Donner Memorial State Park - California
Donner Memorial State Park preserves the site of the Donner Camp, where members of the ill-fated Donner Party were trapped by weather during the winter of 1846–1847. Caught without shelter or adequate supplies, members of the group resorted to cannibalism to survive. The state park contains the Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument dedicated to the travelers of the Emigrant Trail.
Donner Memorial State Park is located outside Truckee, California. It has 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of hiking trails, campgrounds, and 3 miles (4.8 km) of lake frontage on Donner Lake.
maps Tahoe MVUM - Truckee South 2020 Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of the southern part of Truckee Ranger District in Tahoe National Forest (NF) in California. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Tahoe - Donner Summit Recreation Recreation Map of the Donner Summit area in Tahoe National Forest (NF) in California. Published by the U.S. National Forest Service (USFS).
Mother Lode - Boundary Map Boundary Map of the Mother Lode BLM Field Office area in California. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
brochures Donner Memorial - Brochure Brochure of Donner Memorial State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Memorial_State_Park
Donner Memorial State Park preserves the site of the Donner Camp, where members of the ill-fated Donner Party were trapped by weather during the winter of 1846–1847. Caught without shelter or adequate supplies, members of the group resorted to cannibalism to survive. The state park contains the Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument dedicated to the travelers of the Emigrant Trail.
Donner Memorial State Park is located outside Truckee, California. It has 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of hiking trails, campgrounds, and 3 miles (4.8 km) of lake frontage on Donner Lake.
Donner
Memorial
State Park
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
In Donner Memorial
State Park’s lush setting,
visitors may camp, picnic,
hike, bike, snowshoe,
or play in the waters of
scenic Donner Lake —
surrounded by majestic
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
(530) 582-7892. If you need this publication in an
alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Donner Memorial State Park
12593 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 582-7892
© 2014 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
lodgepole pines, Jeffrey
pines, and white firs.
D
onner Memorial State Park, located
east of Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada,
is surrounded by magnificent alpine scenery
at an elevation of 6,000 feet. The crisp, pinescented air entices visitors to camp, picnic,
hike, fish, boat, water-ski, and paddleboard.
PARK HISTORY
The Washoe People
This area has been the heart of the ancestral
Washoe homeland for more than 9,000 years.
Semi-nomadic, the Washoe spent summers
hunting game and gathering fish and pine
nuts. After the 1848 gold discovery, thousands
of newcomers passed through the area.
Many of them settled here, taking over
Washoe lands.
The Washoe adapted to new living
restrictions, working for ranchers and in
settlers’ homes and selling fish and game
catches to restaurants.
The government promised land, but the
Washoe were often given logged-over areas
with no water. Still, they built communities.
Today’s Washoe have revived their
languages, advocating conservation and
reintroducing once-depleted resources.
a memorial park is born
early settlement
In 1924, the Pacific Fruit Express, successor to
After 1844, emigrants began to enter
the Donner Ice Company, gave 10 acres at the
California in large numbers. Their last major
east end of Donner Lake to the Native Sons of
challenge took them over the Sierra Nevada
the Golden West, who had a concession near
and down into the Central Valley.
the one-acre Pioneer Monument.
Prior to 1844, only two wagon trains had
On May 23, 1928, the Native Sons conveyed
ever tried to cross the Sierra Nevada. In
the 11 acres to the State, making the Pioneer
1844, the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party
Memorial publicly accessible. Later, another
succeeded. The group left six wagons at the
5.1 acres were added, and 16.1 acres were
lake the Washoe called Datsa’ shut , which
transferred from California’s Department
the party renamed Truckee Lake, and took
of Finance to the new Division of Beaches
another five wagons up steep terrain, crossing
and Parks.
the pass on November 25, 1844.
Between 1845 and 1848,
about 2,600 emigrants came
west — most traveling north of
GEOLOGY
the Verdi Range, rejoining the
The eastern face of the Sierra was formed over
Truckee river above its rugged
the last few million years by the tilting upward of a
massive section of the Earth’s crust. This huge granite
canyon, and crossing through
block tipped up on the east and down on the west,
Coldstream Canyon, south of
subducting (disappearing) beneath the sediments that
Donner Pass.
form the Sacramento Valley.
