Right off of I-80 in Truckee this is one of the coolest…read moreplaces of the Sierra. Donner Lake is a true mountain getaway for activities from boating & fishing in the summer to snowshoeing in winter. Although it's a fraction in size to its bigger sibling Lake Tahoe, it offers a more relaxed alternative and just as many options of things to do on and off the water. Don't miss Donner State Park while visiting the lake. It is a giant part of local history.

Backround On Donner Lake: Named after the Donner Party, a group of pioneers who became trapped in…read morethe Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter of 1846-47. The lake was originally known as Truckee Lake, but was renamed in their memory. The Donner Party's ill-fated journey and subsequent struggle for survival has made the area a place of both historical significance and tragedy Background On Visit: Reading articles about things to do near Lake Tahoe, we decided to visit this place. Location/Parking: Located along Donner Pass Rd.. Free parking on the west end of the lake. Ambiance: The views of the pine trees and water are very nice when you drive along Donner Pass Rd.. Probably be more enjoyable as a passenger. Perhaps next time. Entertainment: 1) Boating and Water Sports: Rent boats, kayaks, paddleboards, or hydrobikes at Donner Lake Watersports. 2) Fishing: Donner Lake is known for kokanee salmon and various trout species. 3) Swimming: Enjoy the lifeguard-staffed West End Beach Park or swim at the public piers. 4) Hiking Trails Donner Lake For Thought: Choose Donner Lake for a more serene and accessible experience with a unique history and warmer water. :)

My favorite beach in the Tahoe Truckee area. I love it even more then King's beach. Why do I love…read moreit so much. Usually parking isn't an issues. This time there weren't any parking spaces in the lot. We went around twice, but no cigar. We ended up finding a place on the street across from the back entrance. We lucked out. I also love that it's not as busy as kings beach. This time it was packed, but we still found 2 great spots. One in the shade and another in the sun right there on the sand and steps away from the lake. They offer boat rentals: Pedal boats and canoes or kayaks, I wasn't close to tell, it was one or the other. They also have 2 lifeguards on duty. If you get the munchies or are thirsty thy have a snack-shack. Unfortunately they were out of hot dogs. And lastly they have pretty clean bathrooms. 2 stalls in one and a family bathroom. They also have tennis courts. And a Basketball court and play structure for the kiddos. If you want a picnic table you can reserve one or just arrive early. If you want pick of spots arrive early. If you want a parking spot luck out when someone leaves or arrive early. Summer time is a prime time to come. It's $12 per person during the summer. If you come before the 4th of July the snack-shack is closed, but it's free to enter and there is plenty of parking. We usually come before the 4th of July so we were surprised to see some many people and a packed parking lot, but we totally get it, It was a perfect day. In the 80's not to hot or cold. They have a swimming area which the lifeguards patrol. It's pretty shallow near shore. If you bring your paddle board like many people do you can do this outside the swimming area. You are allowed to bring inflatables. Someone had a giant unicorn and another party had a giant round party float. I'd return, but I'd go earlier in the day if I come in the summer time to ensure we get a parking space. We arrived around 1pm and I believe it opens around 10 or 11am. So we weren't so late. There were just a lot of early birds.

Drove here from Sacramento for the day and had an absolute blast! Water was clear and gorgeous…read morescenery. The sand was actual beach-like sand and they had plenty of space to set up our small tent. Make sure to come early as finding parking is a nightmare. I believe we arrived around 8/9am on a Saturday and most of the parking spots were already taken.

After heavy winter, it's really nice to have the sun shining. They have a nice little viewing area…read morewith benches next to the launch. So you can sit and relax. I do not know what the launch fees are, if there are any. But it's quite nice. We came here after a nice time up at Sugar bowl. They had an encore weekend and it is about 4 miles past this lake.

I did not interact with anyone that could always change the stars. Although, as far as the…read morefacility, it was clean, there was someone there, and they had restrooms. In plenty of parking for both boats, trailers and vehicles.

The greenish blue lake looks just like a giant gem. It's also as clear as a mirror. The trails down…read morethere are really hard to walk. While walking in the woods you can just hear the wind sound and the birds singing.

I would not call this place a secret, by any means, but it IS a cove and it's a beautiful place to…read morevisit if you can find a place to park. The trails are magical, the water is spectacular and the views will knock your socks off (if you happen to be wearing any )!

