Donner Memorial State Park

PO Box 9210
Truckee, CA 96162
(530) 582-7894

http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Description

The park is located amid the pine and fir forest just east of Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada, which is surrounded by magnificent alpine scenery and directly adjacent to a beautiful three-mile-long lake. The forest is made up primarily of lodgepole pine, Jeffery pine and white fir. Because of its evaluation-nearly 6,ooo-feet- there is no poison oak. The park is host to a variety of animal environments and is the site of some fascinating traces of the geologic process that shaped this portion of the Sierra Nevada. The park’s main attraction is the historical Donner Party.

Activities

• Camping
• Boating
• Water Skiing
• Museum
• Hiking & Nature Trails
• Fishing
• Interpretive Displays & Activities
• Swimming 

Facilities

The park includes a 154-site family style campground, with modern restroom and showers facilities. The Emigrant Trail Museum is located inside the park and provides displays on the crossing of America to California, highlighting the Donner Party experience. Donner Lake offers fun-filled water fun. Boating regulations are enforced by the local sheriff’s department and a valid sport fishing license is required. Private concessionaire rent canoes, rowboats and jet skies for hourly and daily use.

Fire: Designated fire pits only

Water: Available throughout the campground

Wood: See park staff-no wood gathering.

Comments

Donner Memorial State Park provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the western expansion of the United States into California, as well as the unique geological make up of the Sierra Nevada area. Donner Lake provides endless summer fun in the chilly waters of the Sierra. If your unit doesn’t make this an outing location, take your family. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

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