Truckee Fact Sheet
February 5, 2009
Location
Truckee is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Northern Calif., 200 miles northeast of San Francisco; 100 miles east of Sacramento, Calif.; 35 miles west of Reno, Nev.; and 12 miles north of Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Elevation
Downtown Truckee: 5,980 ft.; Donner Summit: 7,239 ft.; Donner Peak: 8,019 ft.; Mt. Judah: 8,243 ft.
Population
Town of Truckee: 15,781. Truckee was first established in 1863; incorporated in 1993.
Terrain
The Truckee Donner area has expansive granite mountain, vista, meadow, and lake terrain. Just east of Donner Pass, Truckee sits along the Truckee River, the only outlet from Lake Tahoe.
Climate
Average winter temperatures: 17-42º F; Average summer temperatures: 40-79º F;
Average snowfall: 206 inches; Average precipitation: 32 inches; Sunshine: 300 days a year.
Coldest Spot in the Nation?
Truckee has often been recognized as the coldest spot in the nation, but not during the winter ski season as one might expect. These nippy temperatures are noteworthy because they occur from June through early October. While it may be true, it really doesn’t give a true picture of Truckee’s pristine California weather pattern. Official temperatures are taken at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, located in Martis Valley. On clear nights, cool air from the high mountains sink downslope into the valley, a high-elevation basin. The dense air mass settles into the basin, creating a chilled microclimate contributing to the chilly readings. As the sun begins to rise, so does the temperature, creating enviable summer and fall temperatures.
Highway Access
East/West: Truckee is easily accessible directly off Interstate 80;
North/South: Truckee is accessed by Hwy. 89 and Hwy. 267.
Drive time from: San Francisco/Bay Area: 3.5 hours; Sacramento: 1.5 hours; South Lake Tahoe: 1 hour; Reno: 45 minutes
Air Access
Reno/Tahoe International Airport (Reno, Nev): 40 miles; Sacramento International Airport (Sacramento, Calif): 106 miles; Truckee Tahoe Airport (Hwy. 267, Truckee): small aircraft and cargo.
The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Information Center, located in the train depot in historic downtown Truckee, is the Transportation Hub for Truckee:
Rail Access/Bus Access
AMTRAK stops in Truckee, once a day eastbound and westbound. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call
1-800-USA-RAIL.
AMTRAK buses stop in Truckee four times a day. For more information call 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Greyhound stops in Truckee eight times a day. For more information call 1-800-231-2222.
Local Transportation
TART (Tahoe Area Regional Transit): connects Truckee with the North and West Shores of Lake Tahoe (800-736-6365; 530-550-1212; www.laketahoetransit.com).
Truckee Trolley (winter): runs from Truckee to Northstar-at-Tahoe and Truckee to Sugar Bowl (530-587-7451).
Ski Resort Shuttles: Scheduled shuttles in the winter.
Automobile Rental: Enterprise (530-550-1550); Hertz (530-550-9191).
Taxis/Limousines/Shuttles: Ace High Taxi (530-412-3583); Mountain Cab (530-582-5828); North Tahoe Checker Taxi (866-420-8294); Truckee Tahoe Limo/Tours (530-587-2160); Bell Limo/Airport Mini-Bus (800-235-5466); Lake Tahoe Limousine & Shuttle Service (800-660-4546).
Lodging
Truckee has a variety of lodging accommodations including hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, lodges, inns, condominiums and vacation rental houses.
Winter Activities
Truckee offers simple access to eight world-class ski resorts with outstanding terrain for skiing and snowboarding. There are three cross-country ski resorts with miles of trail and terrains and huts for backcountry ski treks. Other Truckee winter recreation includes snowmobiling, snow shoeing, sledding, sleigh rides and dog sled tours.
Summer Activities
Truckee is truly a recreational paradise. The many nearby lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams
are perfect for boating, windsurfing, water skiing, kayaking, swimming and fishing. There are endless trails for biking, mountain biking and horseback riding, with easy access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Donner Summit and surrounding areas are a mecca for rock climbers. Truckee has spectacular golf courses with dramatic mountain scenery.
For Truckee Real Estate, Truckee forclosures, to search the Truckee MLS, view Tahoe Donner real estate, Northstar real estate, or to search the Tahoe MLS, contact Sierra-Tahoe Realty at 530.582.9980
