wear a mask-- you're really not supposed to breathe in bat poop, or guano, it's not great for your…read morelungs. but great time!

Came here a few years ago & could not get into the tunnels because the entrance was frozen over…read more Well today it's a different story. Beautiful place & something the kids will enjoy. Only thing you should definitely have is... Boots, water, protein bars, portable charger. You have those few things & you will have a good time.

Charming little bridge with visitor center on one end and museum (by appointment) on the other.read more

Fanny Bridge is supposedly named for all the fannies seen from the road as people look from it…read moretoward the Lake Tahoe Dam. We stop by here nearly every time we pass through Tahoe City, so fairly often. We enjoy walking the loop over the dam and back around over the bridge while taking time to read signage describing local facts regarding things from fish to water levels. There is plenty of parking in the adjacent lot and you will also find clean bathrooms. This is also the location of the Gatekeeper's Museum. There is a nice woodsy area just past the museum through which you can walk toward the lake. And currently, with water levels so low, you will find an explosion of purple as lupine fields are in full bloom! So gorgeous and worth the visit!

We didn't hike to the real mountain summit, that's for the Sierra Clubbers. We got to the summit of…read morethe Mt Rose Highway. There's a nice parking area here and trail starting spots for hiking. We had our pick up truck on the super hot day down in the valleys. Here at over 8900 feet, the temps were much cooler and pleasant. We're on our way to Reno cause there's better food choices there than in North Tahoe. If you're not used to high altitude, it might be a little hard to breath. Living down in the Sac Valley in Red Bluff, I don't get much high altitude heavy breathing practice. Well, at high altitude anyways! If you're driving over the pass here, stop and check out this stopping spot.

Iconic hike with incredible, ever-changing views!…read more Round trip: ~11 miles, about 6-7 hours. Parking: Free, plenty of spaces. Restrooms: 4 unisex restrooms (very smelly). Water: No water fountain at the trailhead, so bring plenty of water. Cell service is poor. The hike starts at about 8,900 ft and climbs roughly 2,500 ft to the 10,776-ft summit. The first 2.5 miles are relatively flat and easy, making it a popular turnaround point for the waterfall. After that, it becomes a steep, strenuous climb with very few switchbacks. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. During our hike, one unleashed dog kept running up and down the narrow trail at full speed, startling hikers and creating a safety hazard on the loose, steep sections. We asked the owner to leash the dog, but she ignored us. The summit is an extinct volcano. We hiked in mid-June 2026, there was still a section of snow and ice near the top that was extremely slippery. Hiking poles are highly recommended: I slipped and landed on my butt several times, and I'm grateful my friend was there to help me. The descent can be just as challenging because of the loose gravel and dirt, especially if you have bad knees. Definitely bring hiking poles. The scenery kept changing throughout the hike: Lake Tahoe views, forests, wildflower meadows, volcanic terrain, and snow near the summit. It was a tough hike, but the beautiful scenery made every step worth it.

"Bittersweet Story."…read more Right off the interstate, you can check out the history of this former town. There's not a lot to see, but the History Trail is mildly interesting, and also not too long. There's a rough little parking area right at the history trailhead. The trail is paved, and only slightly steep. It will probably take you 30 minutes round trip. I found the trail mildly interesting, but honestly, probably not worth repeating. There's a bathroom right at the parking area, but besides that, there are no facilities.

To experience 61 years of history in one hour, we stopped alongside Interstate 80, between Reno and…read moreTruckee, to explore the old Boca town site. From 1866 until 1927, the hard-working people of Boca labored on the railroad, milled local timber, harvested clear mountain ice, and brewed their famous Boca beer. Walking an easy quarter-mile long trail with interpretative signage, we saw the old school house flag pole rusted and bent by time. On our way to the hilltop cemetery, we found flattened cans, bedsprings, square-headed nails, broken whisky bottles and chips of porcelain littering the entire area. Boca, meaning "mouth" in Spanish, was originally established in 1866 as a Central Pacific Railroad construction camp, at the confluence of the Little Truckee and Truckee rivers. To process nearby timber for railroad ties, telegraph poles, and snow sheds, a lumber mill was set up in Boca in 1868. When the millpond froze in the winter of 1869, the Boca ice harvesting industry was born. Large blocks of clear ice, cut from the pond were used to air condition the deep Comstock mines and refrigerate railroad box cars full of fresh California produce heading east. We wandered around the crumbling foundation of one former ice storage house still standing alongside the railroad tracks. Boca ice was also used for the low temperature fermentation of lager beer, the town's greatest claim to fame. In 1876, Boca Brewery started a lager revolution on the west coast with its release of the first true California-made lager. The brewery was lost to fire in 1893, over-harvesting closed the saw mill in 1908, and modern refrigeration technology ended the ice industry. In 1927, the town of Boca was permanently dismantled. Our visit to the old Boca town site to experience its industrious 61-year history was an accessible stop and great value, costing us only one hour of our time. Directions: Take I-80 to Hirschdale exit, 6 miles east of Truckee. Follow the sign toward the Boca/Stampede Recreation Area. Go north 0.3 miles and turn right on the road immediately after the railroad tracks. The trail begins next to the restrooms.

