Near: Truckee
Distance: 7 miles
Elevation: 6,000 - 6,250 feet
Vegetation: Pine Forest
Last Visit: February 2019
Tucked up behind Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee, Coldstream Creek Canyon is a surprisingly serene and scenic valley. A ridge to the north blocks highway noise from nearby I-80 and traffic is light enough on the active train tracks loop around the valley not to ruin the scene. Overnight guests snowshoeing and skiing up the the Lost Trail Lodge tend to keep a trail broken up the valley and at least occasionally snow-cat service up to the Lodge or surrounding ski runs keep the trail relatively well broken. The trail climbs about 150 feet in the fist half mile, but then climbs much more gently for the next few miles. If you hit this trail after a good packing by the snow cat it can be a great intro cross country ski in the back country.