This route was replaced by
the Dutch Flat / Donner Lake
Glaciers dominated the crest of the Sierra Nevada
Toll Road in 1864. However,
through much of the past million years, carving out the
the completion of the Central
Truckee Basin, where the park is located. The retreating
Pacific Railroad would ease the
glacier left soil and gravel that blocked the creek
way for travelers and end the
channel and formed Donner Lake.
need for a toll road.
T H E D O N N E R PA RT Y
In the 1830s, travelers who had gone west to California were talking about its wonders and opportunities. The notion of “manifest destiny” had taken hold, and
many believed that America was destined to stretch “from sea to shining sea.” By 1845 they were also drawn west by news that it was possible to travel directly
overland to California.
In Illinois, farmers George and Jacob Donner and cabinetmaker James Reed packed up nine ox-drawn wagons; in April 1846, they headed west with their
families. That summer, George’s wife Tamsen wrote to a friend, describing beautiful weather and a pleasant journey. When the wagon train reached a fork in the
trail, the emigrants split into two groups. The Donner, Breen, Murphy, Eddy, Graves, and Keseberg families chose an alternate route instead of the traditional
one. Recommended in The Emigrants’ Guide to Oregon and California, a book written in 1845 by Ohio a
Parque Estatal
Donner
Memorial
Nuestra Misión
La misión de California State Parks es proporcionar
apoyo para la salud, la inspiración y la educación
de los ciudadanos de California al ayudar a
preservar la extraordinaria diversidad biológica
del estado, proteger sus más valiosos recursos
naturales y culturales, y crear oportunidades para
la recreación al aire libre de alta calidad.
En el exuberante entorno
del Parque Estatal Donner
Memorial, los visitantes
pueden acampar, hacer
picnics y senderismo, montar
bicicleta, hacer caminatas
California State Parks apoya la igualdad de
acceso. Antes de llegar, los visitantes con
discapacidades que necesiten asistencia
deben comunicarse con el parque llamando
al (530) 582-7892. Si necesita esta publicación
en un formato alternativo, comuníquese con
interp@parks.ca.gov.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Para obtener más información, llame al:
(800) 777-0369 o (916) 653-6995, fuera de los
EE. UU. o 711, servicio de teléfono de texto.
www.parks.ca.gov
Donner Memorial State Park
12593 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 582-7892
© 2014 California State Parks (Rev. 2017)
con raquetas de nieve o jugar
en las aguas del pintoresco
Lago Donner, rodeado por
majestuosos pinos Lodgepole
y Jeffrey, y abetos blancos.
E
l Parque Estatal Donner Memorial,
ubicado al este del Paso Donner en la
Sierra Nevada, está rodeado por un
magnífico escenario alpino con una elevación
de 6,000 pies. El aire fresco con olor a pinos
invita a los visitantes a acampar, hacer picnics,
salir de excursión, pescar, pasear en bote,
practicar esquí acuático y hacer paddleboard.
HISTORIA DEL PARQUE
Los pueblos Washoe
Esta área ha sido el corazón del hogar
ancestral de los Washoe por más de 9,000
años. Los Washoe eran seminómadas
y pasaban veranos cazando, pescando
y recolectando piñones. Después del
descubrimiento del oro en 1848, miles de
recién llegados pasaron a través del área.
Muchos se establecieron aquí, tomando las
tierras de los Washoe.
Los Washoe se adaptaron a las
nuevas restricciones de vida, trabajando
para hacendados y en los hogares de los
colonos y vendiendo pescado y presas a
los restaurantes.
El gobierno prometió tierras, pero a menudo
los Washoe recibían áreas deforestadas sin
agua. Aun así, construyeron comunidades.
Los Washoe actuales han recuperado
sus idiomas, abogan por la conservación y
reintroducen recursos alguna vez agotados.
la culminación del ferrocarril Central Pacific
facilitaría el camino para los viajeros y
terminaría con la necesidad de una carretera
con peaje.
