Truckee Attractions

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 of the state park, during record-breaking snowfall. Now visitors can go to Donner Memorial State Park and check out the new $6.6 million visitor center/museum that chronicles the Donner Party and the human and natural history of the region. During summer season the park has 142 spaces for car, RV and tent camping. There is also a concessionaire renting water-sport toys from kayaks and SUPs to two-seater personal watercraft. Being a state park in the Sierra, everything is surrounded by beautiful pines and plenty of hiking and biking in adjacent Cold Stream Canyon and swimming in the kid-friendly canal and China Cove. Depending on snowfall, a cross-country ski trail is groomed through the park, which is also a great place for snowshoeing. An entrance fee is charged.

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 amenities, which are available to homeowners as well as to the public. The association’s clubhouse, marina, tennis center and recreation center are for members only, but the public can experience Tahoe Donner for free via the beautiful trail system or pay to play at top-notch offerings. Enjoy the serene campground or stop by the Tahoe Donner Bikeworks bike shop, located at a trailhead and offering private lessons, guided rides for all levels and more. The Tahoe Donner Trail System features more than 60 miles of trails across 5,000 acres of epic Sierra Nevada terrain. It is the ultimate playground for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and equestrians. After all that exploring, Tahoe Donner has a variety of places to dine. The Lodge Restaurant & Pub has indoor and outdoor dining, and Alder Creek Cafe offers casual indoor and patio dining for the entire family. Pizza on the hill offers delicious pizzas, salads, pastas and more – enjoy a great meal indoors or on the patio as the kiddos play on the playground right outside. Also keep an eye open for events open to the public held at various times throughout the year.

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 district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Want to find Truckee’s soul? Check out the bike park at Riverview Sports Park and the popular disc golf course and skate park in Regional Park. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programing and facilities that continue to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area.