Making Waves: Donner Lake & Beyond

“The Sierra Nevada is filled with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs.”

By Katherine E. Hill

While Lake Tahoe is one of the premier lakes in the Sierra, it is far from the only one. The Sierra Nevada is filled with hundreds of lakes and reservoirs that make boating and other water activities a popular pastime throughout the vast mountain range.

Locally, among the most visited bodies of water outside of Lake Tahoe are Donner Lake and Boca, Stampede and Prosser Creek Reservoirs.

Donner Lake
Donner Lake is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, and can get crowded on the weekends. But, you’ll find it a fantastic spot to put in for a glorious day of cruising. Donner Lake is just under 3 miles long and about three-quarters of a mile wide, giving boaters, kayakers, water skiers and wake boarders lots of room to spread out and have fun.

Unlike Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake does not require inspections for quagga and zebra mussels, although that may change under a draft plan being considered by the Truckee Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program.

Donner Lake is a mostly residential area with a mix of locals, vacationers and second homeowners. The north shore is home to Donner State Memorial Park, the boat launch, Donner Lake Marina and what few services there are.

From Truckee, take Donner Pass Road, which runs along the north shore. You’ll find the public boat launch near the west end of the lake. If you want to stock up before hitting the water, stop at Donner Pines Market or enjoy breakfast or lunch at one of the area’s best eateries – Donner Lake Kitchen.
The Truckee Parks & Rec Department operates the launch, which is open 24 hours a day. Attendants are on-site from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily with fees $7 for California residents and $10 for out-of-state during those hours. Parking is $2. There are public restrooms at the launch site, as well as a fish cleaning station.

All boat traffic on Donner Lake goes counter-clockwise and the speed limit on the lake is 35 mph from sunrise to sunset; it drops to 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. The speed is 5 mph near the homeowner’s beaches – Donner Lake on the west end and Tahoe Donner on the east end – as well as near the public West End Beach. These areas are off-limits to boat traffic, so don’t enter the swimming areas.

If you want to rent water toys, kayaks or personal watercraft, Donner Lake Marina on the west end (just west of the boat launch) and Donner Lake Watersports on the east shore can help. There are no fuel, pump or launch services on the lake, however.

What the lake does have in abundance is public piers – there are 37 public piers on the north shore. You can use them to sunbath or picnic, but be courteous of private piers. Also, the only restrooms are at the boat launch or Shoreline Park, which is about midway on the north shore and can be reached from the beach. And, there are no public piers on the other shores.

The Reservoirs
Boca, Stampede and Prosser Creek reservoirs are great places to visit for a day on the water just outside Truckee. They also offer many camping options, so you can plan a prolonged trip to these area waterways. And, there are no launch fees on any of the reservoirs. However, there are no services near the reservoirs, so stock up in Truckee or at United Trails General Store on Hirschdale Road right off Interstate 80.

Prosser Creek Reservoir, the smallest of the three, is closed to power boats and personal water craft. The speed limit is 10 mph, making it a great spot for fishermen. From Truckee, take Highway 89 to Prosser Dam Road. You can launch from several unimproved locations.

Boca Reservoir is the most easily, and quickly accessible from Interstate 80. You can take the Hirschdale exit or continue on the dirt road from Prosser Dam Road off Highway 89 North.

The Boca area was once a booming industrial area providing ice to railcars carrying goods to the east and lumber to the gold and silver mines from the mid-1860s. There was also a former town near the present-day reservoir and the area was home to the Boca Brewery, said to be “warranted to keep in any area.”

Today, Boca is a favorite spot for personal watercraft and ski boats. There are about 14 miles of shoreline with the depth ranging from 50’ to 80’, with the deepest part near the dam. You can reach the paved boat ramp by taking Boca Lake Road off Hirschdale Road and crossing the dam.

There’s a 45 mph speed limit on Boca from sunrise to sunset, and only 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. In the coves, the speed limit is set at 5 mph.

The largest of the trio is Stampede Reservoir, located a few miles north on Hirschdale/Stampede Road. With about 25 miles of shoreline, the amoeba-shaped reservoir has lots of coves, inlets and spots to get away from the crowds. Stampede averages 90’ to 120’ of depth.

There’s a 45 mph speed limit on Stampede from sunrise to sunset, and only 10 mph from sunset to sunrise. There’s a 5 mph limit within 200’ of the boat ramp, near moored boats, swimmers and the swimming beach. The launch is located on Dog Valley Road off Stampede.

Lodge-to-Lodge kayak tour
Experience a multi-day kayak adventure along the Lake Tahoe Water Trail with Tahoe Adventure Company from Sept. 23 to 26.

The multi-day kayak and stay package along the West, North and East shores of Lake Tahoe features early morning guided paddles spotting local wildlife and learning the unique natural and human history of this special region. By afternoon, arrive at the lakefront hotel for a hot shower, warm meal and relaxation. The best hotels have been chosen for your comfort and include Sunnyside Lodge, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort, and the Hyatt Regency. Call (530) 913-9212 or visit www.tahoeadventurecompany.com.

Katherine E. Hill may be reached at editor@tahoethisweek.com or visit www.tahoeboating.blogspot.com.