Truckee Attractions

Nature colors many Truckee attractions. And, just like winter’s shades of whites to the pale greens of spring and the deep verdant hues of summer grasses and golden spheres of aspen leaves in autumn, the attractions vary. History is found at the heart of many Truckee and Northstar attractions, while Mother Nature influences others.

The ill-fated Donner Party of the mid-19th-century was just one emigrant experience of those crossing the Sierra Nevada. Learn about the hardships and triumphs at the Donner Memorial State Park with its thought-provoking Pioneer Monument. The Visitor Center was recently renovated to showcase stories of not just the Donner Party but also the Washoe Native Americans, Chinese construction workers of the Transcontinental Railroad and early automobile enthusiasts crossing Donner Pass.

There’s a Truckee attraction that highlights one of America’s most massive projects – the building of the Transcontinental Railroad – from a small venue: a caboose. Yes, it’s small, but it’s very interesting. Northstar attractions bring visitors to famous ski resorts and slopes that are popular for their picturesque and thrilling trails.

A popular Truckee attraction is found not in just one location but in 20! Drive old Highway 40 from Nyack (I-80) to below Rainbow Bridge. There are signs at each spot with individual historical information, stories and activities to best enjoy that location.

Truckee Attractions for Every Interest

Downtown at Jibboom and Spring streets is the Old Jail Museum. Be aware that this particular Truckee attraction is run by docents, so sometimes it’s closed despite signs of operation saying otherwise. Art studios encourage creativity, while the indoor play structure helps unleash energy. The seasonal Nature Play area encourages the young to protect the environment. Check out the Truckee attraction up at the Boreal Ski Area, where you can explore the Western SkiSport Museum. Learn how Gold Rush miners used long boards to entertain themselves when Sierra snow became too deep to pan for gold.

Truckee Attractions by Category

Around Tahoe Tours

889 Tahoe Boulevard, Unit C, Incline Village, NV
(775) 345-5966

Around Tahoe Tours is your best bet for getting a true feel and knowledge of the Tahoe area. Created by Chris and Darin Talbot, the tour agency is a culmination of their knowledge that began when they moved to the area in 1977. Private tours and group tours are available, ranging from either one to four people or five to eight people. The tours focus...read more

Around Tahoe Tours is your best bet for getting a true feel and knowledge of...read more

Donner Memorial State Park

Truckee Attraction
12593 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA
(530) 582-7892

History buffs, campers, cyclists, hikers and those who love their water sports will find Donner Memorial State Park the perfect place for either a visit or an extended stay. The Donner name is a nod to the story of the snow-stranded emigrants and their ill-fated wagon train in the winter of 1846–47. One part of the forlorn pioneer group made camp near Donner Lake, now site...read more

History buffs, campers, cyclists, hikers and those who love their water sports will find Donner...read more

Hang Gliding Tahoe

Truckee Attraction
2640 E. College Parkway, Carson City, NV
(775) 772-8232

You love Lake Tahoe, and you feel as if you’ve seen all the sights it has to offer. But as the old saying goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet ... not until you’ve seen it from the air, piloting your own aircraft over the Carson Range and into the Tahoe Basin. With Hang Gliding Tahoe, you fly a powered hang glider (with an FAA-certified instructor...read more

You love Lake Tahoe, and you feel as if you’ve seen all the sights it...read more

Tahoe Donner Association

Truckee Attraction
11509 Northwoods Boulevard, Truckee, CA
(530) 587-9400

The sprawling Tahoe Donner homeowners association and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee mean many things to many people. For some, it is their home neighborhood; for others, it is their vacation house for a few days in winter or summer; and for others yet, it is their outdoor playground. Locals and visitors take advantage of Tahoe Donner’s 7,000 acres of open space and equally vast...read more

The sprawling Tahoe Donner homeowners association and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee mean many things...read more

Truckee Ice Rink

Truckee Attraction
10500 Brockway Road, Truckee, CA
(530) 582-7720

One of the treasures of winter is the pleasure of ice skating. In Truckee there is a fabulous family-focused ice rink that comes with the flurries of snowfall at the Truckee River Regional Park. Although not regulation in size, Truckee Ice Rink offers a great array of activities on the ice. From public ice-skating sessions (complete with rentals) to ice-skating lessons for young and old,...read more

One of the treasures of winter is the pleasure of ice skating. In Truckee there...read more

Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District

Truckee Attraction
10981 Truckee Way, Truckee, CA
(530) 582-7720

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains, lakes, river and forests. But there are many hidden gems known mostly to locals. Those gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The...read more

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains,...read more

West End Beach of Donner Lake

Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District
Truckee Attraction
15962 South Shore Drive, Truckee, CA
(530) 582-7720

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of its own: Donner Lake. While not as big and broad as Big Blue, Donner Lake offers up a good bit of watery fun too. One of the best places to access Donner is West End Beach. In summer months, there is a modest admission fee to enter the 10-acre west...read more

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of...read more