arnold life. family life. happy life.
Can you keep a secret?
Loft bunk room at Happy Lake Chalet
Just a short drive from pristine alpine lakes, towering Sequoias, and a low-key ski resort with a family-friendly vibe, Arnold feels undiscovered in all the best ways. Who knew that families have been vacationing in this charming mountain town for decades, using a make-shift runway to access their cabins by plane before Highway 4 blazed a trail? Not us. We could not have been more surprised to discover this small town with a big heart, home to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and just a stone’s throw from wine tasting, spelunking, snowboarding, ziplining and the historic charm of California’s Gold Country. For families like ours, Arnold is a welcome alternative to its glossier, pricier, more crowded neighbor over Ebbetts Pass, where Tahoe awaits. We love Tahoe. But sometimes we want a throwback to a simpler time, without traffic, crowds, and fanfare. Arnold is that.
Happy Lake Chalet is our family getaway in Arnold. We love to spend long weekends here, snowboarding, hiking, and playing in the lake. We love just as much to share this secret with our friends, loved ones, and others looking for a happy, all-season retreat. We especially like Happy Lake Chalet’s location, just outside of town in the Blue Lake Springs community, known for its family-friendly vibe and fun amenities. Take a short stroll to a private lake and pool or a short drive to Bear Valley Ski Resort, the Stanislaus River, the Calaveras wine trail, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Murphys, or Columbia State Park.
Our chalet is economically priced and family-friendly, with 3 good-sized bedrooms on the ground floor (2 kings and a queen), a living room nook with an extra twin, a bunk room that sleeps 5+ children, an open kitchen with wrap-around bar that seats 8 for families that like to cook together, and a prime location, nestled in the trees, yet just a short walk or drive from Blue Lake Springs’ amenities, including a pool, 2 private lakes, tennis, basketball, pickle ball, lawn games, and summer activities like outdoor movies. Well-behaved dogs are welcome (up to 2). We are excited to share our Happy Lake Chalet with you.
A peek inside Happy Lake Chalet. . .
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Open dining area for family meals
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Loft lounge with double sofa bed and TV for the kids
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1 of 2 bedrooms with King beds
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Outdoor view of deck, hammock and spacious lot for exploring and snow play
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Cozy living room with fireplace and plenty of space to lounge and spin records or watch movies
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Outdoor deck with BBQ, perfect for dining uner the stars
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Chess, anyone?
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Open kitchen with wrap-around bar for cooking together
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Bedroom with queen bed
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1 of 2 bedrooms with King beds
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Main bathroom adjoins master bedroom and is steps away from the 2 other bedrooms, with King and Queen beds
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Cozy nook behind the fireplace is also an extra bed if you need it
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Common area from above
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Master bedroom with King bed and walk-in closet
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Bunkroom loft with 4 twins, a TV nook, and a double sofa overlooking common area, with its own bathroom with shower
Plan a visit
Interested in learning more about the happy life in Arnold or staying at our Happy Lake Chalet? Reach out for more information or check our availability at AirBNB. We offer deep discounts and direct booking for friends, family, and referrals and special pricing for firefighters, teachers, medical professionals, and nonprofit and government employees. If you’d like to book a series of stays, ask about storing your lake and snow gear at the cabin. We are building a community who can help us hold on to this happy place by making it a part of their family traditions. Join us!
Happy Lake Chalet Calendar
Happy Lake Chalet Calendar
How is the weather at Happy Lake Chalet?
Welcome!
Welcome to Happy Lake Chalet—and thanks for stopping by! We are a Bay Area family with a home base in Aptos who love to travel and explore new places. We find that we get our best quality time together when we are out in the world, having an adventure. In addition to our two daughters (ages 10 and 17), we tend to roll with extended family, friends, and pets of different ages, interests, and abilities. Happy Lake Chalet gives us a place to come together, make memories, and plot new fun. Our family favorites are snowboarding in the winter, hiking in the spring and fall, and paddleboarding in the summer. We are also big fans of Nelson’s Candy Kitchen at Columbia State Park and the swimming hole at Natural Bridges. If you want tips about things to do around Arnold or want to join our growing community of friends and family who make Happy Lake Chalet part of their family tradition, reach out. We would love to hear from you.
- Heather, Eben & Family
Lake Tahoe in your plans?
Check out Happy Lake Chalet’s stylish little sister—Happy Cabin Tahoe, a vintage log cabin in King’s Beach, less than 10 minutes from Northstar California Resort and walking distance to North Lake Tahoe’s most beautiful beaches. Like Happy Lake Chalet, Happy Cabin Tahoe is thoughtfully designed for families, with a bunk room that sleeps 6 in bunks (2 queens, 2 twins) plus 2 more on a sofa bed. There are 2 large, light-filled bedrooms—one with a Queen bed and the other with a King bed, along with a Queen sofa bed with a memory foam mattress in the living room for overflow guests. Happy Cabin Tahoe accepts well-behaved canine visitors (up to 2 small or 1 large dog), so you can bring the whole gang.