PRIMEROS ASENTAMIENTOS
NACE UN PARQUE CONMEMORATIVO
Después de 1844, los emigrantes comenzaron
a ingresar a California en grandes grupos. Su
En 1924, el Pacific Fruit Express, sucesor de
último desafío importante los llevó sobre la
la Donner Ice Company, cedió 10 acres en
Sierra Nevada y abajo hacia Central Valley.
el extremo este del Lago Donner a los Hijos
Antes de 1844, solo dos caravanas de carretas
Nativos del Dorado Oeste (Native Sons
habían intentado cruzar la Sierra Nevada.
of the Golden West), quienes tenían una
En 1844, la expedición Stephens-Townsendconcesión cerca del Monumento de los
Murphy tuvo éxito. El grupo dejó seis carretas
Pioneros de un acre.
en el lago que los Washoe llamaban Datsa’
El 23 de mayo de 1928, los Hijos Nativos
shut, el cual fue renombrado por la expedición
traspasaron los 11 acres al Estado, lo cual
como Lago Truckee, y llevó otras cinco carretas
hizo que el Monumento de los Pioneros
por un terreno inclinado para cruzar el paso el
fuera accesible al público. Más adelante se
25 de noviembre de 1844.
agregaron otros 5.1 acres y 16.1 acres fueron
Entre 1845 y 1848, cerca de 2,600 emigrantes
transferidos del Departamento de Finanzas
vinieron al oeste; la mayoría viajando por el
de California (California’s Department of
norte de la cadena montañosa Verdi Range,
Finance) a la nueva División de Playas y
incorporándose al río Truckee por encima
Parques (Division of Beaches and Parks).
de su cañón escarpado y cruzando
Coldstream Canyon, al sur del Paso
GEOLOGÍA
Donner.
El lado este de la Sierra se formó durante los últimos millones
Esta ruta fue reemplazada por
de años a causa de la inclinación de una sección masiva
la carretera con peaje Dutch Flat /
de la corteza de la Tierra. Este inmenso bloque de granito
Donner Lake en 1864. Sin embargo,
se levantó en el este y se inclinó hacia abajo en el oeste,
subducciéndose (desapareciendo) debajo de los sedimentos
que forman el Valle de Sacramento.
Los glaciares dominaron la cresta de la Sierra Nevada
muchos de los últimos millones de años forjando la Cuenca
de Truckee donde se ubica el parque. La retirada del glaciar
dejó tierra y grava que bloquearon el canal del arroyo y
formaron el Lago Donner.
LA EXPEDICIÓN DONNER
En la década de 1830, los viajeros que habían ido al oeste a California
hablaban sobre sus maravillas y oportunidades. La noción de “destino
manifiesto” se había arraigado y muchos cre
East Beach
Donner Pass Road
DONNER LAKE
Truckee
Camper
Registration
Dam
Boat Rental
Emigrant
Trail
Museum
To China Cove
Swimming Beach
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125 124
126
128 127
130 129
131
120
121
146
148
147
149
113
114
Splitrock
108-152
112
2
3
5
7
8
10
12 11
116
136
134
137
138 139
China Cove
140
141 142
144 143
N
9
119
118
117
135
145
4
6
122
115
132
133
Ridge
1-49
13
14
15
16 17
32
49
48
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46
31
45
44
43
41 42
30
29
39 40
28
38
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36 37
26 25 HOST 35
33
24
111 110
18
19
109 108
151 152
150
© 2013 California State Parks
Creek
50-107
20
91
90
71
92
94 93
96 95
52
54
53
57
22 23
21
50
97
55
56
58
59
102 103
89
70
68
69
88
HOST
75
104
62
60
To
Coldstream
Valley
80
82
81
79
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77
74 73
67
51
99
86 85
84 83
87
72
63 66
65
61 64
105 106
Amphitheatre
Donner Memorial State Park
Campground Map
(Not to scale)
Nature
Trail
1
Michelís Pond
107
American
Name
ofinPark
B
lack Bears
State State
Park Parks
California
Thanks to the following agencies
for their assistance:
El Dorado County
U.S. Forest Service,
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
California Department of Fish and Game
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tahoe Council for Wild Bears
Yosemite National Park
Sequoia National Park
California State Parks, Sierra District:
Mono Lake Tufa SNR
Bodie SHP
Grover Hot Springs SP
Lake Valley SRA
Washoe Meadows SP
Emerald Bay SP
DL Bliss SP
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point SP
Ward Creek Unit
Tahoe SRA
Burton Creek SP
Kings Beach SRA
Donner Memorial SP
Plumas Eureka SP
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Empire Mine SHP
South Yuba River SP
Photo:
Janice Clark
State Parks and Campgrounds in the
Sierra District are situated in areas
that are also black bear habitat.
