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Totally Truckee
A Charming California City Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
By Shelly Hemig
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, almost 1000 feet below Donner Summit, lies Truckee, Calif. Strategically located approximately 100 miles east of Sacramento, Calif., along Interstate 80, Truckee serves as the perfect pit stop on the way to gamble in Reno, Nev., which is 45 minutes farther east. It's also the turnoff point to head toward the scenic wonders of Lake Tahoe, about 15 miles north on Highway 89.
Beware, though. Once you stop, you may forget to continue to your next destination. The combined charms of Truckee's natural beauty and sense of history are hard to resist.
Recreational opportunities abound. Fishing, swimming, water skiing and wind-surfing are among the water sports to be enjoyed at area lakes, such as Stampede and Boca Reservoirs, a few miles east of Truckee, and Donner Lake on the west end of town. From a picnic by Donner Lake to hiking and biking along Donner Pass, to rock climbing the cliff faces along old Highway 40, there is no end to outdoor activities.
If you do draw a blank, try checking out the book What Shall We Do Tomorrow at Lake Tahoe? by Ellie Huggins. Donšt be fooled by the name. The book is a complete guide to activities in the Truckee and Carson Pass areas, as well as in Lake Tahoe.
If you are ready for a break, try taking a scenic drive along historic Highway 40. It used to provide the only summit access across the mountains. But the introduction of Interstate 80 made Highway 40 obsolete. It's still a beautiful drive, leading to the historic Rainbow Bridge, a stone arch spanning the cliffs.
Just below the bridge is a viewing area from which the sparkling sapphire of Donner Lake can be seen. A short walk leads you to an easy climb up granite boulders to the railroad tracks where you can see the Chinese rock wall, built in the 1860s. From the vantage point back at the viewing area, you can see Mt. Stephens. A nearby plaque reveals that this mountain was dedicated in 1994 to the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party, a group of pioneers who successfully crossed the Sierra Nevadas in 1844, two years before the Donner Party.