Skip to ContentDonner Summit Canyon is a Truckee Donner Land Trust property near Donner Pass. The Land Trust describes about 6 miles round trip, moderately strenuous, with about 1,000 feet of climbing.
Checked November 3, 2026. Dates, prices and hours change; the official page wins.
- ~6 miround trip
- ~1,000 ftelevation gain
- Sunrise-sunsetday use only
- Leashdogs on leash
Trail Facts
- LengthAbout 6 miles round trip, or one way with a shuttle (Truckee Donner Land Trust).
- DifficultyModerately strenuous.
- Elevation gainAbout 1,000 feet.
- TrailheadOn Old Highway 40, about one-third mile past South Shore Drive.
- RulesDay use only, sunrise to sunset; no camping or fires; dogs on leash. The Land Trust says it is considering closing the property to pets; non-motorized use is open.
- WinterAn access road gate closes in winter, and the stretch beyond the Kathy Polucha Kessler Memorial Picnic Area is highly avalanche-prone in winter (Land Trust). Check the Conditions Now page.
- PermitsNot stated on the page we read: permits
Read the Donner Pass and Donner Summit railroad history pages, and the Donner Lake Rim Trail.
On The Map
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.
- Pacific Crest Trail details at Donner Pass and Summit Lake: the Pacific Crest Trail Association pages returned an error for us, so we print none.
- Whether bikes are allowed on the Canyon trail; the Land Trust page says non-motorized use is open but does not name bikes.
More to Explore
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Donner Summit Canyon trail open in winter?
The Land Trust says an access road gate closes in winter and the upper stretch is highly avalanche-prone then.
Sources
Cite this page: It’s Reno editorial team, “Donner Summit Canyon Trail,” itsreno.com, checked November 3, 2026.