California Road Trip - Donner Lake, Squaw Valley and Truckee!

After our visit to Lake Tahoe, we stayed in the area and visited Donner Lake and the Pioneer Memorial, drove around Squaw Valley and then spent the rest of the day in the hipster town of Truckee. It was a bit of a bits and pieces day - a little of this and a little of that - in the Tahoe area. Come along as we experience some of Northern California on a gorgeous, blue sky day!

Donner Memorial State Park -
If you went to school in the US, you might remember learning about the ill-fated pioneers of the Donner Party who were stuck during the winter of 1846-47 just outside of the town of Truckee.  (Because of the sensationalism of cannibalism, many people remember this story!) As legend has it, the large 92 person Donner Party headed west to California after paying a scout to lead them using a "shortcut". The scout never materialized so they left - and were rather late to leave - and became trapped in the Truckee area due to winter blizzards. They had no supplies - and had to construct housing themselves - and several members of the party perished. When aid finally arrived, the few that were still alive had resorted to cannibalism. (Forty-two survived but some had gone ahead to get help so not all were still at the camp)

At the spot of their camp is now Donner Memorial State Park. There is a fairly new Visitor Center and Emigrant Museum explaining the history of the Donner Party, other pioneers and those who have come through the area heading west. It's not a huge museum but we did spend a good part of the morning there - it's quite interesting if you're a history buff and I actually learned alot.  There is no fee to visit the museum - but there is a $10 parking fee. Also, at the state park is the Pioneer Monument - dedicated to "all who made the difficult trek across the western plains and mountains." Dedicated in 1918 - with a ceremony that included Donner Party survivors - the shaft of the monument is the depth of the snow - 22 feet - of the winter they were stuck there. You may take a free history tour led by park rangers that show the spots of the cabins, too.

 And a short walk down a trail from the museum is Donner Lake - a freshwater lake known as the "Jewel of the Northern Sierra".  A year-round destination, you can swim, fish, ski, hunt, beach sit and boat here. We walked the trail and had a peaceful view of the lake on a weekday morning in the fall. No one else was around nor any boats!

Squaw Valley Ski Resort
We spent our afternoon at Squaw Valley Ski Resort. In 1946, the founder of Squaw Valley, Alex Cushing, visited the area for the first time. By 1949, Squaw Valley was up and running - with the world's largest double chair lift. A few years later - to promote the ski resort - a bid was placed for the 1960 Olympics to be held at Squaw Valley. And they won - with only one chairlift and lodging for fifty people. It now has six peaks and North America's most advanced lift network. We headed to a casual bar to watch the World Series on TV and then drove around the resort. There was beautiful fall color and very few visitors since it was in between summer and ski seasons. 

That's quite the view from those windows!

Truckee
We headed to the small - and residents want to keep it that way - town of Truckee for the evening. Originally a logging town, Truckee is now quite popular as "the" place to be in the Tahoe area. Breweries, wine bars, locally sourced restaurants and art galleries are popular with those who come to ski, rock climb or mountain bike. We visited a few of the stores and checked out some of the Happy Hour specials around. We chose Old Town Tap - which was hopping - and managed to find a seat at the bar until a seat became available at the outdoor fire pit. That was a good thing  - because Truckee is known for it's low temps and it was chillleeee that night. (I'd love to go in the summer and tube the Truckee River! But it may still be too cold for me!)

All in all, it was a fun day exploring the North Shore area. I love visiting places that are new to me - and learning all the nuances of a new area. And as I say so many times here are on the blog.....I'd love to go back sometime and do a more in-depth visit when I have more time. Retirement for Mr. UR and I is gonna be busy!


I'd love for you to follow me on:
Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest


How about you? Have you skiied Squaw Valley? Visited Donner Lake? or hung out in Truckee?


This post is part of a link-up with: The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond and The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party!