$1,139,944Average Value$831Average Price per Sq Ft17Homes For Sale
This small town in the Sierra Mountains isn’t just “close to Tahoe”
About 15 miles north of Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake is often overlooked. “Over the last 30-something years, people have walked into my office and said they’ve been driving past to get to Tahoe,” says John McCormick, a resident since 1976 and a Realtor with McCormick Realty. “It’s often the first time they’ve ever stopped. Some of them fall in love with the lake, and they end up staying. It has all the quality of Tahoe, but it’s smaller, noncommercial and much more family oriented.” Named for the infamous Donner Party and founded in the 1860s, this community has maintained its small-town feel over the years. Its 1,500 full-time residents share three restaurants and a single grocery store, and neighbors have often known each other for years. “Some people were raised here or had cabins here as kids," says Ross Collins, who’s lived in the Sierras since 2000 and has 30-plus years of real estate experience. "They love it and wouldn't think of being anywhere else. Some of these are legacy homes, where the owners have passed their properties to family. There’s a tradition here, but it’s also casual and unpretentious.” Other residents have second homes here and visit seasonally from Reno and Sacramento. They come back for fresh-powder skiing, summertime swimming and other recreational activities.
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.
The Pacific Crest Trail passes through Donner Summit and has unbeatable views of Donner Lake.
Donner Lake is a boating paradise during the peak summer months in Truckee.
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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.
On the North side of Donner Lake, lakefront homes receive the most sunshine throughout the year.
Donner Lake has small cottages that fill the forest areas, with many dating back to the 1950's.
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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.
Little Truckee Ice Creamery is a Donner Lake sensation in the warm summer weather.
The Pub at Donner Lake is one of the few restaurants in the area and has great patio dining.
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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.
Downtown Truckee is only ten minutes from Donner Lake and has many shops and restaurant options.
Donner Lake locals love any opportunity to have dinner on the patio at Cottonwood in Downtown.
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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.
Every Wednesday Donner Lake residents can attend the free music at Truckee River Regional Park.
Donner Lake residents frequent Truckee Thursdays in Downtown for live music and local shopping.
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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.
The front entrance to Tahoe Truckee High School home to Donner Lake students.
Donner Lake students can attend Alder Creek Middle School.
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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.
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
Are you familiar with the Donner Lake neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Donner Lake
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Donner Lake Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Donner Lake, Truckee sell after 73 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Donner Lake, Truckee over the last 12 months is $1,077,500, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 15205 Point Drive, one of Donner Lake's most unique and versatile homes, where breathtaking lake views meet incredible flexibility. This spectacular 6-bedroom, 3-bathroom property offers something almost impossible to find: two homes in one. The original 2-bedroom A-frame has been thoughtfully preserved with its own full kitchen, bathroom, private backyard, and expansive lake-facing
The Junction is the commercial core of The Truckee Railyard Redevelopment Plan. 3.9-acres in the heart of Downtown Truckee entitled for up to 90,000 square feet of commercial, office and retail including option for a grocery up to 35,000 square feet. An opportunity to define Truckee's commercial core into a new era. Exceptionally high visibility upon rerouting of Glenshire Drive traffic through
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday July 25th, 3-5pm. Exceptional quality. Perfect location. Unmatched value. Just one block from Donner Lake, this newer mountain modern retreat offers the rare opportunity to own a thoughtfully designed, turn-key home with lake views at a price difficult to find. The main level features an open-concept great room with soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and a
Private Beach. Private Dock. Beautifully Renovated. One of Donner Lake's most attainable opportunities to own in the coveted Donner Tract community. Discover the Donner Lake lifestyle in one of the area's most sought-after private lake communities. Thoughtfully renovated from top to bottom, this turnkey mountain retreat blends modern comfort with timeless Tahoe charm, offering an exceptional
Sun-filled Donner Lake charmer, perfectly positioned on the north end of Donner Lake, this charming 3-bedroom, 2-bath home offers effortless mountain living. A smart layout puts all three bedrooms and the main living space upstairs, where south-facing windows flood the open great room with natural light. The living, dining, and kitchen areas flow together and spill out onto a generous deck, ideal
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Nestled in the heart of Donner Lake, this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom mountain home offers the ultimate blend of alpine comfort and outdoor adventure all year round. Whether you are seeking a serene full-time residence or a seasonal getaway, this property delivers an unmatched Sierra Nevada lifestyle. The inviting open living space features dramatic vaulted ceilings, stainless steel
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A rare opportunity awaits at Donner Lake with this flat, sunny parcel ideally positioned directly across from the West End Beach and the Donner Lake Property Owners Association’s private beach. In one of Truckee’s most coveted year-round mountain and lake settings, the lifestyle here is all about parking the car and embracing everything the West End has to offer right from your doorstep. Spend
Welcome to 10380 Washoe Road, a thoughtfully updated mountain retreat tucked among towering pines on the coveted West End of Donner Lake. Blending classic alpine architecture with modern improvements, this inviting home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a loft, and an attached two car garage. Designed to comfortably accommodate up to ten guests, the flexible floor plan lives well beyond its
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Location, Location, Location! Phenomenal Views. Sunny-side of the Lake! Private. Gorgeously remodeled, with new appliances. Lakefront. Private lakefront deck and patio. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and a million views. Lots of private storage space for skis, kayaks, SUPs, bike, etc. Personal covered parking (and private EV charger if you have an EV). Authentic Tahoe fireplace with modern gas insert.
$2,900 per month
Shared Tenant Needed-Donner Lake Condo | 1-Year Lease | $2,175/mo
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Ski lease Available November 1 - April 30th at Donner Lake with two car garage. Furnished3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, washer dryer, gas burning stove, updated kitchen and bathrooms, new flooring, and room for guest parking. Just 10 minutes to Sugar Bowl. Tenant to pay all utilities: gas, electric, water, internet, snow removal, and trash overages. Owner to pay: Sewer and 1 Trash can per
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