Register for a Hike
Saturday hikes will begin and end at Donner Ski Ranch located on Donner Pass Rd./ Highway 40 on Donner Summit. That’s exit 174 from I-80 and then 3.5 miles east. Choose one of the hikes listed below. Guides lead groups of approximately 15–20 people to interpretive spots telling stories and giving detailed historical information focused on emigrant and area history. Tickets are $65 per hiker.
In the afternoon enjoy music by Alice Osborn, from North Carolina, who will be sharing her songs that tell the story of the Donner Party. A hamburger lunch will be followed by emeritus hike leader Greg Palmer in period dress..
Notice: Registration closes two weeks before the Events. After this date, there will be no refunds. This gives Donner Ski Ranch two time to order food for our guests.
Notice: In the event that the USDA Forest Service closes the Tahoe National Forest, we will be unable to hike. For health and safety reasons, we may need to cancel the event. In either case, refunds will be made upon request (minus the Eventbrite processing fee). You may request that your fee carries to next year’s event. Let’s hope that the winds blow favorably.
Meet at Donner Ski Ranch on Highway 40 (Soda Springs exit off I-80.) Times are listed below.
Groups of hikers will depart once an adequate number has gathered. Note: departure times are estimates and reflect the range of departure times. Your return time will vary based on departure and hike choice.
Historic Donner Pass
Moderate: for 2.5 miles round trip
You’ll get great views and a lot of history: the first transcontinental air route weather station remains; Sierra Junipers and the same juniper that Mary Ann North painted in 1884; Lake Angela’s history and how it got its name; Starved Camp of the Donner Party and the Donner rescuees; Catfish Pond; an overview of Donner Summit history; the Central Shaft of Tunnel 6, the Sierra Crest Trail; and lots more.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:30
Donner Peak / Coldstream Pass
Strenuous: for 4.5 miles round trip
Donner Peak is Sierra granite. After a walk up the trail you walk up the granite slabs and are rewarded by standing in a notch 1,000 directly above Donner Lake. On the way during our illustrated hike: what it looked like in the old days, previous conquerors of Donner Pk.; and then stories, lots of stories, about the Emigrant Trail, marking the trail, Coldstream Canyon and Coldstream Pass, Theodore Judah, the first rope tows on Mt. Judah, how Mt. Judah got its name, the first locomotive over the summit, Sierra Junipers, etc. It’s uphill all the way going, but downhill all the way back.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:30
Railroad Summit Tunnel and More
Moderate: for 3 miles round trip
Tunnel 6 was the engineering marvel of the 19th Century, the longest of the 15 tunnels of the transcontinental railroad as it crossed the Sierra. It was drilled through solid granite taking two years with progress of only inches per day. Come with us to see the tunnel, touch tool marks left by Chinese railroad workers more than one hundred fifty years ago. See the Central shaft and hear about blindfolded mules. Hear stories about life in the largest Chinese railroad workers camp which was on Donner Summit. Theodore Judah laid out the route of the transcontinental railroad and thought snow would not be a problem. He was wrong. Learn why and what the Central Pacific Railroad did about it. Then we will go down to the snowsheds and China Wall, past the largest railroad workers camp, and learn more about what it took to build the transcontinental railroad. We will see some great views, hear some good stories and even see the most inspirational square yard in the most historically significant square mile.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:30
Summit Valley
Moderate: for 4 miles round trip
This walk through Van Norden Meadow in the Summit Valley tells the history of Van Norden dam and the lake, Native American grinding rocks, metates, and basalt flakes, the Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Rd., the sheep industry and shepherd’s cabin remains. Follow in the footsteps of the Donner Party on the emigrant trail that passed through Van Norden Meadow and brought thousands of settlers to California.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:30
Summit Canyon / Dutch Flat Wagon Road
Moderate: for 2.5 miles round trip
Elevation Change of -300 feet
This is a walk through history and all downhill: the first transcontinental railroad, highway, air route, wagon trains, Sierra Crest, 1914 underpass, ads painted on the rocks 100 years ago and still visible, petroglyphs 2-4000 years old, Chinese RR workers camp, and wonderful views. Learn about some of the automobile transcontinentalists and some firsts: the first bicyclist over the Sierra, the first auto over the Sierra, and the first motorized crossing of the U.S. (over Donner Summit.)
Planned Departure Time is: 08:30
Roller Pass / Judah Loop
Strenuous: for 6 miles round trip
Elevation Change of 1100 feet
There are a lot of stories on the way to Roller Pass, discovered in 1846. Sierra Junipers, Johnny Ellis and his rope tows, Sugar Bowl, Theodore Judah, the Emigrant Trail, Sierra Crest Trail, Weddell markers of the Emigrant Trail, the first locomotives over the summit (they did not go on tracks) and why, Chinese RR workers’ camp, Red Mountain, the first air route, and then on top of Mt. Judah – wow, what a view. You will be entranced!
Planned Departure Time is: 08:00
High Sierra Lakes
Strenuous: for 6 miles round trip
Enjoy incredible vistas seen by emigrants as they passed through the High Sierra years ago. Discover hidden alpine lakes while exploring Donner Summit. And maybe we'll even find the sword in the stone. This is a long hike and so it is strenuous.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:00
Natural History Hike
Moderate: for 3 miles round trip
State Park Interpreter Jeremy Lin will lead an approximate 3-mile hike starting at the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center at 9:30am. BUT the hike will gather at Donner Ski Ranch at 8:45 to carpool down to the State Park. We will discuss the natural features of the region including tree diversity, geology of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and alpine lake ecology. The guided tour will last about 2.5 hours and trek along the iconic Donner Lake frontage, through the mixed conifer forest, and loop past Michael’s Pond. This hike is considered moderate difficulty due to narrow trails, uneven terrain, and potentially hot weather conditions. The Donner Lake area is renowned for its beautiful scenery, intriguing biodiversity, and lovely hiking trails. Please contact Jeremy jeremy.lin@parks.ca.gov or 530-523-3501 if you have any questions about this hike.
Planned Departure Time is: 08:45