$1,090,100Average Value$788Average Price per Sq Ft15Homes 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.
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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 88 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Donner Lake, Truckee over the last 12 months is $972,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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LAKEFRONT DONNER LAKE 2-unit Condo building at Donner Lake Village | 15735 & 15745 Donner Pass Road, Building E | Truckee, California One of Donner Lake's most unique waterfront offerings, this property combines two beautifully renovated lakefront residences in a spectacular setting rarely available to the market. SHOWN BY APPT ONLY Offered together as one exceptional waterfront property,
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.
Experience lakeside living in this fully furnished 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom condo offering stunning views of Donner Lake and the surrounding mountains. The thoughtful reverse floor plan features an expansive upstairs great room with a cozy gas fireplace, an open dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen—all opening to a Trex deck perfect for taking in the scenery. Downstairs, you will find two
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