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Donner-Lake
is a pristine mountain lake located in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, approximately 100 miles east of Sacramento via Interstate 80. It is the site where the infamous Donner Party, one of the earliest pioneer wagon trains, was stranded in the winter of 1846-1847. Located at the site today is the Donner Memorial State Park, which offers summer vacation opportunities for boating, fishing, water-skiing, hiking, picnicking and camping. The park encompasses about 1700 acres, and contains the Emigrant Trail Museum and Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those who immigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800's. Inside the museum are displays and information about the Donner Party. A public boat ramp is available at the northwest corner of the lake and there are over three miles of frontage on the lake and Donner Creek for fishing. Donner Lake has approximately 2.5 miles of hiking trails, and the park property in Coldstream Canyon to the south contains the alignment of the original emigrant trail. There is a state park campground located at the lake, along with day-use areas with picnic tables, a beach, fishing, a hiking trail and restrooms. The town of Truckee is a ten-minute drive away and has shopping, restaurants and other conveniences. Donner Lake is approximately 20 miles to the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and 35 miles to Reno.
Surrounding areas: Tahoe Donner, California (2.1 mi), Truckee, California (4.5 mi), Northstar, California (8.6 mi), Squaw Valley, California (8.6 mi), Olympic Valley, California (10.1 mi), Alpine Meadows, California (10.2 mi), Cedar Flat, California (11.6 mi)
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Donner Lake Vacation Rentals
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Donner Lake Hotels and Resorts
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| | | Hotels & Motels |
| Loch Leven Lodge | 13855 Donner Pass Rd | Truckee, CA | | (530) 587-3773 | | Truckee Super 8 Lodge | 11506 Deerfield Dr | Truckee, CA | 2.8 mi. | (530) 587-8888 | | Best Western Trailside Inn | 343 N Main | Alturas, CA | 4.3 mi. | (530) 233-4111 | | Best Western Truckee Tahoe Inn | 11331 Hwy 267 | Truckee, CA | 4.5 mi. | (800) 824-6385 | | Hampton Inn & Suites Tahoe/Truckee | 11951 State Hwy #267 | Truckee, CA | 4.5 mi. | (530) 587-1197 | | Holiday Inn Express | 10527 Cold STRM Rd | Truckee, CA | 4.5 mi. | (530) 582-1073 | | Resort At Squaw Creek | 400 Squaw Creek Rd | Olympic Valley, CA | 8.6 mi. | (530) 583-6300 | | Plumpjack Squaw Valley Inn | 1920 Squaw Vly Rd | Olympic Valley, CA | 10.1 mi. | (530) 583-1576 | | Zelmar Lakeview Lodge | N LK Blvd & Carnelian Bay Rd | Carnelian Bay, CA | 11.9 mi. | (530) 546-3133 | | Lake Of The Sky Motor Inn | 955 N LK Blvd | Tahoe City, CA | 12.4 mi. | (916) 583-3305 | | Tahoe City Travelodge | 455 N LK Blvd | Tahoe City, CA | 12.4 mi. | (916) 583-3766 | | Sunnyside Resort | 1850 W Lake Blvd | Tahoe City, CA | 13.7 mi. | (530) 583-7200 | | Cal Neva Lodge Resort Hotel Spa & Casino | 2 Stateline Rd | Crystal Bay, NV | 15.5 mi. | (775) 832-4000 | | Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe | 111 Country Club | Incline Village, NV | 16.4 mi. | (775) 832-1243 | | Inn At Incline Condominiums | 1003 LK Blue | Incline Village, NV | 16.4 mi. | (775) 831-1052 | | Tahoe Lake Cottages | 7030 West LK Blvd | Tahoma, CA | 19.1 mi. | (916) 525-4411 | | Boomtown Hotel & Casino | 2100 I-80 W & Garson Exit | Verdi, NV | 20.1 mi. | (775) 345-6000 | | Motel 6 #198 | 1400 Stardust St | Reno, NV | 27.1 mi. | (775) 747-7390 | | Atlantis Casino Resort | 3800 S Virginia St | Reno, NV | 27.6 mi. | (800) 723-6500 | | Courtyard By Marriott Reno | 6855 South Virginia St | Reno, NV | 27.6 mi. | (800) 