rustic touch with reclaimed wood–framed flags and art, geometric dish towels, and throw pillows emblazoned with woodland creatures or cheeky outdoorsy sayings like "campers have s'more fun." // Undercover Botanicals was forced to close its shop here during the pandemic, but is still offering its homemade soaps, lotions, bath bombs, and more online.