For more information contact:
Park Office, Campground Entry Station or
California State Parks
Sierra District Headquarters
P. O. Box 266
7360 West Lake Blvd. (Highway 89)
Tahoma, CA 96142
(530) 525-7232
© 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2010)
Black bears (Ursus americanus)
are an important component
of California’s ecosystems and a
valuable natural legacy for the
people of California. The black
bear is the only species of bear
remaining in California and
Nevada. The common name
“black bear” is misleading;
California black bears may be
black, brown, cinnamon, even
blonde. Some bears have a
white patch on the chest.
Bear Encounters - Never approach a bear!
In the campground: Do not run. Be aggressive; assert your dominance by standing tall
and making noise to scare the bear away. Loudly banging pots and pans together and
shouting may work.
In the woods: This is the bear’s territory; respect
that and do not run. Make eye contact, but
don’t stare. Pick up small children. Make
yourself appear as large as possible. Stay
calm and quiet—back away slowly.
Black bears will usually avoid
confrontation with humans.
Bears will often climb a tree
if frightened and usually
won’t come down as
long as humans
or dogs are
present.
Strict regulations are in place to
reduce conflicts between humans
and bears. There is zero tolerance
for non-compliance.
• Bear-resistant food storage lockers
are available at all Sierra District
Campgrounds.
• All food and refuse must be stored
in the bear-resistant lockers
provided at all times—unless it is
actively being used or transported.
• Food-storage lockers must always
be closed when not in use—
whether or not food or refuse
is present.
• Food that cannot be stored in the
provided bear-resistant lockers
must be discarded.
Get out
of the way!
If the bear attempts to get away,
do not block the bear’s escape route.
Report all bear encounters in state park
campgrounds and picnic areas to staff at the park
office or entrance station, to campground hosts or
to rangers on patrol.
• No food, refuse or scented items
may be stored in a vehicle in the
campground at any time.
• Non-compliance may result in
eviction from the park or other law
enforcement action.
Black Bears
Facts Adults typically weigh 100 to
Diet Bears are omnivorous; their
Behavior Black bears can be active
400 pounds and measure between 4
and 6 feet from tip of nose to tail. Males
are larger than females. Some adult
males may weigh over 500 pounds.
Wild bears may live about 25 years.
teeth are designed for crushing rather
than cutting food, like meat-eating
carnivore teeth. Bears’ diets are based
on seasonal availability of food. Black
bears’ diets consist of seven food
categories: grasses, berries, nuts,
insects, small mammals, wood fiber,
and carrion (decaying flesh).
any time during the day or night. As
winter approaches, bears will forage
for food up to 20 hours a day to store
enough fat to sustain them through
hibernation.
Females give birth to one to three
cubs in January, during hibernation.
Typically, bears have young every
other year.
Black bears have curved claws that
allow them to climb trees. They often
climb to retreat from threats, including
humans. A healthy bear may run up to
30 miles per hour for short distances.
Black bears are excellent swimmers;
they can cross up to 1½ miles of open
fresh water for food.
Photo:
Tammy Evans
Food shortages occur in summer and
fall when wild food becomes scarce.
Bears get bolder and may encounter
humans in their search for food.
The trunk of your car and your cooler
are not bear-proof! Bears may learn to
associate wrappers and containers with
food and can identify them by sight.
They also learn to open vehicle doors.
Photo:
Janice Clark
Black bears may scavenge in garbage
cans and dumpsters; they will break into
and demolish the interiors of houses,
garages, cars and campers. Bears will
also raid campsites and food caches,
sometimes injuring people. Often these
incidents result from careless human
behavior. Black bears will usually try to
avoid confrontation with humans.
If encountered, always leave a bear
a clear escape route—especially a bear
with cubs.
Photo:
Scott