Donner Canyon Trail Hike

Looking for a moderate hike with views, creeks, and some history? Try the Donner Canyon Trail. There is a dirt parking area on the south side of Old Hwy. 40 about 1/3 mile from the South Shore Dr. and Donner Pass Rd.. A map and other information is available at this trailhead. The trail up the canyon follows much of the old Dutch Flat/Donner Lake Wagon Road, which later served as the Lincoln Highway. Some of the historic features visible from the upper part of the trail include Native American petroglyphs, the China Wall, and the world’s first automobile underpass (1913). Look for the abandoned Turkey Truck that careened off the road in 1955, scattering 30,000 pounds of frozen turkeys down the 175’ drop and delaying Thanksgiving dinner for hungry Nevadans! The route traverses Donner Summit Creek and offers spectacular views of Donner Lake, Donner Peak, and Schallenberger Ridge as it climbs to Donner Summit. Stop and watch local rock climbers scaling granite cliffs. A short side trail leads to a picnic table that might be perfect for lunch with spectacular views of Donner Lake. You can also walk through the old train sheds that are accessible from the top of China Wall.
This hike is approximately six miles round-trip with a 1,000’ elevation gain. It is moderately strenuous due to uneven terrain and moderate to steep ascents. We hiked this the other day and enjoyed Donner Creek which was flowing nicely on its way from the summit to Donner Lake. Take a moment to envision oxen driven wagons bumping along this rough dirt trail or automobiles from the early 1900’s traveling over and through pot holes and granite slabs. Alexander Winton and Charles Shanks decided to make an automobile trip over Donner Summit…. in 1901. They were trying to be the first automobilists to cross the continent and planned on going from San Francisco to New York. It was only the second transcontinental attempt by anyone by auto. You can read more about this attempt at: http://www.donnersummithistoricalsociety.org/PDFs/newsletters/news14/august14.pdf

Enjoy Your Day

Andy