Donner Lake
Neighborhood in Truckee, California
Nevada County 96161
An alpine lake with year-round recreation
The namesake lake is the most obvious attraction here. Fed by mountain streams, its water often provides a near-exact reflection of the pines and granite peaks around it. The lake is just over one square mile but has several beaches to explore. West End Beach is the most well-known, and as the name suggests, it’s on the west end of the lake and has lifeguards on duty. Visitors can take their pick of sand volleyball courts, paddleboard rentals and a snack bar. McCormick says, “After the beach, you can decide whether to walk to the ice cream parlor or the pub.” Shoreline Park, on the north end, offers more swimming and waterside picnicking, and public piers are nearby for fishing. To the east, Donner Memorial State Park has multiple campgrounds and hiking trails near the water. The Donner Memorial State Museum is on the park's north side; visitors can learn about the Donner Party, Chinese railroad workers and the native Washoe. But the lake isn’t the only recreation spot around here. “Donner Lake is close to Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and Donner Summit, which has some of the best rock climbing in California,” says Collins. Lake Tahoe, one of the biggest lakes in California, is a short drive south.
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Lakeside lots and cabins of all sizes
Buyers pay more for cabins closer to the water, bigger lots and more square footage. Two-bedrooms don’t have much space, and they’re between $380,000 and $680,000. Three-bedrooms are between $720,000 and $1,500,000, and they’re mostly in the Lakeview and Weeks Tract subdivisions. Four-bedrooms are also here; they start at a million and can reach over two million. While these higher-end properties still have a cabin aesthetic, they’re more like estates and often have views of the lake. Houses on the lake itself can have private docks. Homes, in any case, avoid some snow with elevated foundations. Large yards are surrounded by pines, and they’re usually more dirt than grass. The median lot size is over 6,000 square feet, so houses usually have lots of room on either side. Inventory is usually high, and most properties sell in around 30 days. This is quicker than the national average of 43 days. For people who want to build, land is occasionally available, and lots can be more than four acres.
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Know-your-name restaurants around the lake
Donner Lake has only three restaurants, and staff are likely to know names and faces. On the north end, Little Truckee Ice Creamery has a bunch of outdoor seating and themed flavors, such as Mountain Top Mint Chip. “They’re constantly busy,” says McCormick. “If the string lights that hang over the yard are on, you know they’re open.” The Pub at Donner Lake is a half-mile away, closer to West End Beach. It serves American classics with views of the water, and its hours are flexible. Depending on which locals are in, they might stay open past their usual closing time of 9 p.m. Donner Lake Kitchen is toward the east end, and it’s known for homestyle breakfast and lunch. It’s next to Sticks Market, the only grocer in Donner Lake proper.
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Downtown Truckee: eating and shopping in the Old West
About 4 miles east on Donner Pass Road, historic downtown Truckee has been around since the 1860s, and it has more commercial options. This walkable district caters to tourists with gift shops and hotels, but locals also frequent its bars and restaurants. Bar of America is popular for its old-timey interior and wooden bar, and the building was constructed before 1891. Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats — or just Moody’s — is next door for on-tap wines and New American fare. It has live music from Thursday through Saturday, in addition to seasonal menus. Just south on Old Brockway Road, Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar offers hilltop views. “It’s not really in downtown, and it overlooks everything,” says McCormick. “You can see Truckee, the shops and the railroad, and you can watch all the trains go by.” If none of these options satisfy, the town has everything from coffee to Chinese takeout. Grocery Outlet and Safeway are here, too. Along with places to eat, small-town shops and attractions line Donner Pass Road. Arbor Tahoe is a snowboard shop that shares a wall with California 89, a home goods store. Clothing boutiques include The Sock Parlour and Marilyn’s Catwalk. La Galleria and Riverside Studios have paintings, pottery and other crafted items. For history buffs, the Truckee Railroad Museum and the Old Truckee Jail Museum showcase tales of the Old West. Visitors can learn about one of Truckee’s first constables, for instance, who carried a pickaxe handle instead of a revolver.
