Skip to ContentDonner Memorial State Park sits on the shore of Donner Lake just west of Truckee. It charges $10 per vehicle for day use, has a Visitor Center about the emigrants and the Donner Party, and a 1918 monument.
Checked November 2, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- $10vehicle day use (State Parks)
- 154campsites (State Parks)
- 1918Pioneer Monument completed
- 10-5Visitor Center daily hours
Visit
- HoursPark open sunrise to sunset; Visitor Center open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1 (California State Parks).
- FeesVehicle day use $10; bus day use $100; special rates may apply at peak times.
- Camping154 sites, reservations through the number the park lists, 1-800-444-7275; campground restrooms open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- WaterLakeside beach, fishing, swimming, windsurfing; no boat launch; no dogs at China Cove Beach.
- TrailsMore than 8 miles of hiking and over-the-snow trails; winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- WhereWest of downtown Truckee on the south side of the freeway at Donner Lake; a street address is not printed on the park page.
Pioneer Monument
The monument was completed June 6, 1918 by the Native Sons of the Golden West and is California Historical Landmark #134. It stands on a 22-foot pedestal, faces westward toward Donner Pass and marks the spot where the Schallenberger and later the Breen cabin stood. California State Parks and the Sierra State Parks Foundation completed a restoration in 2022.
Visitor Center
Exhibits cover the emigrant experience, the Donner Party, the land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad and early motoring over Donner Pass. The park page calls it the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center; whether it was formerly called the Emigrant Trail Museum is not confirmed.
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.
- The park’s street address and whether the Visitor Center was once called the Emigrant Trail Museum (parks.ca.gov).
- Donner Lake Watersports operator status beyond 2026.
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Donner Memorial State Park open in winter?
Open year-round; day use is open to vehicles until winterization is required, per the park page.
Sources
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Donner Memorial State Park,” itsreno.com, checked November 2, 2026.