Donner Lake
Encyclopedia
Donner Lake is a freshwater lake
in northeast California
on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and about 11 miles (17.7 km) northwest of the much larger Lake Tahoe
. A moraine
serves as a natural dam
for the lake. The lake is located in the town of Truckee
, sandwiched between Interstate 80
to the north and Schallenberger Ridge to the south. The tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad run along
Schallenberger Ridge and closely follow the route of the original transcontinental railroad
. The historic route of U.S. 40 follows the northern shoreline, then climbs to Donner Pass
from where the entire lake may be viewed.
Both the lake and the pass were named after the unfortunate Donner Party
, which spent its fateful winter near the lake in 1846. Donner Memorial State Park
is on the east end of the lake and provides campsites with access to several different beaches. There are also various hiking trails in the park.
Donner Lake holds some of the biggest Lake Trout
in the state. There is also a good population of Rainbow and Brown Trout
as well as Kokanee Salmon. Fisherman use downriggers and troll with plugs for Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout
in order to catch the trophy sized Lake Trout. During the Spring and Fall season, Lake Trout come to the top to feed and this is the only time of year one has the chance to hook a Laker in shallow water.
A public boat ramp operated by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District is available in the northwest corner of Donner Lake. There is a fee charged for boat launching. The lake is open to both power and sail boats.
Donner Memorial State Park wraps around the East and part of the South shore of the Lake, encompassing Scallenberger Ridge to the south. Summer activities include, camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, wind-surfing hiking and mountain biking. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Park features the Pioneer Monument, welcoming visitors year round, which was built to commemorate the Donner Party
traveling to California from the east in the mid-19th century. The statue itself is positioned 23 feet (7 m) high, which is said to be the depth snow reached during the winter of 1846 when the Donner Party failed to make it over the pass.
The North shore of the Lake hosts 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of public docks for both swimmers and boaters. Every year the town of Truckee hosts the Donner Lake Triathlon which consists of the Sprint Triathlon: 0.25 miles (402.3 m) swim, 6 miles (9.7 km) bike, 2 miles (3.2 km) run and the International Triathlon: 15 kilometres (9.3 mi), 40 kilometres (24.9 mi), 6.5 miles (10.5 km) run.
Hiking
There are roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) of hiking trails inside the Park. Visitors can legally park in Coldstream Canyon (just past the 76 gas station) which contains the alignment of the primary Emigrant Trail, which leads up to U.S. Forest Service and the Pacific Crest trails beyond the park. Donner lake is roughly 8 miles (12.9 km) around which also makes for a great hike.
Camping
There are 154 sites to camp at in the park and a day-use area along the lake. A lakeside interpretive trail has 18 panels which discuss the natural and cultural resources in the local area.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in northeast California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and about 11 miles (17.7 km) northwest of the much larger Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. A moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
serves as a natural dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
for the lake. The lake is located in the town of Truckee
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
, sandwiched between Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
to the north and Schallenberger Ridge to the south. The tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad run along
Schallenberger Ridge and closely follow the route of the original transcontinental railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
. The historic route of U.S. 40 follows the northern shoreline, then climbs to Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
from where the entire lake may be viewed.
Both the lake and the pass were named after the unfortunate Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
, which spent its fateful winter near the lake in 1846. Donner Memorial State Park
Donner Memorial State Park
Donner Memorial State Park is a US state park located near Truckee, California. The park is named after the ill-fated Donner Party, and contains the Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument dedicated to them. The Donner Camp site at Alder Creek, where the Donner families were trapped by...
is on the east end of the lake and provides campsites with access to several different beaches. There are also various hiking trails in the park.
Fishing
The lake's depth has been measured by the California State Lands Commission to be 328 feet (100 m) deep at its deepest point. High water level is 5935.8 feet (1,809.2 m) above Mean Sea Level (since Lake Tahoe's high water line is 6228' MSL, that dispels the myth that somehow the two lakes are connected).Donner Lake holds some of the biggest Lake Trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
in the state. There is also a good population of Rainbow and Brown Trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
as well as Kokanee Salmon. Fisherman use downriggers and troll with plugs for Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
in order to catch the trophy sized Lake Trout. During the Spring and Fall season, Lake Trout come to the top to feed and this is the only time of year one has the chance to hook a Laker in shallow water.
A public boat ramp operated by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District is available in the northwest corner of Donner Lake. There is a fee charged for boat launching. The lake is open to both power and sail boats.
Recreation
Donner Memorial State Park wraps around the East and part of the South shore of the Lake, encompassing Scallenberger Ridge to the south. Summer activities include, camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, wind-surfing hiking and mountain biking. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Park features the Pioneer Monument, welcoming visitors year round, which was built to commemorate the Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
traveling to California from the east in the mid-19th century. The statue itself is positioned 23 feet (7 m) high, which is said to be the depth snow reached during the winter of 1846 when the Donner Party failed to make it over the pass.
The North shore of the Lake hosts 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of public docks for both swimmers and boaters. Every year the town of Truckee hosts the Donner Lake Triathlon which consists of the Sprint Triathlon: 0.25 miles (402.3 m) swim, 6 miles (9.7 km) bike, 2 miles (3.2 km) run and the International Triathlon: 15 kilometres (9.3 mi), 40 kilometres (24.9 mi), 6.5 miles (10.5 km) run.
Hiking
There are roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) of hiking trails inside the Park. Visitors can legally park in Coldstream Canyon (just past the 76 gas station) which contains the alignment of the primary Emigrant Trail, which leads up to U.S. Forest Service and the Pacific Crest trails beyond the park. Donner lake is roughly 8 miles (12.9 km) around which also makes for a great hike.
Camping
There are 154 sites to camp at in the park and a day-use area along the lake. A lakeside interpretive trail has 18 panels which discuss the natural and cultural resources in the local area.
External links
- Trailspotting: Snowshoe Donner Lake Hike description & photos
- California State Parks:Donner Lake
- Views of Donner Lake, California. Photographed by R.J. Waters and Co., ca. 1915, The Bancroft Library
- Change of Pace