Driving Directions to
Donner Summit and Yuba Gap Sno-Parks

Here are GPS waypoints in Waypoint+ format (NAD83, decimal degrees) with descriptive comments, maps are below.

Lots of people go skiing at Boreal Ridge near Donner Summit on Interstate 80, but if you have a SnoPark permit you can access the Pacific Crest Trail and ski the area adjacent to the lifts in the winter without paying lift fees. This description was based on a winter visit, and may not be accurate in summer.

Take the Boreal Ridge / Castle Peak Road / Donner Summit exit, about 2.5 miles east of the Donner Pass Road exit (the normal way to Soda Springs) and about half a mile west of the Donner Summit rest stop. There are parking areas both north and south of the freeway, waypoints NORTHP and SOUTHP respectively, but the north parking area isn't available when there is heavy snow. From the overpass (waypoint DSEXIT) go north or south to the first turn and parallel the freeway roughly a quarter mile to the east to reach the trailheads.

We observed people tent camping with large groups near the south trailhead. There seems to be no problem camping here except you might object to the noise and a few dogs. In the summer, this is a trailhead for the Pacific Crest Trail. In the winter, you can park anywhere between the Boreal Motel and the plowed loops.

NOTE: There is another Sno-Park at Yuba Gap, which appears to have a store and other facilities, but it's only open until 5pm. The Yuba Gap exit (waypoint YGEXIT) is about 17 miles west of Donner Summit. From YGEXIT, go south to the first junction and then continue east (parallel to the freeway) to waypoint YGPARK.

Donner Summit map:

Yuba Gap map:

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