Donner Pass

Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada near Truckee, California, at an elevation of about 7,200 feet. It has historically served as a key route for travelers and freight moving between California and the rest of the United States. The pass is named after the ill-fated Donner Party, a 19th-century pioneer group trapped there during a harsh winter. Today, Donner Pass is crossed by major highways and a railroad, making it an important transportation corridor. Its challenging terrain and heavy snowfall have shaped its history and continue to influence travel and logistics in the region.