Independence Lake is a beautiful glacier-cut lake located less than an hour's drive from Truckee…read more Here, you can borrow one of the small fleet of kayaks and fishing boats ~after first filling out a registration waiver~. No outside watercraft are allowed! This is to protect and preserve the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that are native to this habitat. Outside watercraft are risky because they may unknowingly transport foreign mollusks that are detrimental to the health of the trout living there. If fishing waders are used, there is a wader scrubbing/washing station located at the registration area. There are Nature Conservancy staff people on site if you have further questions. I found them informative and helpful. The loaner kayaks are located to the left side of the lake. The ones on the right side are for staff members. Every other week, ~only~ the kayaks are allowed out. Call to check the calendar schedule to avoid disappointment if you want to use one of the motorized boats. They require a motorized boater's card {available online at https://www.boat-ed.com/california/) There are single person and tandem person sit-on-top kayaks available. after 8AM Thursdays through Sundays. Loaner PFDs are also available in standard sizes. I recommend getting there early morning after opening while the water is calm. I was told that later in the day, the wind can pick up. This makes paddling a kayak to get backk across a lot more difficult. You may fish using barbless hooks. Only artificial lures are permitted. All trout caught must be released. Kokanee salmon are an invasive species here. Fishermen are allowed to keep those. Limit 5 per day, or 10 per trip, total. No live bait. There is no overnight camping on the Conservancy's grounds. There are campgrounds at nearby Webber Lake and Lake of the Woods.

Independence Lake Preserve is an amazing place to enjoy the high Sierras. The best part is the free…read morekayaks that are available to anyone who signs a waiver. How cool and inclusive is that? You get to Independence Lake Preserve from highway 80 by heading north on 89 and then turning L at the "Little Truckee Summit OHV/Snowmobile" area, which is on a road labeled "07." It's the turn you'd take if you wanted to go to the Mt. Lola trailhead or Webber Lake Campground, which are also nearby. You'll need an offroad capable vehicle to make it over a water crossing and two miles of rocky road. There are lots of signs that explain that no watercraft are allowed, because Independence Lake is one of the two places in the world with a wild, self-sustaining lake population of Lahontan cutthroat trout. That's why they care so much about not letting folks put their own watercraft on the lake: they might unintentionally introduce invasive species. When we pulled up (with a canoe on our Jeep: we didn't know the rules beforehand), a ranger came out to verbally explain things to us and to let us know about the free kayaks to use. I was pleasantly surprised that there were not a lot of bugs out in July 2022. The last time we were in this area, which was maybe July three years ago, there were so, so, so many bugs. We came armed with bug spray but didn't need it! There are hiking trails around the preserve as well. The lake is large and beautiful, and the view of Mt. Lola is spectacular.

I went here with the boys for Father's Day a few years ago. The place has a few spots open for…read moremultiple groups. It is a first come first serve basis. Make sure to bring a table and chairs for yourself because the other areas do not have any place to put your guns and ammo on. Make sure you bring targets and support beams to hold your targets.

Boca Rest Campground is located along the shores of Boca Reservoir, 15 minutes from Truckee, CA,…read moreand about 35 minutes to the north shore of Lake Tahoe. We chose this site out of last-minute necessity and proximity to Lake Tahoe. It's almost impossible to find last-minute camping, so we were happy to find a spot to car camp and throw some tents down after a long day on Lake Tahoe. The reservoir is very nice and water levels are still high thanks to the dam. Plenty of folks swimming, boating, and paddle boarding. The water temp was quite warmer when compared to other mountain lakes. The campground itself is very bare bones. You have a picnic table and fire ring with vault toilets. You'll want to look carefully at the site map when booking, as some of the waterfront sites are wonderful while others feel more like you're just camping in a dirt lot lol. There's very little shade here, so keep that in mind as well. If you're looking for privacy or quiet time, this is not the campground for you. The sites are squeezed in pretty close together and folks were quite loud into the night. Overall, the location and reservoir make it worth considering when exploring Truckee or Lake Tahoe. Sites are $28 with tax for 6 people. $5 for additional vehicles.

Shooting, camping, swimming, a bit of 4 wheeling. Very natural, no bathrooms, fresh water to swim…read more You may even see some waterfalls if you get to that part of the area. I've camped here twice and been a few times as a day trip for swimming and off road fun. Such a pretty, peaceful area. Well unless you're shooting. lol

What a fabulous campground and natural swimming pools. Right off I-80, nestled off of I-80, at…read moreEagle Lakes exit. Part of the Yuba River, complete with a couple of waterfalls. And fairly warm water by late August is a huge swimming pool of fresh Sierra water. I was up there on a Thursday and to my surprise the other folks I saw where Forester Rangers take care of maintenance on the camp. I think there was only a dozen or so campsites. There were available to reserve by calling the Forest Service. I'd definitely recommend stopping by to check this beautiful place out, year around. I truly can't wait to see this pls e this winter

It's absolutely gorgeous! The Truckee River runs throughout it. there are Picnic tables. A…read moreBasketball court. Lots of grass and benches. Children and Adults pay in the river in the Summer time.

Make sure and go outside!…read more This particular park is just what you need to run and play outside. It's well kept and maintained. It's part of the larger system. We came across this park while we were on vacation. This was a great little place to pull off and see how much fun we can have together. Come out and enjoy the