Donner Tunnel Trail @ Donner Lake 🚶♀️🌲

A flat, wide, and completely level trail—perfect for kids, seniors, and even someone just three months post-ACL surgery (my friend tested it and approved! 🙃). While the path is simple, its history makes it truly unique. This route follows a former railway tunnel built in the 19th century by Chinese laborers—the first rail line to cut through the Sierra Nevada mountains. It remained in use until 1993. What was once a monumental engineering feat, painstakingly drilled and blasted by hand, is now covered in layers of graffiti. A little personal observation: The sections closest to the tunnel exits, where the light is best, feature noticeably higher-quality graffiti—and it hasn’t been painted over. Maybe it’s a sign of respect among artists? 😅 The tunnel is divided into several segments, so you can turn back anytime based on your comfort or time. The final exit opens up to a beautiful view of Donner Lake. 🌊⛰️ Have you hiked the Donner Tunnel Trail? What’s your favorite easy-but-historic trail? Share below! 👇 Do you prefer nature-only hikes or trails with a story? Let’s chat! 💬 #BayAreaWeekends #HikingDiary #DonnerLake #EasyHikes #FamilyFriendly #HistoricalTrails #SierraNevada #RailroadHistory #ChineseLaborers #GraffitiArt #TunnelWalk #LakeViews #AccessibleHiking #NorCalHikes #OutdoorAdventure #WalkThroughHistory #ScenicTrails #LightHike #NatureAndCulture #WeekendExplorer