Contact Number

  • (530) 582-7894

Park Accessibility Information

Park Hours

  • Park Open Sunrise to Sunset
    Campground Kiosk (530) 582-7894
    Visitor Center Open 10-5 Daily
    (530) 582-7892
    Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25, and Jan 1

Park Activities

Yes
Dogs are allowed on the Lakeside Interpretive Trail, Zig Zag Trail, fire roads, and along the shore of Donner Lake except for China Cove Beach. Dogs must always remain on a six-foot (maximum) leash. Dogs are not allowed in the visitor center, on the half-mile Nature Trail, or China Cove Beach. Dogs are not allowed on designated ski trails when snow is present.
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Beach Area
Swimming
Windsurfing/Surfing
Museums
Family Programs
Hiking Trails

Park Facilities

Trailer: 24 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: 28 Feet
Family Campsites
Hike or Bike Campsites
RV Access
Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Boating
Boat Rentals

Park Directions

Get directions through Google Maps

The park is 100 miles east of Sacramento via Interstate 80, and is within the town of Truckee, just west of downtown on the south side of the freeway.

Visitor Center is Closed

The Donner Memorial Visitor Center (exhibit area, theater, and gift shop) is currently closed due to a heating system failure. The Visitor Center restrooms are open to the public during normal business hours (10am-5pm). Park staff are working to fix the broken heating system. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for understanding. 
The roads to the campgrounds and day use areas have closed for the season. Please park in the Visitor Center lot and display your pass/permit. With a little bit of snow, the trails are invigorating for hiking!

Welcome to the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Donner Memorial State Park is located in the scenic the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an elevation of about 6,000 feet.

This legendary alpine park offers summer camping, picnicking, kayaking, paddle sports, fishing, and hiking. During winter, visitors can cross-country ski, snowshoe on trails, and play in the snow. Visitors are welcome year-round to visit the famous Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate the California emigrants traveling west during the mid-1800's.

The Visitor Center features compelling exhibits that illuminate the Emigrant Experience, the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad, and early motoring adventures over Donner Pass.

Welcome to the Visitor Center

 Open 10:00am - 5:00pm everyday

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years

To make reservations for interpretive programs, please visit: School Field Trip and Group Reservations Page for guided and self-guided tours, Mountain Bike Tour Reservations PagePaddling Tour Reservations, and Snowshoe Historic Tours. These programs are all no-cost and supported by the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

Visitor Attractions

ParkingFees are required to park in the parking lots year-round.
You may pay for parking in the Donner Memorial Visitor Center (10am-5pm) or self-register your parking payment using envelopes at the entrance kiosk 
(summer) or the Automated Pay Machine (summer/winter - Cash/credit) outside the Visitors Center. Day Use hours are sunrise-sunset, seven days a week.

Rates: 
$10 per vehicle for the day.
Bus Fee: $100/day

Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center: Explore 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. Visitors can expect to spend about one hour exploring exhibits. Postcards, posters, maps, and books about the human and natural history of the area are for sale in the Visitor Center.

Pioneer Monument: Dedicated to the pioneers who crossed the Sierra on their way to the west, it stands on the spot where the Schallenberger, and later the Breen, cabin once stood. California Historical Landmark #134 it was completed on June 6th 1918, and sits atop a 22 foot pedestal and faces westward toward Donner Pass.

Completed in 1918 by the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Pioneer Monument has been on display in this park for 104 years. In order to ensure that the monument is here to greet future generations of visitors, California State Parks is undertaking a comprehensive restoration of the monument. Conservators are cleaning and stabilizing the masonry stones and bronze sculpture. It is anticipated that the restoration of the monument will be complete by the fall of 2022.

For public safety, please maintain distance from construction activities.

Day Use: Day Use hours are sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Day use area along the lake with picnic tables, restrooms (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day), a beach, fishing, and a lakeside interpretive trail featuring panels focusing on the natural and cultural resources in the area. Charcoal/wood use is prohibited in the day use areas. Propane/gas grill use is allowed.

Camping: The Donner Memorial State Park campground offers 154 sites with picnic tables, restrooms (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day), beach, fishing, and lakeside interpretive trail. More information: Camping Information page

Ridge: Closed for the season.

Splitrock: Closed for the season.

Creek Campground: Closed for the season.

Hiking Trails: The park has over 8 miles (12.9 km) of hiking and over-the-snow trails. Park property in Coldstream Canyon to the south contains the alignment of the primary Emigrant Trail, which connects to U.S. Forest Service trails and the Pacific Crest Trail. Brochure maps are available online and at the Donner Memorial Visitor Center.

Fishing: The park has over two miles of frontage on Donner Lake and Donner Creek. Although the fishing is not usually spectacular, the lake has kokanee and planted trout. Fishing licenses are required. (Many fishermen prefer to use the park as a base to visit nearby lakes).

Public Boat Ramp: The park does not have a boat launching ramp. A public boat launch ramp, operated by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District is available for a fee, in the northwest corner of Donner Lake. For information call (530) 582-7720. The lake is open to both power and sail boats. No overnight mooring within the park.

Winter Activities: Snow shoeing, cross country skiingTahoe Truckee Winter Guide. List of SNO-PARK Permit Vendors (Donner Memorial State Park is not a vendor). Nearby Sledding areas - (Donner Memorial State Park is not ideal for sledding as there are not any hills, but plenty of opportunities for building snow sculptures and other snow play). 

Winter info web links:
Sierra Avalanche Center
CalTrans Road Conditions
Weather forecast - NOAA

Additional Visitor Services


  • Donner Lake Watersports (Water craft and beach rentals) - (530) 582-1999 Summer only. Typical season runs Memorial Day Weekend through September.  

Location - Directions

Donner Memorial State Park is located 100 miles east of Sacramento via Interstate 80, and is within the town of Truckee,  just west of downtown on the south side of the freeway.

Seasons/Climate Recommended Clothing

Summer temperatures range from about 75 degrees during the day to the low 40s at night, and winter temperatures average from a high of 40 to a low of 20 degrees. The weather forecast is available with NOAA.gov.

Food Storage Locker Information

Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers. The inside dimensions of the food lockers are 36" deep, 43" wide, and 28" high. Violators will be cited.

Park Regulations