Mounted on the side of the post office at an exit off I-80 as it passes through the Sierra Nevada…read moreMountains, this marker points out some of the earliest settlement history of the area. The marker includes a map of the Truckee route of the California Emigrant Trail. It reads, "The first wagon train ever brought across the Sierra Nevada Mountains into California was lead by Caleb Greenwood. He led the Steven-Town (sic, Townsend) - Murphy party and came through what is known as the Emigrant Trail. Approximately fifty wagons followed this route in 1845, and about 500 wagons rolled over the trail in 1846. The Emigrant Trail was the main overland route into California for only a couple of years, but the hardships endured and the fortitude of these emigrants have long been written in our California history books." "The emigrants from the east stopped at Emigrant gap for periods of time while their wagons were taken apart and lowered piece by piece, by means of rope and tackle, from the top of the ridge into Bear Valley, where they were reassembled. It was at this point that a small settlement formed. The history of the settlement is very sketchy, but it is known that in the great push from Sacramento to Virginia City during the gold rush a few years later, this trail was well-used by wagons, horsemen, etc., coming again through the settlement of Emigrant Gap, thence to Truckee, Virginia City, or wherever their destination might be." There is a very pretty wood carving across the street you should check out. I found it interesting. I'm zipping along at 75 mph in a Sprinter van with solar panels and internet service and not worried about getting attacked by Indians. The world has certainly changed. [Review 17669 overall - 460 in California - 1190 of 2022.]

This location has a sign marker, gas station, post office, and fast food eatery. The gas station…read moreoffers local treats and items to pick up for your trip. You can stretch your legs safely, mail a postcard, and chill for a minute. It's great to take in the smell of redwood trees, cold air in the winter, and warmth in the summer. Grab a cold one, catch your breath, and gas up for the next leg of your trip eastbound into the Nevada mountains.

Cut and pasted from the city's website: "Schuyler Colfax was…read moreVice President (1863-1869) and Speaker of the House (1869-73). He was a great advocate for the transcontinental railroad. The City of Colfax was incorporated on February 23, 1910, taking Colfax as its namesake." Quality/Quantity - This is our "go to" city stop on the way home to Reno and coming back to the "Bay." But today the entire city had a power outage, from the rest stop to ALL the businesses!! Our guest had to use the restroom!! So no time for me to Yelp or take pictures. It felt like the end of the world; everyone was so stressed out. Our usual stops were Starbucks and McDonalds; but if you are following, you know I have cut back on coffee and fast food. During the winter, we stop at Valero to fill up on gas before going over the summit. But currently, we have been using the "rest stops" for our breaks. Atmosphere - Typically easy in and out. But for the last few visits, it was not easy in and out. We have been here during snow storms and you were all closed also... So you are becoming less dependable. Should we be spending our $$ in Applegate now? Auburn? 1.4 square miles, none of which is water. Population - 2,000 (2020 US Census). Service - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Price - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. But overall, reasonably priced. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1849, when you were known as Alder Grove.

Drove up the hill 60 miles from Sacramento, and I finally made it past Auburn!…read more And drove up north to the quiet town of Colfax! Soooo many trees and air sooooo fresh! I'm born and raised all natural city girl, but let me tell you, I would move up here in heartbeat if it was possible for me. Living here is an introvert's dream! Just peace and quiet, no busy roads and traffic. Very friendly residents and just so lovely all over! There are a lot of hidden rivers, creeks, and secret water holes up here! Basically, if you know, then you know! Also, the little town of Nevada City is not too far away either! Lots of good eateries and novelty shops out there! I came up here to spend a few days at my friend's place and the pictures of her home, pretty much sums up the beauty of Colfax! She did tell me she has some tenants that don't exactly pay rent. She does live on a few acres, so her night and day tenants are: Bears Mountain Lions Bobcats Coyotes Raccoons Possums Deers And also it snows up here too and when it snows it SNOWS! Mother nature will really DUMP that white powder up there like nobody's business! Prepared to be snowed in for a few days a week or so. Just some things to consider if you ever wanna live in this beautiful little country town!

I've been to the Marin Ski Club lodge (as a guest only) a couple of times now. The lodge was built…read moreby members in the mid-late 60's but has been very well maintained over the years. Pride of membership is evident. The lodge sleeps ~ 36 in 4 large bunkbed/dormitory-style rooms and has lockers and ski storage and an enormous wood-burning fireplace. Nearby ski resorts include Sugar Bowl, Boreal, and Royal Gorge cross-country. The club seems to skirt the balance between exclusivity and co-op in a way only possible in Marin. You must be sponsored by a current MSC member, attend a couple of meetings, and do one weekend of manual labor at the lodge in order to join; then you pay annual dues (of approx. $400, as I recall), and can stay at the lodge for ~$10/night. There is a checklist of clean-up duties (and opening and closing procedures) to complete before leaving the lodge. Honestly, I always think this is kind of a drag -- the place is cleaner than my house by a long shot! -- and wonder why they don't just hire a cleaning service. But the flip side is ... the place is cleaner than my house by a long shot, and that is definitely nice to come "home" to. You will never mistake this place for the Ritz, and one of the more senior members might give you a hard time about sleeping in (there are some old school HARD core skiers here), but it's a warm, comfortable, well set-up place to rest your legs, take a hot shower, and cook a filling meal after a hard day in the snow.

The water is so clear. Beautiful. Gorgeous blue water…read more. Truly amazing place A definitely must visit..

