Donner Summit, California

Forest Service Offices around Donner Summit

Mileages From Sacramento

  • Colfax - 50 miles
  • Yuba Gap - 74 miles
  • Soda Springs - 89 miles
  • Donner Summit - 91 miles
  • Donner Lake - 98 miles
  • Truckee - 101 miles




Tahoe National Forest Ranger Districts

The Tahoe National Forest is divided into four Ranger Districts: American River Ranger District, Sierraville Ranger District, Truckee Ranger District, and Yuba River Ranger District. The Lake Tahoe area is managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Tahoe National Forest Offices

Tahoe National Forest Headquarters

631 Coyote Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-4531

American River Ranger District

22830 Foresthill Road, Foresthill, CA 95631
(530) 367-2224

Sierraville Ranger District

317 So. Lincoln St./PO Box 95, Sierraville CA 96126
(530) 994-3401

Truckee Ranger District

10811 Stockrest Springs Road, Truckee CA 96161
(530) 587-3558

Yuba River Ranger District

15924 Highway 49, Camptonville CA 95922
(530) 288-3231 or 478-6253

Services Available at Most Forest Service Offices

  • A number of maps and publications are available, although many can be found online.
  • Campfire permits
  • Information about current conditions in the forest
  • Wood cutting permits

Big Bend Visitor Center

East of Hampshire Rocks and 10 miles west of Donner Summit, the South Yuba River makes a sweeping curve which has become known as Big Bend. A ranger station was constructed at Big Bend around 1912. The area had become a popular stopping spot for those traveling over Donner Summit ever since members of the Stevens-Townsend-Murphy Party set up camp there after crossing the pass in the winter of 1844.

In the 1930s the Forest Service added a fire station, two residences, and a barn. Then in the 1960s a new ranger station was built and used as the district office until 1971. At that time the building was converted to a visitor center. In 2012 work commenced on a new visitor center and museum which replaced the old one.

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 543-2600
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit includes about 190,000 acres around Lake Tahoe, both in Nevada and California. They are responsible for the conservation, preservation and restoration of the Lake Tahoe watershed ecosystem within Forest Service lands.


TOP