Donner got the glory for a number of reasons, but Roller, just a few miles south, had advantages for getting wagons over the crest of the Sierra in the late 1840s.



Roller is a bit higher than Donner Pass, but it is not such a sheer climb from the east side. In fact, as the crest was approached, pioneers could "roll" their wagons up the final stretch on logs, to get over the top. To make it up the steep, rocky east side of Donner Pass, wagons had to be man-handled and hauled up with block and tackle.

Roller Pass is at the head of Coldstream Canyon, a majestic, often overlooked part of the Tahoe-Truckee Region. The Canyon can be reached via the Donner Memorial State Park and is partially accessible by car. Some years ago a ski area was proposed for the area, which is quite large.

To hike to Roller Pass itself, however, here are instructions from Tim Hauserman, an expert on local hiking. Go to the trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on Donner Pass, just off old Highway 40 out of Truckee. Hike south on the PCT for about one mile to a junction with the Mt. Judah Loop Trail. There hikers have a choice: Stay on the PCT for about one more mile to Roller Pass, or take the longer, more scenic loop past Donner Peak (8,019') and Mt. Judah (8,243'). A good plan is to go in one way and come back the other.

The total distance from the trailhead is a little over five miles, and the views are spectacular. From the top of Mt. Judah, hikers can look south along the Sierra Crest to Anderson Peak (8,683') and Tinker Knob (8,949'), west to Sugar Bowl and the Soda Springs/Norden Area, and north and east to Donner Lake (5.938') and Truckee.

On the hike, just below, are train tracks leading in or out of Coldstream Canyon. Trains go through a tunnel underneath Mt. Judah and emerge on Donner Summit. Lucky hikers can watch a train run into the mountain and pop out on the other side.

On the hike there are a wide variety of hardy trees able to handle the tough Donner winters. One is the mountain hemlock that is covered with dark green needles from head to toe. Hemlocks' tops lean over like wizards hats. Groves of hemlocks grow on north-facing slopes. They are common trees near the tops of most downhill ski areas in the Sierra.

At the junction of the PCT and the south end of the Mt. Judah Loop trail. hikers are close to Roller Pass. About 100 yards farther south to there is a metal marker denoting the pass. As noted earlier, the pass is named Roller because emigrants used log rollers to winch wagons up the grade to the top. Looking down, it is tempting to wonder whether emigrants were nuts to try this route, or if it was easier than it looks. Either way, the hike will provide new respect for the pioneers.


DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD: Take old Highway 40 from the west end of Donner Lake to the top of Donner Summit. At the top, turn left onto the road next to the Sugar Bowl Academy parking lot and drive about 100 yards to the trailhead on the left. Park along the road.

Coming from Interstate 80, take the Norden/Soda Springs exit and drive about 3 miles east. Go pass Sugar Bowl on the right and then turn right onto the road just before Sugar Bowl Academy.