Great museum to learn about the Donner's fate. Very informative and well maintained site.read more

A monument to pioneer families [Truckee CA]…read more A short walk on the paved trail from the visitor center led us to the pioneer monument. The monument stands on the spot where the Schallenberger, and later the Breen, cabin once stood. Dedicated and honoring all the emigrants (not just the Donner Party) who followed the Truckee River and crossed the Sierra on their way to the west (California). The emigrant family sits on top of a 22-foot pedestal and is facing westward toward Donner Pass. Completed on June 6th 1918 and marked California Historical Landmark #134. There are educational interpretive signs nearby worth the read. Interesting to see this monument standing at one of the most historic sites in emigrant history. During the winter of 1846-1847 we learned that nearly half of Donner Party died from cold and lack of food. They set up camp around this area and was trapped by snow during their journey, imagine trekking in prairie wagons pulled by oxen from Illinois. So sad for those who perished just because of this unfortunate decision they took as a shortcut... ahhh! so close yet so far. Review #3557

Located along the Donner Pass Road near the Donner Summit Historical Society, this marker points…read moreout some of the history of the area as travelers came and went, passing through here prior to the superhighway being built. Since then, the roadway is mostly used for local traffic and access to the ski resorts. "Before the coming of the hotels and ski areas, the only Summit industry was the railroad. There had been a few dairies, two ice houses, sheep and some lumbering, even a still on the hill, but the railroad was key to the Summit." "After the Summit Hotel burned along with a few hundred feet of snow sheds in 1892, there were few accommodations for travelers from Colfax to Donner Lake. That didn't much matter because most people, traveling over the Summit, came by train and were headed elsewhere. With the coming of the automobile, people wanted to travel and they wanted to travel freely. Hotels began springing up along popular routes." "Oscar Jones saw what was coming and took advantage. In 1924 he bought the land for the Soda Springs Hotel for $5,000. On December 10, 1927 the hotel opened to the public (top picture). Oscar's brother, Herstle, opened the Rainbow Tavern (Lodge) at the same time (and he would later open Nyack Lodge). With a railroad stop at Soda Springs, the popularization of skiing and the coming of ski resorts (Beacon Hill, Clair Tappaan, Lake Mary/Signal Hill) Highway 40 would be packed with fun seekers and the Soda Springs Hotel would do a good business. The railroad was no longer the chief Summit industry." "The coming of I-80 in 1960 took traffic away. People could go faster and farther. There was less need for Summit lodging." If you do decide to explore, be careful crossing the railroad tracks as there are more than one track so look both ways. [Review 17671 overall - 462 in California - 1192 of 2022.]

While all the Amber Alert signs on Hwy 80 read, "AVOID travel, stay home and beat COVID-19" - I'm…read moresure like most of us, I've bean suffering from a form of "Island Fever" while SIP'ing at home! I needed a change of scenery one that consisted of fresh air and a view... so Hub's found me Emigrant Gap. This historical landmark can be found in the beautiful Tahoe Valley! On this cool, overcast morning - the view were still ohhhh, so beautiful. The clouds with the sun trying to peek out, provided some cool blues and grays against Bear Valley. It was nice to imagine what all those Gold Rush travelers had to experience back then, and really makes you appreciate what we have now (aka cars instead of wagons). The entrance of this landmark pit stop, can only be accessed if you're traveling WB on Hwy 80 towards Auburn/Rocklin. I would highly recommend a quick stop for some pretty scenic views.

Great museum! Lots of history about Donner Party, Indigenous people, and the Lincoln Highway. Movie…read moreneeds an update...

Mounted on the side of the post office at an exit off I-80 as it passes through the Sierra Nevada…read moreMountains, this marker points out some of the earliest settlement history of the area. The marker includes a map of the Truckee route of the California Emigrant Trail. It reads, "The first wagon train ever brought across the Sierra Nevada Mountains into California was lead by Caleb Greenwood. He led the Steven-Town (sic, Townsend) - Murphy party and came through what is known as the Emigrant Trail. Approximately fifty wagons followed this route in 1845, and about 500 wagons rolled over the trail in 1846. The Emigrant Trail was the main overland route into California for only a couple of years, but the hardships endured and the fortitude of these emigrants have long been written in our California history books." "The emigrants from the east stopped at Emigrant gap for periods of time while their wagons were taken apart and lowered piece by piece, by means of rope and tackle, from the top of the ridge into Bear Valley, where they were reassembled. It was at this point that a small settlement formed. The history of the settlement is very sketchy, but it is known that in the great push from Sacramento to Virginia City during the gold rush a few years later, this trail was well-used by wagons, horsemen, etc., coming again through the settlement of Emigrant Gap, thence to Truckee, Virginia City, or wherever their destination might be." There is a very pretty wood carving across the street you should check out. I found it interesting. I'm zipping along at 75 mph in a Sprinter van with solar panels and internet service and not worried about getting attacked by Indians. The world has certainly changed. [Review 17669 overall - 460 in California - 1190 of 2022.]

This location has a sign marker, gas station, post office, and fast food eatery. The gas station…read moreoffers local treats and items to pick up for your trip. You can stretch your legs safely, mail a postcard, and chill for a minute. It's great to take in the smell of redwood trees, cold air in the winter, and warmth in the summer. Grab a cold one, catch your breath, and gas up for the next leg of your trip eastbound into the Nevada mountains.