Donner Lake, Truckee, CA
At a glance
Donner Lake is ranked #9 of 12 neighborhoods in Truckee with an overall score of 3.7/5. Its standout factors are safety (4.2/5, 7th of 12 in Truckee) and public spaces (4.1/5). The trade-offs are nearby merchants (0.3/5) and curb appeal (3.3/5).
Neighborhood Reviews & Questions
Donner Lake wears one of the West's heaviest names lightly. This is a ring of homes around a glacial lake whose east end is where families of the Donner Party were trapped in the winter of 1846, commemorated now at Donner Memorial State Park, where the Pioneer Monument's pedestal stands 22 feet tall to mark that winter's snow depth. The park's newer visitor center replaced the old Emigrant Trail Museum in 2015. The living is classic lake-ring: 1920s-to-1950s summer cabins interspersed with torn-down-and-rebuilt modern lakefront, small legacy lots on the shore and larger ones climbing the hillsides. There is a public pier, a boat ramp, and state-park frontage, and it stays more full-time than most Tahoe west-shore pockets. Locals will tell you the honest thing about the west end: it sits under the steep Donner Summit wall, holds shade, and thaws late in spring. Interstate 80 rides the ridge above the north shore and you hear it, this is among the snowiest inhabited corners of the Sierra, and summer crowds the boat ramp. Buy for the water, not for silence.
Top Neighborhoods in Truckee, CA
Neighborhood Amenities
Near good merchants0.3
Public Spaces4.1
Curb Appeal3.3
Overall Amenities score: 3.1
Neighborhood Weather
Neighborhood Photos
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Schools serving this Neighborhood
| School Name | Type | Grades | Houseberry School Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truckee Elementary | Primary | K-5 | |
| Sierra Expeditionary Learning | Primary | K-8 | |
| Creekside Charter | Primary | K-8 | |
| Alder Creek Middle | Middle | 6-8 | |
| Tahoe Truckee High | High | 9-12 |
Click links for school listing
info at GreatSchools.org
Houseberry School Score Data
from CA Dept. of Education
Houseberry recommends using these scores as only a starting point, and conducting your own investigation into what schools fit best for your preferences. School boundaries are not guaranteed and may change. It is important to contact the appropriate school district to confirm enrollment eligibility before making any decision to move to a neighborhood.
Donner Lake FAQs8 answers
Is Donner Lake a good place to live?
Donner Lake ranks 9th of 12 neighborhoods in Truckee with an overall Houseberry score of 3.7 out of 5. Its strongest factors are safety (4.2/5) and public spaces (4.1/5). The trade-offs are nearby merchants (0.3/5) and curb appeal (3.3/5).
Is Donner Lake safe?
Donner Lake, Truckee scores 4.2 out of 5 on Houseberry's Safety Score, ranking 7th of 12 neighborhoods in Truckee.
Which schools serve Donner Lake?
Schools serving Donner Lake, Truckee include Truckee Elementary (2.8/5), Sierra Expeditionary Learning (3.3/5), Creekside Charter (4.2/5), Alder Creek Middle (4.0/5) and Tahoe Truckee High (4.2/5).
What is the weather like in Donner Lake?
Donner Lake, Truckee receives 77% of its possible sunshine, the least sunny of Truckee's 12 neighborhoods. Summer days run 41° to 77°F and winter days 18° to 42°F, July is the warmest month and rainfall averages about 41 inches a year.
Is Donner Lake walkable to shops and restaurants?
Donner Lake, Truckee scores 0.3 out of 5 for nearby merchants and 4.1 out of 5 for public spaces. Its overall amenities score is 3.1 out of 5, 7th of 12 in Truckee.
What is Donner Lake known for?
Donner Lake, Truckee scores highest on safety (4.2/5) and public spaces (4.1/5).
How does Donner Lake compare to other Truckee neighborhoods?
Donner Lake ranks 9th of 12 neighborhoods in Truckee. It ranks 7th of 12 in Truckee for safety (4.2/5) and scores lowest on nearby merchants (0.3/5). The next-ranked neighborhoods in Truckee are Glenshire.
What are the downsides of living in Donner Lake?
Donner Lake, Truckee scores lowest on nearby merchants (0.3/5) and curb appeal (3.3/5).
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