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Signature events in Truckee
Truckee has everything from brewfests to Shakespeare festivals, so Donner Lake residents always have something to do. The Truckee Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, available twice a week in season. On Tuesday mornings from May through October, the market is south of downtown in Truckee River Regional Park. On Thursday nights from June through August, it’s along Donner Pass Road. The latter event is part of Truckee Thursdays, a street wide event that promotes local businesses and features live music. June brings the Truckee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival, held at Truckee Airport. The Truckee 4th of July Parade is only a couple of weeks later, and a mile-long fun run precedes its colorful floats. Summer Music in the Park is another popular event, and it’s held from June to August at Truckee River Regional Park.
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Top-rated Tahoe-Truckee Unified Schools within driving distance
There are no schools in Donner Lake, so students have to carpool or bus 4 miles east to Truckee. Sierra Expeditionary Learning School is a public charter school for kindergarten through eighth grade, and it was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2023. It gets an A from Niche and ranks as the No. 1 public elementary school in the Reno area, ahead of more than 100 others. On the other hand, families won’t have to apply to Truckee Elementary, and it gets a B-plus from Niche. It serves kindergarten through fifth grade, and school events include poetry slams and skiing field trips. About 2 miles north of town, Alder Creek Middle serves grades six through eight, and it’s rated an A-minus. Truckee High School is back in Truckee. It serves grades nine through 12 and scores an A.
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Getting around Donner Lake: snow tires, road closures
Donner Lake is pretty remote, so most people need a car to get around. Driving can get tricky in the winter, as this area gets over 200 inches of snow per year. Roads can get icy, and snow tires are recommended. This also applies to Donner Pass Road, the main thoroughfare between here and Truckee. This 4-mile route can clog with tourist traffic in the winter and summer months, but Interstate 80 provides an alternative. It also leads 100 miles south to Sacramento and 40 miles north to Reno. Air travelers can use Reno-Tahoe International Airport since Tahoe-Truckee Airport doesn’t offer commercial flights.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Jeremy Jensen
Video By
Taylor Gilbert
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Justin Swett
Justin Swett
Tahoe Mountain Realty
(530) 414-7873
31 Total Sales
1 in Donner Lake
$765,000 Price
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Ross Collins
Ross Collins
Better Homes and Gardens RE
(530) 414-7857
46 Total Sales
2 in Donner Lake
$125K - $751K Price Range
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Celia Klein
Celia Klein
Responds QuicklyEngel & Volkers Truckee
(530) 460-6631
79 Total Sales
1 in Donner Lake
$1,595,000 Price
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Dave Gove
Dave Gove
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Realty
(530) 270-7669
69 Total Sales
1 in Donner Lake
$300,000 Price
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Nathan Riedel
Nathan Riedel
Responds QuicklyEngel & Volkers Truckee
(530) 557-3889
101 Total Sales
4 in Donner Lake
$95K - $2.4M Price Range
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Anthony Alfano
Anthony Alfano
Responds QuicklyCompass
(916) 634-1077
202 Total Sales
1 in Donner Lake
$780,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
West End Beach Playground
West End Beach Park
Donner Memorial State Park
Shoreline Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Donner Lake | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Donner Lake Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Donner Lake, Truckee sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Donner Lake, Truckee over the last 12 months is $1,030,000, up 28% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,197,499
Median Sale Price
$1,030,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,157,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$867,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$1,600,000
Median Studio Sale Price
$285,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
51
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
28%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$820
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,067
Number of Homes for Sale
7
Median Year Built
1974
Months of Supply
1.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,727
Below the national average
1,937
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,013
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,238
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
530
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
373
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Open Houses
-
Saturday, May 1011am - 1pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,192
Median Age
44
Population under 18
18.2%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$153,448
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$161,904
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
71.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
40.2%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
73.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
15°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
153''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
34
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
3
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
South Truckee
Where the Donner Party made camp during their winter travels
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A Lake Tahoe community offering unparalleled water views and forest-like living
Alpine Meadows
Live in a former Winter Olympic village
Tahoe Vista
A Lake Tahoe community with plenty of outdoor recreation and kitschy restaurants
Tahoe City
Tahoe City — A winter and summer paradise to move to
Kings Beach
A small beach town on the shores of Lake Tahoe
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