Truckee, CA is located 3 hours north/east of the San Francisco bay area near Lake Tahoe. Come with friends and family to explore historic downtown shops and restaurants. There are many outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, boating, snowboarding, skiing and a multitude of other water and snow sports. Or relax along the famous Truckee River, Donner or Tahoe lakes. Once you arrive at Cedar Trail, you will find a helpful manual explaining everything along with Truckee guidebooks.
Directions from the Bay Area:
Take I80-East toward Sacramento
Follow Signs to I80-East toward Reno (102 Miles)
Exit Donner Pass Rd. (.1 miles)
Turn Left at Donner Pass Rd (.5 miles)
Turn Left at Northwoods Blvd (.5 miles)
(Call for exact address)
Donner Lake
Summer is a beautiful time of year with numerous types of activities
- literally in our backyard. Truckee is the home of Donner Lake, the
Donner Memorial State Park, and the Truckee River. All of which provide
an extensive array of things to do as well as an interesting perspective
on the history of Truckee. Downtown Truckee provides a real local feel
with many restaurants and shops to choose from.
Only 20 minutes away, Lake Tahoe itself is a must see if you haven’t
been before. Located towards Tahoe City, which also offers a variety
of options from dining, boating, beach going, swimming and site seeing.
Donner Memorial National Park
Public Boat Ramp
While the park has no boat launching ramp, a public 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.
Fishing
The park has over three miles of frontage on Donner Lake and Donner Creek.
Fishing is not usually spectacular, though there are trout and kokanee
in the lake. The lake is planted with trout and a fishing license is
required. Many fishermen prefer to use the park as a base to visit nearby
lakes.
Hiking Trails
The park has about 2.5 miles (4 km.) of hiking trails. Park property
in Coldstream Canyon to the south contains the alignment of the primary
Emigrant Trail, which leads up to U.S. Forest Service and the Pacific
Crest trails beyond the park. Maps are for sale at the Emigrant Trail
Museum.
Camping and Day Use
Located at Donner Memorial State Park is a campground of 154 sites and
a day-use area along the lake with picnic tables, restrooms, a beach,
fishing, and a lakeside interpretive trail that has 18 panels which discuss
the natural and cultural resources in the area.
Emigrant Trail Museum
The Emigrant Trail Museum, located at Donner Memorial State Park, takes
about 1 hour to visit. It depicts the history of the area and the people
who came into this part of the Sierra, including local Native Americans,
the Donner Party, and builders of the transcontinental railroad. Postcards,
posters, maps, and books about the human and natural history of the area
are for sale at the museum.
Pioneer Monument
Near the museum is the Pioneer Monument and the Donner Party's Murphy
family cabin site. Also starting at the museum is a self-guiding nature
trail which is a one half mile loop. Nature trail guides are available
at the museum and campground entrance station. Staff-led hikes, special
feature shows, and campfires start in late June. Hikes, ranging from
1 - 2 hours, start at the museum at 10:00 a.m.
Truckee River Rafting or Floating
A great 2-3 hours in which you enjoy a leisurely, self guided, 5- mile float on the Truckee River from Tahoe City to the River Ranch Bar, Restaurant & Hotel. You can catch a free shuttle bus back to your car at anytime until 6 p.m. daily. You can buy tubes at just about any gas station near the launch site or rent boats from Truckee River Raft Company. Also, it is fastest to blow up inflatable’s is by using the gas station air pumps. Take your time. The river is beautiful, and you can take all day if you want. Wear hats and sunscreen, and drink plenty of water. Put all valuables in Tupperware or containers that seals, otherwise things will get WET!
Map
Facilities: 37 Public Piers. Location: North side of Donner Lake. The piers are a great place to picnic for the day or just hang out and relax over the lake.
photophoto
Donner Lake Fishing Access
SHORELINE PARK & ALL ACCESS FISHING PIER. Located midway on the north shore of Donner Lake, this park features bank fishing, picnic tables, and hand launching of small craft and windsurfers. The All Access Fishing Pier was completed with grant monies from the Wildlife Conservation Board. Please park in designated areas.
Fish Species:
Fishing is not usually spectacular, though there are trout and kokanee
in the lake. The lake is planted with trout and a fishing license is
required.
Fishing is also permitted in the Truckee River.
Donner Lake Boat Launch
The Donner Lake Boat Ramp is located on the northwest corner of the lake.
