Skip to ContentDonner Lake is the Truckee lake where the Donner Party was trapped in 1846. Today it has a state park beach, a boat ramp that was closed for construction on our check, and a Rim Trail with 12 of 23 planned miles open.
Checked November 2, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- 12 of 23miles of Rim Trail open (Land Trust)
- $10state park vehicle day use
- Closedboat ramp, for construction (district page)
- 40-50 minfrom Reno (our estimate)
Public Access
- Donner Memorial State Park. Lakeside beach, fishing, swimming and windsurfing; the park has no boat launch; dogs are not allowed at China Cove Beach; the park lists Donner Lake Watersports as closed for 2026. See Donner Memorial State Park.
- Donner Boat Ramp. The Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District page was marked closed for construction with no reopening date. Normally staffed May through September; October through April unstaffed with self-registration. Fees listed: $15 CA resident or $30 out-of-state or commercial per day, $125 season pass for CA residents, $10 parking and cleaning. Motorized and trailered boats require an invasive-species inspection (888-824-6267). Street address of the launch: not confirmed.
- West End Beach, Shoreline Park and public piers are named on the district’s facilities page, with no addresses, hours or fees there. Call 530-582-7720 to confirm.
Donner Lake Rim Trail
The Truckee Donner Land Trust says the trail is planned as a 23-mile loop and that 12 miles are built and open. Access points include Johnson Canyon at the Donner Lake interchange, Tahoe Donner Glacier Way, Trout Creek at Northwoods Boulevard, the I-80 summit PCT trailhead and Castle Valley Road. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed to bicycles.
Name and History
The lake appears in the Donner Party story as Truckee Lake, where the party was trapped in 1846. Its modern name remembers them; see The Donner Party. The Truckee-Donner Historical Society says the 1844 Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party was the first to prove the Truckee route passable by wagon, crossing November 25, 1844.
Getting There
About 40 to 50 minutes from Reno (our estimate, no live traffic).
What We Could Not Confirm
These items were not read on an official page when we checked, so we do not state them as fact. Who can confirm each one is named.
- When the Donner Boat Ramp reopens and its street address (tdrpd.org).
- Addresses, hours and fees for West End Beach, Shoreline Park and the piers (Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District).
- Lake depth and area from an official source.
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I launch a boat at Donner Lake?
The district’s page said the Donner Boat Ramp was closed for construction on our check. Confirm with the district at 530-582-7720.
Sources
- Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District: Donner Boat Ramp (official)
- TDRPD: Facilities (official)
- Truckee Donner Land Trust: Donner Lake Rim Trail
- Truckee-Donner Historical Society: 1844 wagons
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Donner Lake,” itsreno.com, checked November 2, 2026.