Explore the Donner Party Camp Site at Alder Creek Near Truckee

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A Brief Summery of the Donner Party

On April 15, 1846, the Reed and Donner families departed Springfield, Illinois, with the intent of starting a new life in California. Later, in Independence, Missouri, they would link up with several other families, expanding their wagon train to nearly eighty men, women and children. Collectively, they would become known as the Donner Party.

From point A, the Donner Party had roughly 123 days to travel 2,200 miles to California, with the goal of traversing the infamous Sierra Nevada Mountains in Truckee, now known as Donner Pass, by the end of October. If they didn’t, heavy snowfall would make that goal an impossible task.

Upon reaching Fort Bridger in modern-day Wyoming, the decision was made to take an untested route called “Hasting’s Cutoff”. The name refers to Lansford Hastings, the man who “discovered” the path. This deviation was a huge gamble from remaining on the heavily trafficked and proven Oregon Trail. Hastings advertised it as a safe alternative that would shave 350-miles off of the trip.

While it was true that Hasting’s Cutoff would shave off that many miles, what Hastings failed to mention was the route’s pure brutality. Instead of traversing through lush fields along a rut-worn path in Southern Idaho, this route cut through the unforgiving landscape of the Wasatch Range and the baron Great Salt Lake Desert, before entering Nevada near modern-day Elko.

What they saved in miles, they lost in time. Extreme heat, boulder-laden canyons, no grass for oxen, dry deserts, and other hazards cost the party not just time, but food rations, water, oxen and irreversible damage to their wagons. Long story short, Hasting’s Cutoff prove detrimental to the party in more ways than one.

On October 28, while crossing through Alder Creek near present-day Truckee, the front axel of George Donner’s wagon broke. While attempting to repair it, he badly cut and injured his hand. With a bad hand and broken wagon axel, both Donner families would set up camp at Alder Creek while the remainder of the party continued onward.

Donner Camp Historical Site at Alder Creek

Forgive the history lesson, but its inclusion was crucially germane to this post. Many are aware of the Donner Party and the circumstances surrounding their fate at what was then known as Truckee Lake, now Donner Lake, in present-day Donner Memorial State Park.

However, seemingly just as many are unaware that no member of the actual Donner family ever made it to Truckee (Donner) Lake. As mentioned above, the Donners suffered a broken wagon and severe injury at Alder Creek. As a result, they stayed behind.

The rest of the families in the party (Reeds, Breens, Graves, Murphys, and others) continued for another six miles, believing the Donners would eventually catch up. They would ultimately settle near the lake in what is now the state park site, after finding the pass buried in snow, blocking their path.

Getting There, Parking, and Fees

The Donner Camp Site is completely separate from Donner Memorial State Park at about an 6.5 mile distance. From the state park, travel eastbound on I-80 for a few miles. Take the CA-89 exit and turn left, then pass through three round-a-bouts. You’ll come to the camp site on your right.

Parking is free and expansive with a large, paved parking lot. At the northern end of the lot are restrooms (vault style), along with several picnic tables scattered about. I have to say, whoever designated this site a picnic ground has quite the morbid sense of humor.

Donner Camp Trail - Interpretive Loop

The Donner Camp trail is a well maintained, nearly completely flat loop that encircles the meadow the Donner family fought to survive in during the brutal winter of 1846/1847. It begins at the trailhead, which can be found at the southern end of the parking lot (you can’t miss it).

You can go in either direction but for the story to make sense, it’s best to begin by going right at the trailhead. Dotted along the compact dirt trail are interpretive signs, detailing the history of the Donner Party, as well as their journey and hardships.

The trail is as close to completely flat as it gets, making it an easy outing for families traveling along the freeway. I wouldn’t necessarily designate it stroller-friendly, but you could probably get away with it.

There are also many benches along the loop to rest and take in the scenery. It’s truly a stunning meadow, with towering pines and tall grass lining the trail. Alder Creek, the area’s namesake, gently meanders through the meadow. It’s hard to imagine the suffering that happened in such a beautiful place.

Near the halfway point of the loop, the trail goes from compact dirt to a wooden boardwalk. This section of trail traverses over a growing marsh, along with parts of Alder Creek, and the boardwalk is meant to help protect them. So be sure to stay on it.

As the loop turns back to dirt, you’ll soon come to a medium-sized rock with a plaque display, adjacent to a tall, almost featureless tree. That rock marks the spot where Jacob Donner and his family set up camp. The camp site of George Donner is marked a bit further down the trail.

As previously stated, the winter of 1846/47 was a brutal one. As the Donners watched the snow fall and it became clear that escape wouldn’t be an option, survival mode kicked in. Tall trees that once made up this area were cut down and reduced to stumps.

They’re scattered all over the meadow and are cut as high as twelve feet, indicating how oppressively tall the snowpack had gotten. Food was difficult to come by, resulting in the Donners having to boil hides and consume the gluey mass. Crushed animal bones were also boiled into a broth.

By the end of 1846, as dry wood and food became more scarce by the day, Jacob Donner, along with three teamsters, would be dead. After being unable to join the rescue party out of the mountains due to illness, George Donner would pass in his camp in March 1847. His wife, Tamsen, would pass shorty thereafter.

All told, by the time more rescuers reached the Donners at Alder Creek in 1847, seven members of the family had perished (half of them), along with several teamsters. Seven others survived, with George Donner Jr. being the sole male survivor of the family.

From the camp site, you can opt to take the spur trail leading to Prosser Reservoir. To continue on the loop, proper, continue left at the camp site, with the rock and tree to your back. The trail begins to loop back towards the parking lot, with one or two additional interpretive signs to read along the way.

Once you get back to the parking lot, you’re done. There’s another trail near the Donner Camp trailhead you can explore. I didn’t as I was short on time. If you have bikes with you, I saw several folks with bikes gearing up near the northern end of the parking lot. Perhaps there’s another trail over there.

For someone who’s been fascinated with the Donner Party and their story for so long, it was humbling and moving to stand in the spot where they camped and explore the meadow where they spent that infamously horrific winter.

Did The Donners Resort to Cannibalism at Alder Creek?

You’ve undoubtedly heard of the disturbing end of the Donner Party’s story in the mountains, with many reportedly resorting to cannibalism in order to survive. Reports indicate this was mostly done to those who were already dead, but there were accusations of murder/cannibalism taking place as well.

There’s much debate as to if it actually happened, but we do have journal entries and first-hand testimonials from survivors seemingly confirming that it did occur at the site of present-day Donner Memorial State Park involving the other party members. Did the Donners take part in it as well, though?

The official stance is its a possibility, but there’s no confirmation of it happening at Alder Creek amongst the Donners. This group was mostly comprised of family, with the exception of their teamsters. While I highly doubt the family cannibalized each other, consuming their three dead teamsters was certainly possible.

Donner Memorial State Park

West of the Donner Camp Site is Donner Memorial State Park. The Donners may not have made it to this point, but the park memorializes them and the other members of the party as well. There’s a visitor center with many fantastic exhibits and the Pioneer Monument.

The monument is a dedication to the Donner Party, specifically those who perished. It’s twenty-two feet tall, representing the twenty-two feet of snow that entrapped the Donner Party in the winter of 1846/1847.

The state park also marks the various sites where the party built their makeshift cabins. Along one trail is a giant boulder that served as the north wall and fireplace for the Murphy family cabin. On the rock face is a plaque, listing the entire Donner Party and categorizes those who survived and who perished.

No visit to either sites would be complete without the other, as both are historically significant and important to the Donner story as a whole. Keep an eye out for that post…it’s coming soon. For now, learn about the historic Donner Tunnels and how you can hike through them!