Donner Pass (el. 7,056 ft (2,151 m)) is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles (14 km) west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west.
The pass has been used by numerous transcontinental transportation arteries, including the California Trail, First Transcontinental Railroad, Overland Route, Lincoln Highway, U.S. Route 40 and indirectly by Interstate 80. The pass is a prominent feature along the California Zephyr passenger train.
Today the area is home to a thriving seasonal recreational community with several alpine lakes and ski resorts Donner Ski Ranch, Boreal and Sugar Bowl. The permanent communities in the area include Kingvale and Soda Springs, as well as the larger community below the pass surrounding Donner Lake.
Read more about Donner Pass: Historical Importance, Central Pacific Railroad & Donner Pass, Highways, Weather, Recreation, Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the word pass:
“Friendship is learned by watching and listening to you. If she sees that your friends are people you like and trust and don’t pretend with—people who suit you—she probably won’t pick friends who just pass by, or people who can help her or improve her status. If you treat friends in a special way, if you are kinder, more generous, more sympathetic, more forgiving with friends, she probably will be, too.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)