Visited the park in the peak of summer and it's a whole different experience. Eight years later, the entrance fee is still $10/vehicle for a day use fee, but $9 if you're a senior. During peak season this park is FULL, but big enough to find a space of your own on the beach with lots of shade trees and picnic tables. Because we arrived in the afternoon, China Cove was windy and not suitable for kayaking. Instead, I went for a walk on the interpretive trail and visited the visitor's center. From China Cove to the Visitor's Center, it's about a mile. For my effort, I received two nasty insect bites. Consider bringing repellant. When you visit the Visitor's Center, it has A/C, great displays, places to sit and watch informative videos, and a water dispenser to refill your water bottle. For indoor and outdoor activities, I highly recommend this park read more

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July 8, 2026 - I still consider this one of the best campgrounds in CA, especially if you choose a nice camping site. Lots to do here, kayaking, swimming, cycling and hiking. Beautiful forest setting with large lake. We did not have any interaction with staff, and most of the time that is a good thing. One star down, though, because the token machine for the showers was out of order, and if there are camp hosts, we didn't see them. I always research the sites before I reserve, some are much nicer and secluded than others. Lots of people come for day use also, so if you are headed to the lake from your campsite, go early to choose your beach spot for the day. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - July 8, 2026 - Nice beach on lake to throw frisbee for Sophie. - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

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Absolutely gorgeous park with such a rich and heartbreaking history. It's very well-maintained, especially the monument erected on 1918 to remember the ill fated Donner Party. There is a museum with educational videos and displays of the Donner Party and the history behind the Chinese immigrants who built the railroad. The gift shop is well priced for the type of shop, and the buildings are all very clean. Great customer service. The park itself is an amazing place to visit and walk, even in the snow. You truly feel one with nature as you soak in the history and peaceful setting. Would absolutely one million percent recommend, and I'm so grateful to my best friend for bringing me here. read more

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Well I'm just speechless that how a sheriff can be not helpful when you ask for help and especially when it comes to helping older people or people with child! I was so mad that couldn't ask for his name but I will definitely check with sheriff dept to check on that. My boyfriend's mom got surgery recently and I kindly asked if we can get a ride for inside park and just drop her off by the lake and he said he can't do that???? And we told him that we have disability placard if you can let us in and he said no I cannot and he threatened us that he will take us to jail for asking for help??? And another sheriff was nice in the beginning and offered help until she saw her coworker(mean guy sheriff) and she totally changed and asked us to leave state park???? Super super racist and I will definitely check with sheriff dept to check on that because as a sheriff it's your job to help people no matter what. read more

I stayed in the campgound and I was pleased with the facilities. The bear boxes at each campsite were large and easy to put our food into at night and when we were away from camp. The bathrooms / showers were well lit and kept clean by the staff. Had a nice walk down to the water and enjoyed the afternoon. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Camping - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

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Well done and touching memorial. Quite a bit of information about Donner himself and the tragedy Very nice and modern facility. Information on film that is showing on a loop, needs updating badly. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Memorial tall enough it will never be covered by snow. - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

It was a planned visit since I'm fan of museums. I wanted to learn the history of the community. And if you also like nature trails like me, you should also visit this place. The day-use for every vehicle is $10. You can use card when paying up front. The parking lot is huge but it can get full as soon as 11 am hits! Several cars have been parked as soon as 7am so if you plan to stay for the day, you need to be there as early as you can. First come first serve basis. The reason it gets busy is the park itself can house day use camping, there's a Pioneer Monument where the groups of pioneers who risked their lives to reach California in the mid 1800's are remembered and honored. There is also a Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center where the history of the area is explored. They also offer a free tour where you can ask questions around the area's cultural and natural history. We enjoyed the nature trails. It was easy and paved and beautiful. The variety of birds, squirrels and other wildlife is a good and peaceful experience for families or when you just want to experience nature. The state park opens at 7am for the campground use but the Visitor Center at 10am all week long. There are bathrooms around the area. They were decent when i used one and water pressure is great, bring your own soap since it did not have any when i went. read more

