California · Mountain biking · Near Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Donner Lake Rim Trail

0.7 mi
round trip
199 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Donner Lake Rim Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Tahoe National Forest.

  • Camping and Campfire Restrictions-Truckee and Sierraville Districts

    Agency alert covering Tahoe National Forest · Order 17-25-05 · USFS · Tahoe National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Tahoe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Donner Lake Rim Trail is a short, moderate mountain biking route in the Truckee Ranger District of Tahoe National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back that runs about 1.4 miles round trip, with the low point at 7,471 feet and the high at 7,676 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the Sagehen Creek weather station, about 6 miles away, show July highs around 80°F with lows near 37°F, while winter months there average highs in the upper 30s and lows around 15°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the rim run cooler. Wendin Way Access Trail lies about 0.4 miles away, and Glacier Way Trail is about 0.8 miles off for more mountain biking. Prosser Hill offers climbing about 1.8 miles away, and Donner Creek, about 2 miles away, is an option for paddling.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Summit Lake

    Campground

    Campground · 2.0 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Pub at Donner Lake

    Pub

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Sunnyside-Tahoe City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Donner Lake Rim Trail

    Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      40° / 15°

    2. Feb

      41° / 15°

    3. Mar

      48° / 19°

    4. Apr

      53° / 22°

    5. May

      62° / 28°

    6. Jun

      72° / 32°

    7. Jul

      80° / 37°

    8. Aug

      79° / 35°

    9. Sep

      73° / 31°

    10. Oct

      61° / 24°

    11. Nov

      49° / 20°

    12. Dec

      39° / 14°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sagehen Creek, CA, 6.2 mi away at 6,337 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors