Donner Pass, Road mountain pass in Sierra Nevada, California

Donner Pass is a 7,056-foot (2,151 m) mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, about 9 miles (14 km) west of Truckee above Donner Lake. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual one from the west. Interstate 80 crosses the Sierra crest at Donner Summit about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the pass, not over the pass itself.

The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party became the first overland settlers to cross the pass in 1844, and the Donner Party wintered east of the mountains in 1846, with 45 of 81 surviving. In spring 1868, after nearly three years of drilling by hundreds of Chinese workers, the Central Pacific Railroad completed its 1,659-foot Summit Tunnel (Tunnel #6), and the first passenger train ran through on June 18, 1868.

The name comes from events in 1846 and is used today by drivers and hikers crossing the mountain route. Signs and markers along the way remember the early pioneers who traveled through this area.

The highway stays open throughout the year, but winter may require tire chains and heavy snowfall sometimes leads to short closures. Travelers heading through between November and April should carry winter gear and check road conditions before departure.

The area is among the snowiest in the United States and can receive over 65 feet (20 meters) of snow during some winters. These heavy snowfalls have led to the development of avalanche control and road clearing techniques that were later applied in many other regions.