Truckee

An easy 20-minute drive from Lake Tahoe’s north shore, Truckee is a High Sierra destination all its own. Historically a logging town, Truckee was also the site for major railroad construction in the 1860s. Today, its Old West–style downtown, located along Donner Pass Road, has morphed into an artistic hub, with historical sites and appealing boutiques and galleries. This creative culture earned Truckee the designation of a California Cultural District in 2017. Drop by Gallery 5830’, Mountain Arts Collective, and Riverside Studios, just three of the many galleries in town, where you’ll find the handiwork of local artists, including sculpture, hand-blown glassware, woodwork, and more.

Things to Do in Truckee

Learn about local history at the town’s array of museums, including the Museum of Truckee History (MoTH), the Truckee Railroad Museum, and the small but compelling Old Jail Museum. Stroll along the self-guided historic downtown walking tour, or, while driving along Donner Pass Road, stop at the numerous interpretive signs that make up the outdoor 20 Mile Museum—you’ll learn about such things as ice harvesting, ski history, Native American petroglyphs in the area and more.

Local history is also a focus, along with nature, at the independent bookstore, Word After Word Books, where you’ll find a Kids’ Room well stocked with books for children of all ages. Or take home cool souvenirs and home decor with a mountain edge from Bespoke, a curated gift store owned by the husband-and-wife team of Brian Hess and Heather River. Sharing the space with Bespoke is the couple’s combo gallery, retail store, and arts classroom Atelier, where aspiring creatives come learn how to do everything from knit to screen-print to arrange flowers. For many shops in Truckee, sustainability is not just a shared value, but a way of doing business. Learn about six such businesses here. Adding to the city’s commitment to sustainability is a free Truckee Area Rapid Transit (TART) shuttle; download the TART Connect phone app for rides between your lodgings and downtown.

Where to Eat and Drink in Truckee

The town has also become something of a foodie hot spot, with sophisticated but comfortable mountain cuisine options, including Stella, Pianeta, and Drunken Monkey, a favorite for sushi lovers. Chef-owners John and Nyna Weatherson dream up inventive prix fixe menus at Trokay, where you can also take classes about cheese pairings or making your own pasta, and Great Gold’s “mountain Italian” cuisine has proven to be a local favorite since it opened in late 2020. New places to satisfy every craving are opening all the time—read about a few of the newest additions to the Truckee/Tahoe dining scene. Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats is Truckee’s nightlife landmark, serving up roadhouse-style food and live jazz inside the 1873 Truckee Hotel. Nab a seat at the bar to watch acts like Mose Allison and Shotgun Wedding Quintet (check the Truckee-Tahoe nightlife page for more live music options). For quality wines and wine tasting, visit Uncorked Truckee or The Pour House, both of which have a wide selection of wines on hand from small vineyards around the world.

If you’re exploring the city with kids in tow, take note of these family-friendly restaurants in Truckee from Visit Truckee-Tahoe’s site. Another fun food outing is to visit the Truckee Certified Farmers Market, which operates from mid-May through mid-October. You’ll find not only top-notch produce but also ready-to-eat prepared foods and baked goods. In addition to the market, there are other, year-round ways to get fresh, organic food: The Farmacy, a brick-and-mortar market that’s open five days a week, and the online “harvest-to-order” Harvest Box.

Craft beer also has a strong presence here, thanks to breweries such as FiftyFifty Brewing Co., which recently won best brewing group of the year. Be sure to visit Alibi Ale Works - Truckee Public House, which does triple duty as a pilot brewery with the largest beer garden in town, a live music venue, and a great family-friendly restaurant (get one of their brats on a pretzel bun).

Truckee Shopping

Truckee’s historic downtown area is lined with unique shops and local businesses that offer a range of products, from outdoor gear and apparel suited for High Sierra adventure to handcrafted jewelry, home decor, and artisanal goods. There are also plenty of opportunities to browse the work of local artists in a wide range of mediums. If looking for a gift for that hard-to-shop-for person, another option is to give a Truckee Sustainable Gift Card, redeemable at over 60 locations for unique local experiences, from a guided fishing trip to backcountry skiing, a Pilates session, or a massage.

Outdoor Activities in Truckee

Year-round family fun (and outdoor adventure) is easy to find in Truckee. In the warmer months, choose from rafting, swimming, rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Or maybe a lazy float? Drive into Tahoe City on a warm summer day and you can’t miss the big tents set up alongside the sparkling Truckee River, where operators rent out inflatable rafts and inner tubes for a leisurely do-it-yourself day on the water. Other ways to relax, unwind, and unplug, many of them outdoors, are plentiful. Learn how you can indulge in some of them here.

For an easygoing walk or bike ride, take advantage of Truckee’s more than 22 miles of scenic paved paths, including the scenic, 9.1-mile out-and-back Truckee River Legacy Trail, much of which parallels the Truckee River. For more ideas for outdoor fun, read about the nearby family- and dog-friendly beaches. 

Sparkling Donner Lake, in Donner Memorial State Park, also located in Nevada County, is a fun alternative to Tahoe. Start by stepping inside the park’s visitor center, where you’ll find the Donner Memorial State Park Emigrant Trail Museum, which tells the tragic story of the Donner Party and the history of the Chinese railroad workers. For information on family activities, where to stay, summer and winter activities, and more, check out this guide to the park.

Skiing Near Truckee

In the winter, Truckee’s ideal location is just 10–15 minutes away from some of Tahoe’s best ski resorts, including Palisades Tahoe, Northstar California, Homewood Mountain Resort, and Sugar Bowl Resort. If downhill isn’t your style, there are plenty of other types of family-friendly winter activities, including snowshoeing, tubing, sledding, and especially cross-country skiing. This is truly one of the top spots to get your powdery glide going: Royal Gorge boasts the most cross-country trails of any ski resort in North America, and the Visit Truckee-Tahoe site has a page devoted to all of the different types of cross-country skiing there are, plus tips on the best trails and where to rent gear (including snowshoe gear). You can also hire a local guide and set out on a backcountry ski or snowmobile tour. Seasonal latecomers, take heart: skiing often extends well into the spring months.

Accessible Activities in and Around the Truckee Area

As part of the Sustainable Truckee effort, the city’s Trails for EveryBODY campaign is committed to the creation of all-inclusive trails throughout the Northern Sierra. See the campaign’s website for information on such attractions as the Compass Skills Loop mountain-bike trail, the Ridgeline Nature Loop, and the accessible trails and features of Donner Memorial State Park. Other inclusive hiking trails a short drive from Truckee include: The 10-mile paved Truckee River Trail (popular with cyclists, walkers, and runners); the 2.6-mile out-and-back Pine Drop Trail which is also paved and ends at an outdoor recreation center; and the 2.2-mile Olympic Village Bike Trail, which has a small section that is paved where you will share the road with cars, but otherwise, is a peaceful route appropriate for hikers of all ages and abilities.

Where to Stay in Truckee

No matter your budget or the size of your crew, Truckee offers a variety of accommodations. Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe stands out with its modern-yet-rustic design and onsite Stella restaurant. For a historic touch, the Truckee Hotel—first opened as the American House in 1873—provides charming rooms in the heart of downtown. Truckee Donner Lodge blends mountain views with an outdoor pool at a good value. For larger groups, Springhill Suites by Marriott Truckee offers spacious suites and a large outdoor terrace equipped with a fire pit.

If you’re looking for a getaway that won’t break the bank and is a little more away from it all, Sierra Pines Resort in Sierra City, about an hour northwest of Truckee, is the perfect place to fish, bike, and take in beautiful scenery.