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On our way up to Tahoe, we made a quick pit stop at Donner Memorial State Park Museum. Located at the entrance to the Donner Memorial State Park, this visitor center/museum offers free admission and provides a rich insight into the Donner Party, the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad and early motoring adventures over Donner Pass. It's a nice place to stop if you want to learn more about some of the history of the area. As well as a great place to use the restroom before you hit the trails/road. The parking lot is very big and spacious, with no shortage of spots. However, there is a parking fee of $10 for the day. read more

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Finally got out here to check out the VISITOR CENTER with the small but interesting Donner Party Museum. There is even a 26 minute movie in a nice little that tells the story. Parking is $10 but everything is free after parking. I did not see any food for sale so do not come hungry! But there's a neat little gift shop. I think it's worth the time and parking fee even if all you do is visit the Visitor Center but keep in mind there's a whole State Park here. After we were done inside we did the EASY 1/2 mile loop walk which is wonderful. It's shaded most of the way AND it's usually about 10 degrees cooler here than Reno so summer is great here. There are occasional benches to rest on. We're in our 70's and it was smooth sailing. If you're a walker or hiker there are many more wonderful wooded trails to explore. And there's a campground. But if you've got kids and are just passing through you could have a grand adventure in an under two hours (leisurely) time frame, that includes the museum and movie and the trail. Please check my pictures. I looked at other reviewers pics and did not realize this scenery is SO CLOSE on such a short walk. I'm posting my trail map also. I forgot to start it at the beginning of the trail but I kept recording till I got all the way back to the visitor center right on parking lot. So you can feel confident that young children or handicapped in wheelchairs could enjoy at least a short bit if not all of the trail. It's WONDERFUL! If you find this review USEFUL please VOTE! read more

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After hiking around Donner Pass and seeing the lake from up high, I next drove over to Donner Memorial State Park. It's got a really interesting museum and visitor center that shares the story of the Donner party as well as highlights the history of indigenous tribes and the local wildlife. The gift shop had some unique shirts, magnets, books, jewelry and more. It was sort of on par with National Parks gift shops! The park itself has some simple trails as well as a path over to the lake. Given all the hiking I had done earlier in the day, I just did a short walk over to the lake from the visitor center. On a warm summer Saturday, the main challenge was parking. The lot was marked as full and staff claimed that day use parking was at capacity. I had to park outside the main entrance down the street a bit. I didn't mind walking further but it was a bit frustrating as when I arrived near the visitor center, there were several open parking spaces. I have a CA state parks pass so it would be good if they offered pass holders a chance to circle the lot to see if anyone is leaving. Overall, a very well done park that has a nice balance of history and nature. I'd like to come back and do some of their trails and explore the lakeside area some more. read more

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Beautiful state park preserving the site of the Donner Camp [Truckee CA] We have driven past this state park several times on our way to or coming back from Reno, Las Vegas and Tahoe City but we never had a chance to actually plan on stopping by the park. We came here one weekend and ended up spending three hours. ATTRACTIONS: Donner Memorial State Park is located in the scenic Sierra Nevada mountain range at an elevation of about 6,000-ft and offers summer camping, picnicking, kayaking, paddle sports, fishing, and hiking. In winter visitors can cross-country ski, snowshoe on trails, and play in the snow. This park has activities year-round. We were only here for a day trip but looking into revisiting again next month in November. HISTORIC: We came to visit the famous Pioneer Monument. It was built to commemorate the California emigrants traveling west during the mid-1800's. The story about the Donner Party has always interested me. We have followed their story during our road trip to the midwestern (Nebraska) and mountain states (Wyoming) in July 2024 where they carved historic trails upon their quest to the gold mines of California. PARKING RATES: There is a $10 parking fee that we paid at the automated pay machine but you can also pay inside the visitor center. HAUNTED? There were also documented creepy experiences by others that were actually felt in and around the area where the ill-fated Donner Party withered... [goosebumps] Review #3555 read more

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This is a really great park to visit. It's about an hour drive from South Lake Tahoe. It has a very tragic history, which you can look up online or at the visitor center. There were people swimming, picnicking, walking their dogs, etc. My friend and I ate our lunch at one of the empty tables and then took a stroll along the paved road by the lake. It was a relaxing day. read more

