Donner Summit SNO-Park — Attraction in Truckee

This is my favorite place for an awesome snowday with the littles and our contancerous teen. We often stop across from the Shell station in Nyack because it's only 45 minutes from Sac but they've started charging 25 bucks for parking and add that to the kids "can I haves" and you could easily walk out 100 bucks lighter. So we travel about 20 min more and end up seeing the ski lifts and a large building that says Woodward on the roof take that exit turn right then go left away from the lifts and the road winds it's way back to an amazing little spot that's great for cross country sking, SNO shoeing, sledding, snowball fights and whatever else the kiddos want to do for the day. We bring plenty of fluids and a picnic lunch and our sterno to cook on and don't have to leave the entire time. There are restrooms I think 2 to be exact but they are not much more than a bucket over a hole in the ground. So bring some TP and plenty of wet wipes for washing and your hands after because it usually runs out of tp and there are no sinks. That being said you can buy your pass online before heading up but don't forget to print it out because you'll get a ticket if you don't have it. It cost less than 10 bucks for the whole day and there was no store for the kids to ask for anything. There was a trailer selling hot chocolate and passes if for some reason you forgot to purchase and print yours like we did, but don't count on it because this was the first time we've seen it here so better to...

One of the dirtier more hammered on SnowParks in the area. Last time I was there, as the snow was melting in spring, I found a small Amazon box full of human waste on the ground. The snopark does serve a useful purpose however, providing the only plowed, legal stopping grounds in the 80/Donner summit area. It often fills up with campers and vans, and sometimes it snows too much to open the bathroom door, or it snows sooo much that the septic pump truck can't access the toilets, and people keep pooping, and the toilets can and do evenually top out. So beware, bring your own accoutrements. Also, this one time, I had to enthusiastically discuss the parking situation with a group of boyscout dad's who had their troop "snowcamping" in the woods (illegal) next to the parking area. They were taking up much of the snopark with empty cars, about 10 to 15 cars, when the snopark was at half capacity or less due to snow blocking much of the area. This is the typical behavior of snopark goers. The moral of these stories is to have a back up plan when intending to use this location. And, an Amazon box is not appropriate...

It was horrible cal tran workers have no common. Sense. They waste semi drivers. Time ruin chains lifting chain requirements and make truckers take them off then 45 minutes later make them put them back on they cause more traffic. Issues than there. Should be there rude and disrespectful to truckers the way they due things with traffic are more. Dangerous. unsafe for people and indangers lives if they. Would keep. All cars restricted to the left two lanes and out of the truck lane like they make truckers do and give them. Tickets like. They do the trucks and slow everyone to speed that is for the weather situation and if the weather on the summit needs. Chains on all vehicles then shut. The road down and make. Everyone. Put them that is required. To do so they cost truckers and there companies more. Money running chains. On asphalt and causing drivers and cmpanies time they Need to get there B.S ways of doing things with. Traffic under. Control and use common sense and creating ...