Donner Summit is located on the south side of I-80 at the Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn, making it easy to find if you’re heading up to the Sierra Nevada in winter. The area sits at a good elevation for snow, and you’ll spot it by the distinctive brown SNO-Park highway signs along the freeway. This is one of California’s SNO-Park sites—a network of winter recreation areas managed to keep parking lots cleared and accessible when the snow gets heavy.

The main appeal here for dogs is cross-country skiing and dog sledding opportunities, plus general snow play if your dog enjoys romping around in the white stuff. The ski trails are actually on the north side of the freeway, separate from the main parking and recreation area. One thing to keep in mind: land adjoining the SNO-Park site is private property, so stick to designated areas and don’t let your dog wander onto neighboring land.

There are no sledding hills at this location, so if that’s what you’re after, you’ll need to look elsewhere. What you do get is access to snow-cleared parking lots and basic sanitation facilities, which matters when you’re spending a few hours out in winter conditions. Snow conditions are always a factor here—accessibility and what you can actually do depend entirely on how much snow has fallen and how recently it’s been groomed.

The SNO-Parks operate seasonally from November 1st through May 30th. You’ll need to purchase and display a parking permit for your vehicle: $15 for a daily pass or $40 for the entire season if you plan multiple winter trips. Before heading up, check current conditions since heavy snow can change what’s accessible on any given day.