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9/15/2024-inspired by the recent fishing reports and made the drive .. Never been on the other side of the lake.. Early Sunday 7 am.. Paid the self parking and drove in.. Very clean and well kept park.. Plenty of parking, restrooms and tables.. Little uncomfortable reading the warning signs of bear sightings.. Went and fished China Cove, but after a while.. decided to leave.. Definitely would come back to fish .. Beautiful pics taken.. glad to learn a new spot.. read more

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This place is such a gem! It's heavily wooded and less busy than Tahoe. It still seems super hard to get a camping spot though! We are excited to explore their hiking trails this fall when it cools down. We have been coming up in the evenings for paddle boarding on their cove area (which is protected from the wind and waves). We ended up buying the 75$ one year pass that gets you parking at a few different places around Tahoe. Well worth the investment and it will get me out more! My kids love the rope swing at swimmers cove and the large rock for jumping off of! I look forward to visiting in the day and having my kids learn about the Donner Party from the visitors center. Nothing but great things to review here! read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

This park has a museum where you can learn more about the Donner Party. There is a giant monument that shows how high the snow was at the time of the incident. There is also a small trail that's pretty easy to walk on with compacted soil and wooden trails. There are some nice photographic areas. They do charge for parking, so be aware. read more

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Beautiful scenery and the water was crystal clear. Parking was easy and wasn't overly crowded. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Park Entrance - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

When I had thoughts of visiting Northern Nevada, one of the places on my list was to visit the Donner Party memorial and see where the pioneers who didn't make it across the Sierra Nevada Montanans had to spend that awful winter. The museum/visitor center has a display of many items from the era. There are also signs with explanations of the life these people endured waiting to be rescued or saved somehow. There is a section that pays homage to the Chinese who were the labor who helped build the trans-continental railroad. After the railroad was finished, they were no longer welcome and had to live elsewhere. This is an interesting stop and while you cannot see Donner Pass from here, you can see the Sierra Nevada Mountains and realize the rugged and difficult terrain they had to overcome to make it to the gold rush areas of California. I suggest you look on PBS for a program that was done about the Donner Party and this awful part of the history of the West. read more

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Great museum to learn about the Donner party. There is a charge to park but museum entrance is free. There is also an outdoor guided walking tour read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

One of the worst camping experiences I've ever had. We stayed at Dinner Memorial Park and were shocked at how we were treated. The staff actually went through our belongings without permission, searched our camp, and then kicked us out because of food they found. This happened at the end of our day, making the entire trip extremely inconvenient and stressful. Not only was this a huge disruption, it felt like a violation of our rights and our privacy. Camping should be about enjoying nature, not worrying about staff rifling through your things. If you value your peace of mind and respectful treatment, I strongly recommend avoiding this campground. There are plenty of other parks and campgrounds in the area that treat visitors with fairness and basic respect. read more

We decided we wanted to stop by, glad we did, giant statue, plenty of parking , donner museum was very educational if you aren't familiar with the dinner party history. Would love to return. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

Donner Memorial State Park - Truckee , CA - August 8, 2023 We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon at little before the 2 pm checkin. It was our first time to the Park for a couple night's of camping in our 27 foot motor home. Staff at the entry kiosk were friendly and efficient and got us checked in quickly. We were camped in the Splitrock Loop. Most of the sites are spacious with a table, fire pit, and bear locker. There are lot of pine trees all around. You can hear the freeway in the distance, but the noise isn't terrible. There are ample trails around the campground to hike and bike. The campground is within easy walking distance of the lake. We saw lots of people kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. They do have boat and jet ski rentals. Back at the entrance of the campground is the Donner Memorial Museum that has displays about the Donner Party that was stranded there in the winter of 1846-1847 and resorted to cannibalism to survive. Displays also include the later history of the area as well as wildlife displays. There is a nice gift shop there as well. Note: There is a substantial fine if you leave food or trash outside your bear locker at your campsite. So be careful about that. read more

