The review Donner Ski Ranch was created by Skiresort.info, the world’s largest test portal for ski resorts.
Altitude difference
229 m (Valley 2142 m - Mountain 2371 m )
Lifts/ cable cars
6
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 2 ← 1
Slope offering, variety of runs
Run location
under tree line
only chair lifts, a bit older
Total capacity
6500 Passengers / hour
Length of all lifts
4.6 km Total
only a few snow guns, so dependent on natural snow
Worth knowing
- Artificial snow-making
10 % of the slopes have snow-making capabilities
- The valley run is always open when ski resort is open; without the valley run, ski operation is not possible.
Season 2008/2009
135 Days open
135 Days when valley run open
The slope preparation is very good.
Tip: By new snow, an optimal slope prepartion is not always possible, even with a large effort. In addition, the new snow can not combine with the snow lying underneath and moguls are created quickly. For safety reasons, usually no slope preparation is possible during operating times.
at the Donner Pass, highway 40, if there is snow chains required
Access via Freeway 80 Reno-Sacramento, Ausfahrt 174
Donner Ski Ranch Triple (Norden, CA), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 6 km · approx. 6 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot,
free of charge
Access via Freeway 80 Reno-Sacramento, Ausfahrt 180 Donner Lake
Donner Ski Ranch Triple (Norden, CA), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 8 km · approx. 9 Minutes driving time
Parking spaces: usually enough available,
Tarred parking lot,
free of charge
Orientation (trail map, information boards, sign-postings)
Environmentally friendly ski operation
Public transportation/ on-site mobility
- No direct train connection
- No ski busses
- No scheduled busses
Mountain restaurants, ski huts, gastronomy
only the base lodge
1 Mountain restaurants & Ski huts
Accommodation offering directly on the slopes and lifts
Ski-in/Ski-out
There are no accommodations with direct access to the slopes and to lifts (Ski-in/Ski-out)
Towns/villages
- Truckee
Distance to ski resort
Note: For the evaluation, only the accommodations which are located directly on the slopes and lifts, or have very easy access to the ski resort have been considered.
easy runs on the frontside
Information for beginners
- Easy and manageable slope offering, which is easy to achieve
- Special slopes for slower skiers / beginners
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
Advanced skiers, freeriders
some advanced runs, but no double diamonds
Information for advanced skiers, freeriders
- few freeride/ deep snow areas
- no extremely difficult, steep and unprepared runs (Double Diamonds)
Slope offering advanced skiers
Note: Always mind the avalanche warnings and barriers, please. Never ski into a closed and unsecured area.
all runs, except Bj´s Run, good for riders
Information for Snowboarders
- the following runs are not suitable for snowboarders
Bj´s Run
- few freeride/ deep snow areas
Offering snow parks
Cross-country skiing and trails
- Cross-country trail offering
Total trail length: 15 km
Clear Tappan Lodge 6,2 mi, Royal Gorge 3,1 mi
(does not belong to the ski area)
Conclusion
view to Donner Lake
no free tickets for young children
Test Report issued on 2009-01-17
Highlights
Cross-country skiing and trails
Highlights
Slope offering, run variety
Top ski regions • Tips for the ski holiday