About Truckee

Sunset over a small town with car light trails on a winding road.
Woman standing on hill, watching a sunset over mountains.

Welcome to Truckee—where mountain life, lake life, and small-town soul converge at the crest of the Sierra.

Rooted in western heritage and surrounded by wild beauty, Truckee is a place where history lives on, adventure comes naturally, and community runs deep. We’re home to Donner Lake, bordered by Tahoe National Forest, and just 20 minutes from the shores of Lake Tahoe—making Truckee both a basecamp for exploration and a destination all its own.

Brick wall mural with a vintage car and two people walking in foreground.

Our Storied Past

The land around Truckee has been home to the Washoe people for thousands of years. In the 1840s, it became part of westward migration history with the ill-fated Donner Party—and later, a booming railroad town once the Transcontinental Railroad cut through the Sierra.

Truckee’s name comes from a Paiute chief whose friendly greeting, “Tro-kay,” was mistaken for his name. Since then, the town has evolved from a hub for logging and ice harvesting to a haven for artists, adventurers, and mountain-dwellers. While we officially incorporated in 1993, our frontier roots still run deep.

Step Into Truckee’s Past 

Street market with colorful tents and bustling crowd at dusk.

Our Vibrant Community

Today, Truckee is home to about 17,500 residents who value open space, good neighbors, and a life that runs on trail maps and shared stories. Our historic downtown—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—is full of 19th-century architecture, now housing boutiques, galleries, cafés, and restaurants that reflect the town’s creative spirit.

From the neighborhoods of Tahoe Donner to Glenshire, every corner of Truckee has its own flavor but is united by a love of the outdoors, a commitment to sustainability, and a mountain-town ethos that’s impossible to fake.

Explore Truckee’s Neighborhoods

Experience Truckee

Whether you're chasing summit views or wandering through local shops, Truckee invites you to explore, unwind, and connect.

Year-Round Recreation

Skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, you name it, we do it outside—in all four seasons.

Explore by Season

Historic & Cultural Landmarks

Visit the Old Jail Museum, the Truckee Railroad Museum, or walk the Emigrant Trail to learn the stories that shaped the region.

Culture & Sightseeing

Culinary & Creative Flavor

Enjoy local art galleries, mountain-inspired performances, and farm-to-table dining that rivals any big city—just with better views.

Mountain Cuisine

Community Events

From farmers markets and Truckee Thursdays to outdoor concerts and holiday parades, this is a town that knows how to gather.

Events

Kids jumping off a dock into a lake, sunny day, shadow visible.
Mountain bikers racing through a forest trail, kicking up dirt.
Salm
Three people horseback riding in a sunny field, surrounded by trees.
D Hougard
Two people walking on a trail in a sunny mountain meadow.
Paul Hamill
Children playing joyfully in the snow under a bright sunlit sky.
Skier in red descends snowy mountain under clear blue sky.
Salm
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Truckee at a Glance

  • Elevation: 5,817 feet
  • Population: ~17,500 residents
  • Location: 12 miles north of Lake Tahoe; 40 miles west of Reno
  • Seasons: Four, with 200+ inches of average annual snowfall
  • Established: 1863
  • Incorporated: 1993
  • Downtown: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2010)

Truckee Trail Maps