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Nov 10th, 2022 There is a lot of reference to the Donner family that perished in this area back in the 1800's when they attempted to come here for the good rush era. Only 2 members survived it, amazingly. The monument is supposed to represent how deep the snow was that they got caught in, which was about 22 feet! read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

Beautiful visitors center just 7-yrs old. Great story about the 81 people caught in the snow. The visitors center is located in Truckee. You'll find displays of the Chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroad, Donner party and the first roads over Emmigrant pass. It's a great place to learn, picnic, hike, lunch and learn. read more

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$10 parking is worth it if you go in to the visitor center, check out the little museum, then go into the campgrounds entrance to get to the beach! I drove in about a mile following Google Maps directions for China Cove Beach, per the recommendation of the visitor center employee. Parking was pretty easy and beach was super chill! Sand was rocky and not soft. It was unclear whether I would have to pay admission to the beach as well when I looked it up online in advance, but FYI the same $10 parking for the visitor center can be shown to the campgrounds entrance people and it applies for the rest of the park as well - which includes beach! read more

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This is my 2nd time visiting during the winter time. I like this little state park for the snow especially if you don't want a busy place for the kiddos to enjoy some snow. There's the museum which is free but it was $5 to park, still a great deal! I love this type museum. Theres about the 1846 cross country trip by emigrants seeking their fortunes in California. It explained the string of decisions along the route that ended in the tragic spending of the winter in the mountains covered in snow and so much more. There were also hiking trails but with all the snow covering the way, I didn't want to take the chance with my little one. This time around, there were more snow covering the parking spaces which was harder to find parking. Overall, it was a nice historic landmark as well alot of snow to enjoy! read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

The campground is a free for all, full of loud people yelling and honking car horns at all hours, shrieking children running around unsupervised and big groups (isn't there a limit?) being loud well past quiet hours. The camp hosts do nothing, maybe walk around once well before dusk then hide in their trailer all night. Law enforcement is non-existent, never saw one patrol. read more

I loved this place. We were looking for a place to have a little bbq. Paid 10$ to park and walked about a 1/4mile to get to the lake. They have a few tables which was great. It's so nice there and you can bring your swim stuff or water equipment. I can't wait to come back to go for a hike or something. You can only bring propane bbqs and also make sure to clean up after yourself. They have porter potty's too. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

Decided to do an unplanned trip to China Cove Trail on Saturday around 5pm. Plenty of parking available and not many people around. Day Use Parking was $5 when we went. Dogs are allowed on leash. Lots of snow. We were only in vans, so, it probably would've been much easier to walk in proper boots with better grip. Great trail for snowshoeing. Trail is wide and pretty flat and easy. Could've been much cleaner if dog owners picked up their pooch's poop. Bathroom was closed when we went. Off trail, there were people sledding/toboggan-ing. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - China Cove Trail - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

I liked visiting the Donner lake as its beautiful and there are spots where you can picnic and relax on the beach all day long. The museum was interesting and very clean. California park pass will work here. read more

I've never seen water so clear! Great place to have a picnic. And clean bathrooms with flushing toilets. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

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Very sombering. We weren't there long but enough to be humbled. Visitor center is open but limited to what can be seen. Gift store is open. read more

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Over the past few years we've been coming to Truckee for a weekend in the winter or spring and stopping by here to walk around. There's a nice path to the lake that's paved, but usually parts of it are covered in snow in the wintertime (which is fine unless you're bringing a stroller along). The walk through the woods is very pleasant and easy; the kids like "off-roading" and wandering alongside the main trail. This past time, we spent a good amount of time at the visitor's center/museum as well. Our daughter was working on a 4th grade project on Sutter's Fort, learning all about emigrants arriving in California in the 1840s (including the Donner Party). The exhibits continue to talk about Chinese railroad workers and eventually leisure travel along the highways. It's been fun to look at the world through the lens of a 4th grader. I was genuinely excited to see a replica of Patty Reed's Doll (also the name of a book they all read), but my daughter shrugged it off: "I saw the real one in Sacramento." The kids are obsessed with commemorative coins, so they each picked one out. I took a few mental notes on books to read some day. Unfortunately my daughter's official Sutter's Fort reenactment trip has been postponed. On the plus side, I have a greater appreciation for the history of Truckee and neighboring areas. read more