321-2211 | | Holiday Inn Convention Center | 5851 S Virginia St | Reno, NV | 27.6 mi. | (775) 825-2940 | | Truckee River Lodge | 501 West First St | Reno, NV | 27.6 mi. | (800) 635-8950 | | Holiday Inn Express Carson City | 4055 N Carson St | Carson City, NV | 27.7 mi. | (775) 283-4055 | | Peppermill Hotel & Casino | 2707 S Virginia | Reno, NV | 27.7 mi. | (775) 826-2121 | | Quality Inn South | 1885 S Virginia St | Reno, NV | 27.7 mi. | (775) 329-1001 | | Quality Inn | 1885 S Virginia | Reno, NV | 27.7 mi. | (775) 329-1001 | | Comstock Hotel & Casino | 2000 W Second St | Reno, NV | 27.8 mi. | (775) 329-1880 | | Sands Regency Hotel & Casino | 345 N Arlington Ave | Reno, NV | 27.8 mi. | (775) 348-2200 | | Golden Phoenix Hotel Casino | 255 N Sierra St | Reno, NV | 27.9 mi. | (775) 785-7100 | | Virginian Hotel & Casino | 140 N Virginia St | Reno, NV | 27.9 mi. | (775) 329-4664 | | Days Inn | 3103 N Carson St | Carson City, NV | 28.0 mi. | (775) 883-3343 | | Circus Circus Hotel Casino | 500 N Sierra St | Reno, NV | 28.0 mi. | (775) 329-0711 | | Eldorado Hotel Casino | 345 N Virginia St | Reno, NV | 28.0 mi. | (775) 786-5700 | | Harrah's Reno | 219 North Center St | Reno, NV | 28.0 mi. | (775) 788-3230 | | Silver Legacy Resort Casino | 407 N Virginia St | Reno, NV | 28.0 mi. | (775) 329-4777 | | Hampton Inn And Suites | 10599 Professional Cir | Reno, NV | 28.1 mi. | (775) 336-2222 | | Motel 6 | 866 N WLS Ave | Reno, NV | 28.1 mi. | (775) 786-9852 | | Siena Hotel Spa Casino | One S Lake St | Reno, NV | 28.1 mi. | (877) 743-6233 | | Tanamera | 900 S MDWS Pkwy | Reno, NV | 28.1 mi. | (800) 251-2334 | | University Inn | 1001 N Virginia | Reno, NV | 28.1 mi. | (775) 323-0321 |
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Donner Lake Weather & Climate
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The Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, just west of the Nevada state line has an alpine mountain climate. This high mountain region is known as one of the chilliest spots in the country, which comes as a big surprise to many that visit California. Nestled between the Sierra Nevada peaks, the towns of Truckee and Graeagle, and the Donner Lake region, often gets an inversion, whereby cold air is trapped overnight, thus the reason for the extreme cold temperatures in the very early morning hours - even in summertime. As the sun comes up, the temperature begins to rise and daytime highs are usually quite pleasant. Large amounts of snow are received in the higher elevations of the Sierras - up to 40 feet. Rain is possible any month of the year, although most occurs October through April. Mountain weather conditions can change quickly, and rain in the lower elevations can mean snow, sleet or ice in the higher elevations.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
39°F |
14°F |
6.89 in. |
- |
| February |
42°F |
16°F |
6.72 in. |
- |
| March |
45°F |
21°F |
5.83 in. |
- |
| April |
51°F |
25°F |
2.50 in. |
- |
| May |
60°F |
31°F |
1.55 in. |
- |
| June |
71°F |
36°F |
0.76 in. |
- |
| July |
79°F |
41°F |
0.47 in. |
- |
| August |
79°F |
40°F |
0.59 in. |
- |
| September |
72°F |
35°F |
1.11 in. |
- |
| October |
61°F |
28°F |
2.18 in. |
- |
| November |
47°F |
21°F |
4.92 in. |
- |
| December |
39°F |
15°F |
5.48 in. |
- |
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Donner Lake Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Reno Tahoe International airport (RNO) located about 29 miles east of Donner Lake in Reno, Nevada, the Reno Stead airport (4SD) located approximately 31 miles northeast of Donner Lake in Reno, Nevada, the Lake Tahoe airport (TVL) located roughly 32 miles south of Donner Lake in South Lake Tahoe, California, and finally the Mc Clellan Airfield (MCC) located around 75 miles southwest of Donner Lake in Sacramento, California.
