Female skier on a snow-covered mountain in the Sierra Nevada

Donner Summit · I-80 Exit 174

Soda Springs, California

Five ski resorts. One freeway exit. A small mountain community with a big winter season — and a history that stretches back to the first transcontinental railroad.

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Everything you need to plan your visit

Ski & Ride

Five resorts, one exit

Soda Springs, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, Sugar Bowl, and Royal Gorge — all within a short drive of town.

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Stay & Eat

Where to sleep and eat

Lodging and dining options in Soda Springs, Norden, and the broader Truckee area.

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Things To Do

Beyond the slopes

Snow tubing, snowshoeing, Donner Memorial State Park, and warm-weather trails once the snow melts.

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Getting Here

Roads, chains, and conditions

Soda Springs sits right off I-80 at exit 174 — what to know about chain control, parking, and current snow conditions before you drive up.

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History

The Donner Summit story

From the railroad tunnels carved through granite to the area's ski heritage dating back to 1935 — the story behind the postcard views.

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Trip Planning

Build your itinerary

New to the area? A short guide to laying out a weekend or a full ski week around Soda Springs.

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One town, five resorts, one exit off the interstate.

1935

Soda Springs Mountain Resort opened — California's oldest continuously operating ski area

Ski resorts within a short drive of town: Soda Springs, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge

80 mi

From Sacramento via I-80, first resort exit coming from the valley