Donner Pass Train Tunnels – in the snow | Wandered Off

Hello fellow wanderers!

Have you been to the Donner Pass train tunnels? This entire area near Truckee, CA has a grim and crazy past starting with the Donner Party getting stuck in an 1846 snow storm while they were headed to California. This unfortunate storm forced survivors to resort to cannibalism. 

The pass and everything around there was named after the Donner Party. There is a Donner Pass State Park that has a visitor center with interpretive trails that walks you through the Donner Party history. Make sure to stop by the park and Donner Lake during your visit to the tunnels. 

The Donner Pass Train Tunnels were built by Chinese Laborers over 15 months and completed in 1867. Five of these tunnels are still accessible, however, they are still located on Union Pacific land which is technically private land, not public. Although, the railroad has not enforced the no trespassing signs that are posted. 

The Transcontinental Railroad utilized these tunnels from 1868 to 1993 when the railroad was rerouted and these tunnels were abandoned. The tunnels have become quite the place to wander around and explore. Every tunnel has “street art” or graffiti and some of the art is quite impressive and has become a “normal” in these tunnels. Some visitors explore these tunnels just to see the art on the walls. 

The trail has an “unofficial” parking lot just west of the first tunnel across the street from the ski resort. The parking lot is technically located on private land as well but we understand that the owners do not tow anyone from there but no guarantees. Park at your own risk. You can also park at the Chinese Wall and climb up to the tunnels that way but we have not experienced that location yet and I believe this access is only available during the summer months when there is no snow.

The trail through the five tunnels is approx. 2.5 miles long for a total of 5 miles round trip. The tunnels are super icy in the winter so make sure you wear traction devices (we had no problems with traction on our shoes). We did witness a few people trying to make their way through and slip and fall. Also, make sure you have a head lamp or flash light as a couple of these tunnels can be very dark. 

The tunnels are around the elevation of 7000′. The trail only gains about 250′ of elevation total. During the summer months please make sure you have enough water. The trail does not stop after the fifth tunnel. It keeps going and connects into a bigger trail system which we plan to explore during the spring months pending snow. We wandered through these tunnels the week of Christmas 2020.

Leave us a comment if you have explored these tunnels or the surrounding area. Thanks again for wandering off with us and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like and share our videos with your friends!

Chris and Brandi