Every year, millions of Californians suffer in silence from an acute seasonal disorder. A friend or coworker nonchalantly mentions that they’re off to their place in the mountains for the weekend, and it strikes: cabin envy.

Symptoms include an intense desire for a charmingly ramshackle house in the forest, pine-scented solitude, and a view over a lake or burbling stream; a longing for family traditions and campfire-tinged memories.

If you are one of the afflicted, an easy remedy is at hand in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, a quiet northern Sierra wonderland of cold blue lakes, rimmed by towering mountains, with — yes — woodsy cabins. They may not be yours exactly, but along the 17-mile long Gold Lake Highway from Bassetts on Hwy 49 to Graeagle (Hwy. 89), there are six historic lodges each with its own small brigade of cabins, all waiting to be yours for a short getaway. Many families will book the same cabin each year: all the tradition and memories you could ask for, without the hassle of actually owning a cabin.

The earliest lodges in the area opened in the 1850s on the heels of the California Gold Rush. In 1850, a rumor of a lake lined with chunks of gold triggered what newspapers at the time called the “Gold Lake excitement.” Thousands of desperate gold-seekers set off in search of the legendary lake.

Surprise, surprise: there was no lake of gold. But in the hunt, the prospectors did find a precious gem of a region with over 20 lakes (the largest they named “Gold Lake”), and people stayed.

The Gray Eagle Lodge, opened in 1923, the comfortable cabins string along the creek, several with decks right on the water, including the Waterwheel cabin (complete with real waterwheel from its days as the lodge’s powerhouse), which looks out right on Gray Eagle Falls. The creek is stocked with trout, and there’s an irresistible (if chilly) swimming hole at the base of the falls. Even the tap water is a treat here, piped in from a spring high up on the mountain.

If you’re looking for a Lakes Basin trip to be all-lake, all the time, it’s hard to get much more lakey than the Sardine Lake Resort, where the chinked log cabins sit right beside the deep blue of Lower Sardine Lake at the feet of the high Sierra Buttes. Just a short walk away is Sand Pond, a soft-bottomed, emerald swimming pond, very popular with families in the summer months. Day hikes can take you to Upper Sardine Lake or Volcano Lake, where you can regularly have a whole lake to yourself.

The undisputed winner for day hikes, however, is the Sierra Buttes Lookout trail. If it feels like you’re walking on air, it’s because you are: the steep steps to the lookout at 8590 feet cross over a deep cleft in the peak, and the see-through metal walkway hangs out over a sheer drop of you don’t want to know how many feet straight down. Get ready for palm sweat and wobbly legs.

Even if you’re not going to the top, don’t miss the Sierra Buttes: Float up for a cocktail at Sardine Lake Lodge’s dockside bar, “Poor George’s Playpen,” or ogle them from one of the many viewpoints along the Gold Lake Highway. From any angle, the Sierra Buttes are, well, beauts.

In the nearby towns of Graeagle, Blairsden and Sierra City, there are plenty of options for dining out, but you needn’t stray far from your cabin. The lot fills up each night for Firewoods, the restaurant at the Gray Eagle Lodge. With nightly specials like braised short ribs with potato hash, a quality wine cellar, after-dinner campfire with s’mores for the kids, all set to the pleasant gnip-gnop emerging from the lodge’s rec room, it’s no wonder diners linger well into the evening. The restaurants at Gold Lake Lodge and Packer Lake Lodge are good spots to fuel up with breakfast for a day of hiking.

Fall and spring are the slow seasons for the Lakes Basin area lodges, with a better chance of last-minute cabin openings. Visitors in the fall get treated to aspens turning bright gold and clear nights starting to take on an edge of chill. Because of the high demand, it’s also a good time to book cabins for the year ahead. Even with four other choices — Salmon Lake Lodge, Packer Lake Lodge, Gold Lake Lodge and Elwell Lakes Lodge — demand is high, and cabin supply can be tight.

If you strike out or want to explore off-season, numerous campgrounds are available, and nearby Graeagle and Sierra City have motel and B&B options — but will that cure your cabin envy?

Andy Murdock is a freelance writer based in Alameda. E-mail: travel@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @andy_murdock

If you go

GETTING THERE

Lakes Basin Recreation Area lies along the Gold Lake Highway, which runs between Hwy 49 (at Bassetts) and Highway 89 (at Graeagle). Graeagle is 45 miles north of Truckee, 4 hours from San Francisco.

WHERE TO STAY

Cabins in high season can book up 1-2 years out. Lodges will sometimes have last-minute availability, especially for short stays and for those willing to change cabins mid-stay.

Gray Eagle Lodge: 5000 Gold Lake Road, Graeagle; (800) 635-8778; www.grayeaglelodge.com. 21 comfortable, charming cabins along Gray Eagle Creek and two guest rooms in the main lodge with king beds, all with full baths. Cabins and rooms start at $245 per night; additional charges for extra guests or pets. Rates include breakfast and dinner. Open Memorial Day to mid-October.

Sardine Lake Lodge: 990 Sardine Lake Road, Sierra City, CA; (530) 862-1196; www.sardinelakeresort.com. Nine rustic cabins with kitchens and full baths, starting at $210 per night, $1275 per week; additional charges for extra guests or pets. Open Memorial Day to mid-October.

WHERE TO EAT

Firewoods at Gray Eagle Lodge: 5000 Gold Lake Road; (800) 635-8778; www.grayeaglelodge.com/restaurant/. Quality comfort cuisine with house-baked bread and California wines. Entrees: $19-$34; included for guests. Reservations recommended.

Packer Lake Lodge: 3901 Packer Lake Road; (530) 862-1221; www.packerlakelodge.com. Classic country breakfasts and homey dinners with an Italian buffet bingo night on Wednesdays through summer. Entrees: $12-$26. Reservations recommended.

Gold Lake Lodge: 7000 Gold Lake Road; (530) 836-2350; www.goldlakelodge.com. Simple breakfasts and family-style dinners at large communal tables. Entrees: $10-$29. Reservations recommended.

WHAT TO DO

Sierra Buttes Lookout: The trail starts at the Pacific Crest Trail trailhead on Packer Saddle (Packer Lake Road to Butcher Ranch Road; the road past the parking area is only for 4-WD vehicles). 5 miles roundtrip, with a climb of about 1500 feet.

Mills Peak Bike Trail: Info and maps can be obtained from the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship: (775) 813-4354; www.sierratrails.org

Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards can be rented from the Gray Eagle Lodge (see above) and delivered to one of the local lakes.

Horseback riding: Trail rides, programs for kids and pack trips throughout the area can be arranged through Gold Lake Stables: (530) 836-0940; www.reidhorse.com.

MORE INFORMATION

Lakes Basin Recreation Area, US Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Southwest/LakesBasin/index.shtml