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Donner Lake Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Playland Park | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | | | Tahoe Amusement Park | South Lake Tahoe | CA | 30.9 mi. | | | Wild Island | Sparks | NV | 31.1 mi. | | | Funderland | Sacramento | CA | 83.5 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| Wild Island Family Adventure Park | Sparks | NV | 31.1 mi. | | | Waterworld USA | Sacramento | CA | 83.5 mi. | | | Big Bear Park | Waterford | CA | 119.2 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Coyote Moon Golf Club | Truckee | CA | 4.5 mi. | | | Tahoe Donner Golf Club | Truckee | CA | 4.5 mi. | | | Ponderosa Golf Course | Truckee | CA | 5.5 mi. | | | Tahoe City Golf Course | Tahoe City | CA | 12.3 mi. | | | Old Brockway Golf Course | Kings Beach | CA | 14.1 mi. | | | Lake Ridge Golf Course | Reno | NV | 27.9 mi. | | | Northgate Golf Club | Reno | NV | 27.9 mi. | | | Rosewood Lakes Golf Course | Reno | NV | 27.9 mi. | | | Washoe Golf Course | Reno | NV | 27.9 mi. | | | Wolf Run Golf Club at Fieldcreek Ranch | Reno | NV | 27.9 mi. | | | Sierra Sage Golf Course | Reno | NV | 29.2 mi. | | | Eagle Valley Golf Course | Carson City | NV | 29.3 mi. | | | Empire Ranch Golf Course | Carson City | NV | 29.3 mi. | | | Silver Oak Golf Course | Carson City | NV | 29.3 mi. | | | Brookside Municipal Golf Course | Reno | NV | 29.6 mi. | |
| | | Ski Areas |
| Northstar-at-Tahoe | Truckee | CA | 4.5 mi. | | | Tahoe Donner | Truckee | CA | 4.5 mi. | | | Donner Ski Ranch | Norden | CA | 4.8 mi. | | | Sugar Bowl Tahoe | Norden | CA | 4.8 mi. | | | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley | CA | 10.8 mi. | | | Alpine Meadows | Tahoe City | CA | 12.4 mi. | | | Diamond Peak | Incline Village | NV | 16.4 mi. | | | Ski Homewood | Homewood | CA | 17.2 mi. | | | Mount Rose Ski Area | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | | | Heavenly Ski Resort | South Lake Tahoe | CA | 31.1 mi. | | | Sierra-at-Tahoe | Twin Bridges | CA | 36.1 mi. | | | Kirkwood Ski Resort | Kirkwood | CA | 44.1 mi. | | | Bear Valley | Bear Valley | CA | 60.5 mi. | | | Dodge Ridge | Pinecrest | CA | 73.3 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Donner Memorial State Park | | CA | 1.4 mi. | | | Burton Creek State Park | | CA | 11.4 mi. | | | Tahoe State Park | | CA | 12.8 mi. | | | Kings Beach State Park | | CA | 14.6 mi. | | | Sugar Pine Point State Park | | CA | 20.4 mi. | | | Lake Tahoe State Park | | NV | 22.7 mi. | | | D L Bliss State Park | | CA | 25.5 mi. | | | Washoe Lake State Park | | NV | 26.6 mi. | | | Snyder Meadows State Park | | NV | 27.1 mi. | | | Emerald Bay State Park | | CA | 27.4 mi. | | | Dayton State Park | | NV | 37.1 mi. | | | Plumas Eureka State Park | | CA | 38.1 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Emigrant Trail Museum | Truckee | CA | 4.5 mi. | (History) | | W.M. Keck Museum | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | (History) | | Nevada Historical Society | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | (Miscellaneous) | | Fleischmann Planetarium | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | (Science) | | National Automobile Museum | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | (Technology) | | Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | NV | 28.1 mi. | (Art) | | Stewart Indian Museum | Carson City | NV | 28.9 mi. | (History) | | Nevada State Railroad Museum | Carson City | NV | 28.9 mi. | (Technology) | | Genoa Courthouse Museum | Genoa | NV | 31.4 mi. | (History) | | Portola Railroad Museum | Portola | CA | 35.4 mi. | (Technology) | | Vernon Wood Museum of Art | Dayton | NV | 36.5 mi. | (Art) | | Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center | Gardnerville | NV | 38.2 mi. | (History) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Sacramento Zoo | Sacramento | CA | 83.5 mi. | | | Micke Grove Zoo | Lodi | CA | 98.6 mi. | |
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