Donner Summit Train Tunnels

Donner Summit Train Tunnels

Donner Summit, 7000 feet in elevation hovering just above Donner Lake, holds some significant California history. Home to where the first wagon train traversed into California, the fist transcontinental railroad crossed over and the fist transcontinental highway went through the Sierras. A hike through the abandoned train tunnels will reveal some of the remnants of the 1800's.

It was Theodore Judah who had the dream to conquer the Sierras by train. For many years he put his heart and soul into finding a path over the Sierras to create the country’s first transcontinental railroad. Despite all the granite walls blocking the way, Judah never gave up. In 1868, the first train passed through this stretch of tracks. Judah was not there on this day. Sadly, he died shortly after the groundbreaking from yellow fever. The mountain where the current train tunnels runs through is now named Mt. Judah in his honor. It was 1993 when the railroad company built a new line about 1 mile south of Donner Summit and used the old tracks and as much as they could for the new line.
  

Now, the tunnels have become a growing tourist attraction for locals and visitors. These tunnels provide hikers and visitors with an incredible opportunity to explore a remarkable, historic location. As you walk trough the tunnels, you will be in awe at the size of them, it’s not every day one gets to (safely) walk through a train tunnel. Most of the area has been taken over by graffiti artists but this adds to the uniqueness of the site. You could literally walk for miles along the old track path. The views are also worth the trip, Donner Lake and the landscape will catch your eye as you pop out of each tunnel.


There are many ways to access the tunnels. As you drive west on Old Highway 40 at the foot of Donner Lake, you will see the tunnels on the hillside on your left. You can park at the end of Rainbow Bridge and hike a short distance up to the site over the granite rocks. Another good access point is to park in the lot across from Donner Ski Ranch, you will see the obvious portal for the tunnel on the far side of the lot.
  

This is great activity option on those days when you want to take a break from the ski hill and the weather is still perfect for outside adventure. If you catch the tunnels in the right conditions, the icicles form perfectly spaced from gaps in the old boards.

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012