Donner Summit / Donner Lake

Glorious alpine getaways.

Glorious getaways tucked in the rocks, up on the hillside or down by the shore, these alpine areas offer solitude and serenity surrounded by millions of acres of pristine wilderness. Donner Lake offers an eclectic array of housing, from lakefront studio condos to contemporary townhomes to old Tahoe cabins to custom mountain estates. Neighborhood amenities include two restaurants, a market, a marina and membership West End Beach, where the Truckee Fourth of July Fireworks are held. It's an easy, 7-mile bike ride around the lake, with Donner Memorial State Park anchoring the east end and offering miles of forested hiking trails.

Soda Springs and Norden are located up over Donner Pass west of Donner Lake. Home to Soda Springs Mountain Resort, Donner Ski Ranch and the larger Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, these small communities mostly consist of cabin-chalet style homes ranging from modest to luxe. There are lodges, several restaurants and a market in the area, along with many good hiking trails including the Pacific Crest Trail, which passes through.