Interpretive Programs
ACTIVITIES SUMMARY
Campfire Talks & Sierra Speaker Series Presentations (Saturday Evenings)
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- Amphitheater (Campfire Center) Location: Campground Map - link
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Historical Tours
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Mountain Bike Guided Tours - description, schedule, and registration
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Donner Lake Paddling Guided Tours - description, schedule, and registration
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Junior Rangers
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Guided Hike and Park Stewardship and Cleanup
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In-person Field Trips - description, schedule, and registration link
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PORTS Virtual Programs - description, schedule, and registration link
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Cross Counttry Ski Tours
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Snowshoe Historical Tours - WINTER PROGRAM
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CAMPFIRE TALKS and SIERRA SPEAKERS SERIES PRESENTATIONS
CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS WILL RESUME SUMMER 2024
Campfire Programs held in the campground Amphitheater (south of Ridge Campground) 8:00pm-9:00pm. Remember to bring a flashlight or headlamp and light sweater or jacket.
Sierra Speakers Series held in the Visitor Center Theater. Doors open at 5:00pm and the presentation follows at 5:30pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments will be available. No registration required.
HISTORICAL TOURS
*These tours are offered Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:00PM November-December. Meet at the Visitor Center (12593 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161).
Join a compelling guided tour (60-minute, 1/2 mile) led by a local historian expert to learn about the the arduous overland journeys of California emigrants (including The Donner Party of 1846), indigenous presence (Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California), and wildlife diversity in the area. Drop in for this no-cost and family-friendly guided hike.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS
Mountain Bike Hisortical tours will resume Summer 2024
Enjoy this 10-mile beginner-intermediate ride through beautiful and historic Coldstream Canyon. Led by a Park Guide, several stops are planned into the ride to share a variety historic stories.
Please bring your own bike and helmet.
DONNER LAKE PADDLING TOURS
Donner Lake Paddling tours will resume Summer 2024
Explore Donner Lake on a raft led by a California State Parks guide!
Welcome to all ages and we encourage youth participants to join with a parent/guardian. We provide paddling instruction, safety talk, and life jacket fitting before launching our two 14-foot rafts into the lagoon for a one-hour lake exploration (3/4 mi). Each raft holds 6-7 participants plus one guide who will discuss wildlife diversity and the rich cultural history of the area. You will have an opportunity to jump into the lake if you'd like!
Participants stay relatively dry throughout the tour, but clothes and shoes have the potential to get wet. This is a family friendly program with no-cost.
Full description, schedule, and registration
JUNIOR RANGERS
Junior Ranger Programs will resume Summer 2024
STEWARDSHIP GUIDED HIKE AND PARK CLEANUP
PORTS Virtual Programs
PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students) Program is a FREE distance learning program with California State Parks!
PORTS uses the power of videoconferencing to support K-12 educators in designing deep and meaningful learning experiences in virtual and in-person classrooms.
The Donner Party of 1846: Explore the region where the famous Donner Party spent the tragic winter of 1846 with a California State Park Interpreter. We will highlight the California emigrant experience and other important natural and cultural features of Donner Memorial State Park.
PORTS Home Learning Program - Join our California State Parks Interpretive Specialist to learn about the Donner Party of 1846 in this free, live public broadcast.
PORTS On Demand - Schedule an interactive virtual presentation with your class or group with a California State Parks Interpreter to learn about the Donner Party of 1846.
Cross Country Ski Historical Tours
Cross Country Ski Historical Tours
Join us this winter on a Cross Country Ski Tour!
SNOWSHOE HISTORIC TOURS
Snowshoe Tours Resume January 1st, 2024
Snowshoe Tours depart from the Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center every Saturday 1:00PM (weather permiting). Led by Park Interpreters and Docents, tours are 90-minutes (1.5 miles) with short educational stops at exceptional viewpoints including the Pioneer Monument, Murphy Cabin site, and natural features.
*Participants are responsible for bringing their own snowshoes, warm layers, and sun protection.
If snow conditions are not appropriate for snowshoeing, tours may become walking tours. Traction devices on boots may be helpful.
Full description, schedule, and registration
Educational Resources
Park Interpretive Content and Historic References - Donner Docent website