Donner Lake water level
▼ 2.8 points from 77.5% a year ago
Source: waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-10338400, accessed October 1, 2026. Updated every 6 hours.
Donner Lake is at 74.9% of full pool (5937.13 ft) as of September 29, 2026. Donner Lake was last full on June 27, 2026 (95.1% of normal storage). Donner Lake is near Truckee, California. It has restrooms, showers, drinking water, and picnic area, managed by California Department of Parks and Recreation. Check current swimming advisories at Donner Memorial State Park current information (California State Parks) before you go.
Donner Lake level history
This site counts a reservoir as full on a day its storage is at or above 95% of the dam's normal storage (National Inventory of Dams). Many reservoirs rarely reach 100%, even in wet years, because operators release water for irrigation, power or flood control before they fill, so this site treats 95% as full. Highs and lows are daily readings in the published data, not official records. Source: USGS daily data.
Storage, % of full pool, since 1989
Donner Lake is falling: 75% full, down 0.7 percentage points since September 27, 2026.
On this same date last year (September 28, 2025), Donner Lake was 77.5% full, 2.5 percentage points higher than today's 75%.
Weekly averages of the source's daily readings; older years may be monthly or sparser where that is all the source published. Download the charted data (JSON).
Donner Lake map
Donner Lake is at 39.3249, -120.2824. Open in OpenStreetMap.
The dam
- Irrigation
- Water supply
Sources: nid.sec.usace.army.mil, accessed September 29, 2026
Visiting Donner Memorial State Park
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic area
- ADA accessible
Donner Memorial State Park campground has 154 sites with picnic tables; restrooms typically Memorial Day to Labor Day. Bear-resistant food lockers required for food/toiletries. Max trailer about 24 ft; max motorhome about 28 ft. Reservations: 1-800-444-7275.
Dogs on a 6-foot leash on Lakeside Interpretive Trail, Zig Zag Trail, fire roads, and most shore; not allowed at China Cove Beach, Nature Trail, visitor center, or ski trails when snow is present.
Good to know:
- Park does not operate a boat launch; Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District runs a public boat ramp (fee) at the northwest corner of Donner Lake (530-582-7720).
- Day-use beach, picnic tables, summer restrooms, fishing, and lakeside interpretive trail. Charcoal/wood prohibited in day-use areas; propane/gas grills allowed.
- About two miles of lake frontage within the park; lake open to power and sail boats. No overnight mooring within the park.
Sources (1) ▾
Swimming
Designated swim area: Day-use beach along Donner Lake within the state park (China Cove Beach is a designated beach area; dogs prohibited there).
Water-quality and swimming advisories change without notice. Always check Donner Memorial State Park current information (California State Parks) before you go.
On the water
No campgrounds, boat ramps, or swim spots linked to Donner Lake yet.
Common questions
- Donner Lake is at 74.9% of full pool (5937.13 ft) as of September 29, 2026.
- Donner Lake was last full on June 27, 2026, when it held 95.1% of its normal storage (elevation 5,935.27 ft). This site counts a reservoir as full on a day its storage is at or above 95% of the dam's normal storage (National Inventory of Dams). Many reservoirs rarely reach 100%, even in wet years, because operators release water for irrigation, power or flood control before they fill, so this site treats 95% as full. Based on USGS daily data since January 5, 1989.
- In USGS daily data since January 5, 1989, Donner Lake's highest elevation was 5,938.64 ft on January 2, 1997. Its lowest after it first filled (May 3, 1989) was 5,927.23 ft on January 24, 1991. These are the highest and lowest daily readings in the published data, not official records.
- Donner Lake is near Truckee, California (39.3249, -120.2824).
- Utility operates the dam at Donner Lake.
- Donner Lake's dam is used for Irrigation, Water supply.
- Day-use sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Visitor Center open daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25, and Jan 1. Campground kiosk (530) 582-7894 (seasonal). Fees: Vehicle day use $10, Bus day use $100/day.
- Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center, Daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's.
- Donner Lake has designated swimming at: Day-use beach along Donner Lake within the state park (China Cove Beach is a designated beach area; dogs prohibited there). Check current advisories at Donner Memorial State Park current information (California State Parks) before you go.