Every summer we look forward to coming here! We've been coming here for over twenty years now and…read moreit's been getting more and more populated. It used to be more secluded but it's nice to see to that more people are finding this spot as it is a,"Gem!" There are so many places here to hike and swim along the Yuba and you kind of work your way and find what works best with what you want out of it. The water is pristine...better than any swimming pool or ocean, IMO. You can open your eyes under water and it's never irritated. We usually bring our goggles but it's not necessary. There's endless places to sunbathe, without feeling invaded. Dogs are allowed on leashes but on this visit we did experience a dog taking a poo in the water, which kind of turned us off. Luckily, the owner noticed and he was able to take care of it, minutes later. The Yuba River is beautiful, you can't ask for better swimming conditions, there are a number of spots available if you travel up or down stream. The water is always emerald green and so clear when you dive under. If you're adventurous, there are some great spots to sunbathe nude... if you desire!

Great spot, lots of history, it's a great spot to stop by and check out the view. We haven't been…read morehere in over 5 years, but it was lovely when we did visit!

While all the Amber Alert signs on Hwy 80 read, "AVOID travel, stay home and beat COVID-19" - I'm…read moresure like most of us, I've bean suffering from a form of "Island Fever" while SIP'ing at home! I needed a change of scenery one that consisted of fresh air and a view... so Hub's found me Emigrant Gap. This historical landmark can be found in the beautiful Tahoe Valley! On this cool, overcast morning - the view were still ohhhh, so beautiful. The clouds with the sun trying to peek out, provided some cool blues and grays against Bear Valley. It was nice to imagine what all those Gold Rush travelers had to experience back then, and really makes you appreciate what we have now (aka cars instead of wagons). The entrance of this landmark pit stop, can only be accessed if you're traveling WB on Hwy 80 towards Auburn/Rocklin. I would highly recommend a quick stop for some pretty scenic views.

We came here to hike on the way to Lake Tahoe on Labor Day weekend. Surprisingly there's some…read morestreet parking outside the parking gate. Came with kids and they loved it's it's super easy paved road for just 1/2 mile Don't forget to get your junior badge Also no food indoor but can eat your own food outside at the benches

This is a beautiful park and we had a great location (127) with water at our site and bathrooms…read morejust yards away. But, Hwy 80 is probably less than 200 yards away and there's a train track above the camp. I remember lying in our tent thinking, "what is that noise? It's just constant." No Doppler effect of approaching traffic, just a solid din. Sorry to say we decided to visit the town (beautiful) and enjoy a shop or two (loved Cornerstone Bakery; stop in and grab a few things, as their pastries are superb) and decided to break camp early and enjoy a quiet night sleep. I don't mind clanging pots to keep the bears away, but incessant freeway traffic noise was just miserable. We'll return, but visit another site (there's lots to see here).

Backround On Donner Lake: Named after the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who became trapped in…read morethe Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter of 1846-47. The lake was originally known as Truckee Lake, but was renamed in their memory. The Donner Party's ill-fated journey and subsequent struggle for survival has made the area a place of both historical significance and tragedy Background On Visit: Reading articles about things to do near Lake Tahoe, we decided to visit this place. Location/Parking: Located along Donner Pass Rd.. Free parking on the west end of the lake. Ambiance: The views of the pine trees and water are very nice when you drive along Donner Pass Rd.. Probably be more enjoyable as a passenger. Perhaps next time. Entertainment: 1) Boating and Water Sports: Rent boats, kayaks, paddleboards, or hydrobikes at Donner Lake Watersports. 2) Fishing: Donner Lake is known for kokanee salmon and various trout species. 3) Swimming: Enjoy the lifeguard-staffed West End Beach Park or swim at the public piers. 4) Hiking Trails Donner Lake For Thought: Choose Donner Lake for a more serene and accessible experience with a unique history and warmer water. :)

Right off of I-80 in Truckee this is one of the coolest…read moreplaces of the Sierra. Donner Lake is a true mountain getaway for activities from boating & fishing in the summer to snowshoeing in winter. Although it's a fraction in size to its bigger sibling Lake Tahoe, it offers a more relaxed alternative and just as many options of things to do on and off the water. Don't miss Donner State Park while visiting the lake. It is a giant part of local history.

The Donner Pass Railroad Tunnel Hike was one of the reasons for our trip to the area. My boyfriend…read morehad always wanted to check out the Donner Petroglyphs, and I stumbled across the rail tunnels when looking for things to do while in the area. We parked at the Donner Ski Summit - if you are looking to check out this hike, that is the best place to park and access the start of the tunnels. I truly enjoyed this hike, but was ill prepared. I was fully committed once we were in the tunnels & I should have went back to the car and swapped my "barefoot" style shoes for my hiking boots. The large chunk gravel path killed my feet with the thin soles of the shoes I wore. We hiked through about 5-6 tunnels before heading back. We did a total of 6 miles in and back. There were alot of beautiful street art within the tunnels, we found 19 cave ghosts along the trail as well as some other reoccurring variations of different items over the course of the trail. I would like to eventually take the trail past the last tunnel and to the next set of tunnels some day. This is a trail we would do again next time we are in the area. Though the weather was nice, we both wore hooded sweatshirts as the are in the tunnels got quite chilly. If you plan on checking these trails out, take well charged flashlights or head lights with extra batteries. The tunnels can be PITCH Black when you are in the heart of them. Overall this was a really cool thing to see and I would love to do it again with the correct shoes!

We had out of town family in town last week and we made it back to the Donner (Railroad) Tunnels. I…read morelove the tunnels! It's SO beautiful. And as it was a railroad, it's level and easy, and as it's in the tunnels, you're mostly protected from the weather. Bring good trail walking shoes and a flashlight. (And park across from the Donner Ski Ranch.)