Donner Lake, Moraine-dammed lake in Nevada County, California
Donner Lake stretches for 2.7 miles in length and reaches depths of 238 feet, surrounded by the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The Native American Washoe people called this water body Datsa' shut until 1844, when the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party named it Truckee Lake.
The Pioneer Monument in Donner Memorial State Park stands 23 feet tall, marking the location where early settlers faced extreme winter conditions.
The California Office of Environmental Health issues specific guidelines for fish consumption from the lake due to mercury and PCB presence.
The lake maintains populations of large lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, and Kokanee salmon, making it a prime fishing destination.
Location: California
Location: Nevada County
Elevation above the sea: 1,809 m
GPS coordinates: 39.32278,-120.26444
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:35
Donner Pass
5 km
Donner Memorial State Park
2 km
Mount Pluto, California
14 km
Boca Reservoir
16.4 km
Castle Peak
8.7 km
Granite Chief Wilderness
20.7 km
Granite Chief
14 km
Donner Peak
4.4 km
Camp Robert L. Cole
20.1 km
French Lake Reservoir
26.3 km
Kruger House
6.6 km
Mount Lincoln
6.7 km
Watson Log Cabin
20 km
Chapel of the Transfiguration
21.4 km
Withers Log House
24.7 km
La Fleur du Lac
26 km
Commercial Row-Brickelltown Historic District
6.7 km
KidZone Museum
4.3 km
Burnt Cedar Beach
26.9 km
William Kent Beach
22.4 km
Moon Dunes Beach
21.5 km
Secline Beach
22.1 km
Moondunes Beach
21.3 km
Atagam Beach
21 km
China Cove Beach
1.1 km
Burnt Cedar Beach
26.9 km
Kings Beach State Recreation Area
22.5 km
Red Mountain Lookout
23.8 kmReviews
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