Donner Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donner Lake |
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Donner Lake as seen from McGlashan Point
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 Donner Lake
Location in California
Donner Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Nevada County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°19′22″N 120°15′52″W / 39.32278°N 120.26444°W |
| Type | moraine-dammed lake |
| Primary inflows | Summit Creek, Gregory Creek, and many springs |
| Primary outflows | Donner Creek to Truckee River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.7 mi (4.38 km) |
| Max. width | 0.6 mi (1.0 km) |
| Surface area | 1.31 sq mi (3.40 km²) |
| Max. depth | 238 ft (72.1 m) |
| Surface elevation | 5936 ft (1809 m) |
| Settlements | Truckee |
Donner Lake is a beautiful freshwater lake in Northeast California. It sits on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The lake is about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the much larger Lake Tahoe. A natural moraine acts like a dam for the lake.
Donner Lake is located in the town of Truckee. It's found between Interstate 80 to the north and Schallenberger Ridge to the south. The Union Pacific Railroad tracks run along Schallenberger Ridge. They follow the path of the original Transcontinental Railroad. The historic Lincoln Highway, which was the first road across America, also follows the northern shore. This road then climbs to Donner Pass, where you can see the whole lake.
Both the lake and the pass are named after the Donner Party. This group of pioneers faced a very difficult winter near the lake in 1846. Donner Memorial State Park is at the east end of the lake. It offers campsites and access to several beaches. You can also find many hiking trails in the park.
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Discovering Donner Lake's Depths
Donner Lake is quite deep! The California State Lands Commission measured its deepest point at 238 feet (73 m). This deep spot is near a fallen tree on the north side. The lake's high water level is 5,935.8 feet (1,809.2 m) above sea level.
Fishing Adventures at Donner Lake
Donner Lake is known for having some of the biggest lake trout in California. You can also find many rainbow and brown trout here. Kokanee salmon are also popular with fishermen.
Fishermen often use special equipment called downriggers. They troll with plugs to catch Kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. This method also helps them catch the huge lake trout. In spring and fall, lake trout come closer to the surface to feed. These are the best times to catch them in shallower water.
There is a public boat ramp at the northwest corner of Donner Lake. It's run by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District. There is a small fee to launch boats. The lake welcomes both powerboats and sailboats.
Fun Activities at Donner Lake
Donner Memorial State Park covers the east and part of the south shore of the lake. It also includes Scallenberger Ridge to the south.
In the summer, you can enjoy many activities like:
- camping
- picnicking
- boating
- fishing
- water-skiing
- wind-surfing
- hiking
- mountain biking
In the winter, popular activities include:
- cross-country skiing
- snowshoeing
The park features the Pioneer Monument. This monument welcomes visitors all year round. It was built to remember the Donner Party who traveled to California in the mid-1800s. The statue itself is 23 feet (7.0 m) tall. This height is said to be how deep the snow was during the winter of 1846. That was the winter when the Donner Party got stuck and couldn't cross the pass.
The north shore of the lake has 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of public docks. These are great for both swimmers and boaters. Every year, the town of Truckee hosts the Donner Lake Triathlon. This event includes:
- Sprint Triathlon: a .25 miles (400 m) swim, a 6 miles (9.7 km) bike ride, and a 2 miles (3.2 km) run.
- International Triathlon: a 1.5 kilometers (0.93 mi) swim, a 40 kilometers (25 mi) bike ride, and a 6.5 miles (10.5 km) run.
Hiking Trails Around the Lake
There are about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of hiking trails inside Donner Memorial State Park. Visitors can park legally in Coldstream Canyon. This canyon contains part of the historic Emigrant Trail. This trail leads to U.S. Forest Service and Pacific Crest trails beyond the park. The entire Donner Lake is roughly 8 miles (13 km) around, which also makes for a great hike.
Camping at Donner Lake
The park offers 154 campsites. There is also a day-use area right along the lake. A special interpretive trail along the lakeside has 18 panels. These panels share interesting facts about the natural and cultural history of the area.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Donner para niños
