Donner Memorial State Park preserves and memorializes the site of the Donner Camp, which is where members of the Donner Party were trapped by weather in the winter of 1846–1847. The famous ill-fated party was stuck without any shelter or adequate food and provisions and the group unfortunately had to engage in cannibalism in order to survive.

The park's visitors center interprets the site and contains exhibits related to the history and culture of the area, including the Donner Party, Native Americans, and the First Transcontinental Railroad. Park employees provide interpretive walks, hikes, presentations, and campfires. The park additionally contains the Pioneer Monument and the Emigrant Trail Museum, which are dedicated to travelers of the Emigrant Trail. Recreational opportunities include several miles of hiking trails and a stretch of lake frontage.

Address: Donner Memorial State Park, 12593 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-582-7892

Plan Your Trip

Get Ready to Go!

Need some more help?


Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.