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It's a decent, highly historical place to spend the day at. The visitor center is nice and is packed with everything you'd ever want to know about the Donner Party. Just beyond the visitor center there's a short hiking trail that begins at the Donner statue, goes down to the campground area and along the river, and loops back up to the statue. There's another trail that leaves from the visitor center and leads down to Donner Lake. The lake itself isn't anything special, in my opinion. Don't get wrong, it's beautiful. However, this is a "drive up" lake and easily accessed. While that's great for people who can't walk far, it's also a negative because it's usually littered with coolers, loud music, loud and obnoxious people, unleashed dogs doing whatever they want, garbage, etc. Unfortunately, I witnessed all of this and some at Donner. My visit here reaffirmed my belief that backcountry lakes are far superior in every way. All in all, the visitor center is great and is a good place to go if you're into history and historical events. If you're not big on people, avoid the lake at all costs. You may as well go to Tahoe. read more

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Fantastic public park with very helpful employees. Jet ski rental is available and can be reserved. Parking fee is $10/car with plentiful spots. read more

This review is specifically for the trail that starts at the Pioneer Statue of Donner Memorial State Park. The trail was very shaded. I would have to say that solidly over half of the trail was in shade. A very easy hike - almost guaranteed it's less than a mile loop. There isn't a lot of change in elevation and a portion of the trail is on a board walk. A little past the midway point in the trail there is a large boulder with a plaque set into it. This rock used to form one of the walls for the shelter they built themselves. read more

This is a great place for beginners to snowshoe. A flat unmarked but clear trail along the lake. Be careful though, leashed dogs are allowed and our leashed dog had a run in with a woman with 5 unleashed dogs. After a few tense moments and a lot of back talk from the rude stranger mansplaining to a veterinarian how dogs work, we were happy to get away with only a scratch. read more

I came here on a trip with some friends & family. We got caught in the snow for several days & we didn't properly prepare. Not much help around either. We had to have the local cuisine while we were stuck up here. Not exactly sure what it was but it tasted a lot like pork, that was probably the best part. I would highly recommend it. I heard it was local & sustainably sourced. Lady fingers were served for dessert. I was left on the fence but I'll give it a second chance. read more

Loved visiting this memorial. I am sad they tore down the old cabin, that was part of the history of the Donner party. I think the museum was very informative and enjoyed spending time there learning about the travels made by early pioneers. the difficulties they faced was heartbreaking. Amazing to see all the advances we've made in traveling. The trail next to the memorial was an easy stroll. It winds around over the river and we enjoyed gorgeous views and took some awesome photos. read more

Donner Memorial State Park - View from the trail - Parks Near Me - Truckee, California

The weekend parking fee is $10 in the visitor day lot. Tip: Try to find street parking first. It is free. This place has a visitor center with restrooms, a gift shop, and museum focused on the Donner Party, Transcontinental Railroad, Native American, and local wildlife. Pretty neat. There are video reels of those topics as well. I was impressed that they had some genuine artifacts of early pioneers suitcase belongings...shoes, clothes, shaving kit. Love the focus they gave to the Chinese rail workers. They had artifacts from their camp sites...dishes, cooking utensils, ceramic water/tea jugs. Pretty neat! Also around back of the visitor center is the Pioneer Monument. It is beautiful and awe inspiring. Glorious! Do yourself a favor and walk totally around the monument, read the plaques, look around the beautiful vistas, and reflect about that fateful winter of 1846 of those brave pioneers. The park also contains nature trails; hike to Donner Lake or Michelis pond. There are campsites. For reservations and overall deets, go online. Lovin' California parks! read more

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We hiked China Cove. Not the greatest for trail markers but an easy trail to do. We did about 3-4 miles. I like when the trail was by the lake. Recommend a hat for the forest part since there is not a lot of shade. If you part outside of the park, it was free or otherwise 10 per car. Worth it since we had our friends with us, one who normally has knee issues and he said this was great read more

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