West End Beach
Nestled on the West Shore of Donner Lake, this 10 acre day use beach facility offers excellent shaded picnic and barbeque sites for families or groups. Please call the District offices at 530 582-7720 to make reservations. Reservations accepted at least two weeks in advance. American Red Cross Certified Lifeguards supervise the designated swim area.
Located just 1/2 mile south of Downtown Truckee on Highway 267, this park offers 62 acres of recreation facilities. These include large and small ball fields, 4 picnic areas with tables and BBQs, a rodeo arena, nature trail, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, amphitheater, tot lot, skateboard park, disc golf course, and playground equipment. Most of these areas may be reserved by application at the District Office at least two weeks in advance of the requested date.
White Water Rafting in the Truckee River
Exciting Truckee River whitewater rafting, close to Reno and North Lake Tahoe. This Lake Tahoe rafting trip is a fun, 7-mile guided white water adventure, with many Class 2-3 rapids for the first 6 miles and exciting Class 3+ rapids in the last mile.
Meeting Locations/Times: The meeting location is at the Granite Chief store, near the town of Truckee. Just 22 mins. from Kings Beach, 35 mins. from Reno, and about 1¼ hrs from South Lake Tahoe. During the peak season, 2 trips a day are scheduled, at 9:00 am and 1:30 pm. In early June and after Labor Day weekend, there is usually just 1 trip a day at 12:30 pm. Custom trips for groups are available, and transportation from the Reno and Lake Tahoe areas, can be arranged at cost. Call for reservations: Tributary Tours 800-672-3846
Other Activities in or near Truckee
MOUNTAIN BIKING - Mountain bikers are everywhere, yet you never seem to see anyone on the trail. Whether you are into extreme biking or just want to get out in the woods, Truckee can offer a variety of trails. Equipment is available locally either to rent or buy.
ROCK CLIMBING - The granite peaks along the summit are famous for rock
climbing. Drive along old highway 40 and you can see people hanging
in precarious positions.
WATER SPORTS - Donner Lake is paradise for sports enthusiasts. It is
glassy in the morning for water skiing, then the wind kicks up and
you can see sailboards crisscrossing the lake. You can also go to Lake
Tahoe and rent boats and perhaps find the perfect secluded cove for
a picnic. Boca Reservoir and Stampede Reservoir are also pristine spots
for boating and fishing and are right around the corner.
Truckee River
Winter is known to be the most exciting season of the year. At our Cedar
Trail house, you are located at the most convenient neighborhood with
easy access to many of the best recreation spots.
The Tahoe Basin is home to some the best snow conditions in North America,
along with favorable weather patterns allowing a nice ratio of sunny,
snow days. With an average snowfall of around 200 (16 ft.), the surrounding
area allows for numerous types of winter activities.
The four closest large ski resorts to Truckee are Squaw Valley, Northstar
at Tahoe, Alpine Meadows and Sugar Bowl. Truckee, offers a truly amazing
lifestyle experience in the snow.
Snowy Tree
Skiing, snowboarding and cross country activity areas:
SQUAW VALLEY
530-583-6955
530-581-8374
530-426-1111
1-800-GO-NORTH
TAHOE-DONNER 530-587-9444
A friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
A great place for both downhill and cross country skiers. Just a fifteen-minute
drive from The Richardson House B&B Inn.
ROYAL GORGE CROSS COUNTRY 530-426-3871
Travelers come from all over the world to cross country ski on these
marvelously groomed backcountry trails. You can spend days in this splendid
facility on a variety of terrain. They even offer lessons.
BOREAL 530-426-3666
Check out night skiing for some fun after dark. Catch the sunset or moon
rise over the Sierra Range on top of Donner Summit.
HOMEWOOD Mountain Resort 530-525-2900
An intimate ski resort where you feel at home, where the children's ski
program is brand new, there are nice views and the food is good
MOUNT ROSE 775-849-0704
Tahoe's highest base resort and closest resort to Reno
Tubing at Kingvale 530-426-1941
Soda Springs 530-426-3901
Offers two tubing tows that take you to the top of the tubing runs. Snowboarders
and skiers will find that Soda's Kids X Park offers just the right
size ride on boxes and rails, banks to catch small-sized air, while
Soda's more advanced terrain park "Triple T” has larger
roller style jumps.
Snowmobile Tours + Rentals:
Cold Stream Adventures 530-582-9090
Lake Tahoe Adventures 530-577-2940
Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Tours 530-546-4280
