Donner Memorial State Park

NOTE:

Donner Memorial State park is OPEN seven days a week, 9am to 4 pm,  throughout this winter. Come visit the Emigrant Trail Museum and Visitors' Center!

 

 

Fly over Donner Memorial State Park from the comfort of your computer! Click on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_jeGmy1EQI

 

 

 

 

 

In the mid 1860,s hundreds of Chinese laborers braved freezing temperatures, blizzards and unbelievably hazardous conditions to drill the 1,659 foot long Summit Tunnel near Donner Pass, enabling the Central Pacific Railroad to move trains over the summit even in the worst of Sierra winter conditions.

 

Donner Memorial State Park will present two snowshoe hikes through the historic tunnel, led by California State Park Ranger Don Schmidt.

 

Dates: Sunday, February 28, 2010

Time: 9AM to 12 Noon

Meeting place: Donner Memorial State Park (museum parking lot)

 

The program will begin in the park, and then carpool to Donner Summit for the hike. Participants should come prepared for very cold conditions inside the tunnels. Dress in layers and include a warm hat and gloves. Bring a flashlight; it is dark in the tunnels. Snowshoes only – no skis. Moderate difficulty, approximately 3 hours, 2 miles.

 

There is a parking fee of $8.00 per vehicle in the state park.

For more information call 530-582-7892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donner Memorial State Park is named in honor of the ill-fated Donner Party, a group of intrepid pioneer families who were making their way west to the Pacific Coast in 1846 when they were halted in this area by early severe snowstorms. The tragedy of their fate is impossibly compounded: first, they took an untested “shortcut” which landed them here. Second, they were ill-prepared and soon ran out of food. Third, the weather set in early and harshly, making survival impossible for several and barely possible for the others. When the survivors were rescued, several headed for such perpetually warm locations as San Juan Batista.

Today, Donner Memorial State Park is a beautiful haven, set in among pine and fir forests abutting the beautiful, three mile long Donner Lake, just a stone's throw from Interstate 80.