Terms, Conditions, and Privacy Policy
Effective date: January 2, 2026
Welcome to the Donner Lake Inn website. By using this site or making a reservation with us, you agree to the terms outlined below, including our privacy practices and policies related to bookings and guest stays.
Plain-language summaries live in the library: cancellation policy and house rules. This page is the binding version.
1. Booking Terms
These terms apply to all reservations made at Donner Lake Inn, whether online or by phone/email:
- Room rates: Quoted per room, per night, and include applicable taxes unless otherwise noted. Rates are dynamically adjusted based on market demand. Once booked, your rate is guaranteed and will not change.
- Deposit: A deposit equal to the first night's room and tax is collected at the time of booking.
- Balance: The remaining balance is charged automatically prior to arrival as part of our self-service check-in process.
- Check-in / check-out: Check-in begins at 4:00 PM; check-out is by 10:00 AM. Early check-in and late check-out cannot be guaranteed in advance but may be available on the day of arrival or departure depending on our cleaning schedule.
- Payment methods: Credit card is the only accepted form of payment unless otherwise arranged for corporate accounts.
- Service provided: Lodging services are considered provided once check-in and access instructions have been issued and the property is open and available for check-in, regardless of whether the guest ultimately arrives.
2. Refund / Cancellation Policy
Guests acknowledge and accept this policy during the booking process:
- Cancellations: A full refund of the deposit is available for cancellations made at least 7 days prior to arrival.
- Refunds: When applicable, refunds will be issued to the original form of payment within 5–7 business days.
- No-shows / late cancellations: Deposits for reservations canceled within 7 days of arrival are non-refundable.
3. Property Policies
These policies apply to all guests during their stay:
- Minors: Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Pets & service animals: Not allowed. Donner Lake Inn is exempt from ADA service animal requirements due to owner-occupancy and having five or fewer guest rooms.
- Smoking & vaping: The entire property is non-smoking, both indoors and outdoors.
- Parking: One car per room. Additional vehicles must be approved in advance and are not guaranteed.
- Accessibility: We will do our best to accommodate guests with special needs. Please contact us prior to arrival to discuss.
Property features & guest responsibility
Our property includes natural and recreational features such as a hot tub, a year-round creek, and other wilderness elements. By staying at Donner Lake Inn, guests acknowledge and accept that use or exploration of these features is at their own risk. Children must be supervised at all times.
During the winter months, conditions can be hazardous. Walkways and parking areas may be icy, and guests are advised to use caution when walking or driving on the property.
Liability
Donner Lake Inn is not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of guests' personal belongings. Guests are responsible for securing their own valuables.
Vehicles are parked at the guest's own risk. We are not liable for damage caused by bears, falling snow or ice, or other natural events. The Inn's liability for personal injury is limited to incidents resulting from our own negligence.
4. Legal Terms & Conditions
- Use of website: This site is intended for informational and reservation purposes only. You agree not to misuse it or violate any applicable laws.
- Dispute resolution: Any unresolved disputes will be subject to binding arbitration in the state of California. Both parties agree to work in good faith to resolve issues promptly.
- Force majeure / extenuating circumstances: Mountain travel involves inherent risks such as storms, road closures, and wildfire smoke. These are expected, foreseeable conditions for our alpine location and do not exempt guests from our cancellation policy or constitute merchant non-performance. We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance to mitigate these risks.
- Third-party rights: This agreement is between the guest and Donner Lake Inn only.
- Severability: If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remainder of the terms remain valid and in effect.
- No waiver: Failure to enforce any part of these terms does not waive our right to enforce them in the future.
5. Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting your personal information. This policy outlines how your data is collected, used, and safeguarded.
Information we collect
- Personal information: Collected during booking via ThinkReservations — includes your name, contact details, payment information, and booking preferences.
- Usage data: We use Google Analytics to collect non-personal data such as IP address, browser type, and website behavior.
How we use your information
- To process bookings and payments
- To communicate with you before, during, or after your stay
- To improve website performance and guest experience
Third-party services
We use trusted third-party services to facilitate bookings and improve your experience. These services have their own privacy policies:
California privacy rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you may:
- Request details on the personal data we collect
- Request deletion of your personal data
- Opt out of the sale of personal information (Note: we do not sell data)
To exercise your rights, email us at stay@donnerlakeinn.com.
Data security
We implement industry-standard measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience and performance. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may impact functionality.
6. Policy Updates
These terms and policies may be updated periodically. Continued use of our website after updates are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us at stay@donnerlakeinn.com.