Truckee Attractions
Placer County
Location and general
Truckee, once a little lumberjack village, has developed only slowly, in spite of its strategically favorable position near Lake Tahoe and its superb ski-slopes which are among the best in the United States. As a result the small town still provides a good example of a place which has changed but little since the 19th century.
It owes its name to the river called Truckee after the Paiute Indian, who in 1844 led Elisha Steven's group through the Donner Pass which they had discovered. Stevens had in fact made up his mind to be the first to cross the Sierra Nevada to Alta California with a covered-wagon trek.
Origin
Truckee was founded in 1863 - the same year in which President Abraham Lincoln signed the law which authorized the building of a transcontinental railway. The Central Pacific Railroad Company decided to run the lines right through the middle of Truckee. This led to the development of the timber industry, now long since replaced by tourism as the most important source of income. In 1913 California's first ski-club was formed in Truckee; since then the number has grown to more than twenty. The following ski-slopes are to be found in the immediate vicinity (like Lake Tahoe):
Ski-slopes
Boreal, 10mi/16km west on the U.S. 80, exit to Castle Peak (Nov.-Apr.); Donner Ski Ranch, 10mi/16km west on the U.S. 80 (Dec.-Apr.); Northstar, 6mi/9km on the CA 267 (Nov.-Apr.); Tahoe Donor, 6mi/9km west on the U.S. 80 (Dec.-Apr.).
Location and general
Truckee, once a little lumberjack village, has developed only slowly, in spite of its strategically favorable position near Lake Tahoe and its superb ski-slopes which are among the best in the United States. As a result the small town still provides a good example of a place which has changed but little since the 19th century.
It owes its name to the river called Truckee after the Paiute Indian, who in 1844 led Elisha Steven's group through the Donner Pass which they had discovered. Stevens had in fact made up his mind to be the first to cross the Sierra Nevada to Alta California with a covered-wagon trek.
Origin
Truckee was founded in 1863 - the same year in which President Abraham Lincoln signed the law which authorized the building of a transcontinental railway. The Central Pacific Railroad Company decided to run the lines right through the middle of Truckee. This led to the development of the timber industry, now long since replaced by tourism as the most important source of income. In 1913 California's first ski-club was formed in Truckee; since then the number has grown to more than twenty. The following ski-slopes are to be found in the immediate vicinity (like Lake Tahoe):
Ski-slopes
Boreal, 10mi/16km west on the U.S. 80, exit to Castle Peak (Nov.-Apr.); Donner Ski Ranch, 10mi/16km west on the U.S. 80 (Dec.-Apr.); Northstar, 6mi/9km on the CA 267 (Nov.-Apr.); Tahoe Donor, 6mi/9km west on the U.S. 80 (Dec.-Apr.).
Boreal Ski Area
The Boreal Ski Area is located 10 miles west of Truckee. There are nine chair lifts and a 600 foot vertical drop. Snowboards are allowed on the hill.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
Donner Memorial State Park
In the Donner Memorial State Park can be seen the spot where the Donner group camped; this tragic episode in American history is remembered in the Emigrant Trail Museum two miles west of Truckee.
Emigrant Trail Museum
The Emigrant Trail Museum depicts the history of the area and the people who came into this part of the Sierra - artifacts and a movie about the Donner Party are included. The party left Independence Missouri in April of 1846. They got into trouble when they took a wrong cutoff in the mountains with tragic consequences.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
KidZone Museum (formerly Sierra Nevada Children's Museum)
The Sierra Nevada Children's Museum, founded in 1992, worked with community members to build a new facility including an indoor play structure. KidZone was born with multi-sensory exhibits.
All values are in United States Dollars
KidZone Museum
11711 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161-4921
United States
11711 Donner Pass Road
Truckee, CA 96161-4921
United States
Phone 1 (530) 587-5437
Fax 1 (530) 587-0200
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 13:00 |
| Child 17 & under | $ 7.00 |
| Adult | $ 5.00 |
| Senior over 60 | $ 3.00 |
| Infants under 1 | FREE |
Northstar at Tahoe Ski Resort
Northstar at Tahoe is located six miles south of Truckee. The resort offers 83 trails spread across 2,490 acres, terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. The resort also offers summer activities including mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and much more.
The new Village at Northstar features shopping, dining and a 9,000 square foot skating rink.
The new Village at Northstar features shopping, dining and a 9,000 square foot skating rink.
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Royal Gorge Ski Resort
Royal Gorge ski area has 328 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country. There are 88 trails through the resort's 9,200 acres of skiable terrain.
Royal Gorge Ski Resort
9411 Hilside Drive, Box 1100
Soda Springs, CA 95728
United States
9411 Hilside Drive, Box 1100
Soda Springs, CA 95728
United States
Phone 1 (530) 426-3871
Fax 1 (530) 426-9221
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:30 | 13:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 | 16:30 |
Soda Springs Ski Area
Soda Springs Ski Area is located 10 miles west of Truckee. It offers a vertical drop of 652 feet and 2 chair lifts. The children's arena, Planet Snow Kids, offers a Tube Carousel and Moving Carpet, and ski/snowboarding equipment.
Tahoe Donner Ski Area
Tahoe Donner Ski Area is located just north of Truckee. There are 120 skiable acres. The hill has a vertical drop of 600 feet serviced by three lifts.
Truckee Hotel
One of the most interesting buildings in Truckee is the 30 room Truckee Hotel which dates from the year the town was founded. The exterior has barely been changed in the 125 years of its existence. Its name has changed, however, for it used to be called The New Whitney.
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