Donner Memorial State Park
| Donner Memorial State Park | |
|---|---|
Donner Lake, with Donner Memorial State Park at the far end, right, viewed from near Donner Peak | |
| Location | Nevada and Placer Counties, California, US |
| Nearest city | Truckee, California |
| Coordinates | 39°19′12″N 120°14′30″W / 39.32000°N 120.24167°W |
| Area | 3,549 acres (14.36 km2) |
| Established | 1928 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Donner Camp | |
The 1918 Pioneer Monument at Donner Camp | |
| Built | 1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000218 |
| CHISL No. | 134 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
Donner Memorial State Park is a California State Park, located at the town of Truckee, California, United States. The park preserves a portion of the Donner Camp site, where members of the ill-fated Donner Party were trapped just short of Donner Pass by weather during the winter of 1846–1847. Caught without shelter or adequate supplies, members of the group resorted to cannibalism to survive. The camp site, high in the Sierra Nevada, has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
The 3,549-acre (1,436 ha) Donner Memorial State Park was established in 1928. It includes memorials to the Donner Party, such as the 1918 Pioneer Monument, along with a visitor center. Recreational opportunities include 18.5 miles (29.8 km) of trails, campgrounds, and 1.7 miles (2.7 km) of frontage on Donner Lake.