COMMEMORATIVE EMIGRANT TRAIL INTERPRETIVE LOOP Just off HWY 89 north, past the Prosser neighborhood, pull into the Donner Camp Picnic Site to explore the Interpretive Trail—a ⅓ mile easy and accessible loop near Alder Creek, where historians believe the Donner family camped during that fateful winter of 1846-1847. Markers dedicated to their nightmarish (their word, not ours) experience are placed strategically along the path. Those with a dark side won’t miss the irony of having lunch at the picnic area in the parking lot. For a lighter experience, the meadows, foliage, benches, and boardwalk provide a relaxing experience on one of the more scenic Truckee trails. Find out: Which female survivor is depicted on one of the markers? Clue: She was four years old at the time of her rescue.
KYBURZ FLAT INTERPRETIVE SITE We imagine you have this magazine issue folded up and tucked under one arm as you head out to tackle every hike in this story. If so, Kyburz Flat Interpretive Site is just down the road from the Donner Camp Picnic Site, providing easy access for your adventures. Just continue north along HWY 89 for about 12 miles, pulling onto the dirt road on your right that leads to the historical site located a mile up. Kyburz Flat, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, will take you on a journey of anthropological history from the area’s Native American population to the Basque. First, consider the lives of early humans as you experience 2,000-year-old petroglyphs known as cupules. Then, head over to the boardwalk lined neatly with markers telling the story of the original Henness Pass Road. This former bustling highway allowed for travel to mining camps along the Yuba River. See where More’s Station and Hotel used to stand, see the remnants of an old well, and imagine what life was like for the Basque as you gaze at their still-standing Sheep Camp Bread Oven. Find out: How deep was the well at More’s way station that offered guests fresh drinking water? An Insider’s Guide
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