For Sale: 10 Acres at Donner Summit

After over 100 years of private ownership, 10 acres of black granite towers at Donner Lake, North Tahoe, California, is up for sale. The Access Fund has partnered with Truckee Donner Land Trust to raise funds to buy the land and preserve the world-class climbing.

“This is one of the local areas where I learned how to sport climb,” Alex Honnold wrote on Facebook. He calls the area “10 acres of the best climbing at Donner Summit.”

The land for sale is part of the Donner Summit climbing region, home to hundreds of traditional and sport-climbing routes developed by such greats as Warren Harding, Royal Robbins, Jim Bridwell, Mark Hudon and Max Jones. The area boasts over 90 routes on five cliffs, including the famous Black Wall, with 31 classic three-plus-star multi- and single-pitch traditional routes from 5.6 to 5.11; the easily accessible Road Cut and Peanut Gallery sport-climbing crags; the five-star sport climbing at the Space Wall; and moderate traditional crack climbs on the Stealth Wall.

According to the Save Donner Climbing website, the “goal is to raise enough money to buy the 10-acre property outright and provide crucial funds for long-term management.” Management would be in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Caltrans and Union Pacific Railroad, to help mitigate impacts on all the climbing areas, including others in the greater Donner Summit region.

So far, $150,000 of the $280,000 needed to purchase the land has been raised. Donors who give $100 will receive a copy of Masters of Stone IV, those who give $500 dollars will have their names inscribed in bronze on a plaque next to a new bench viewing the Black Wall, and donors of $5,000 or more will both have their names inscribed on the plaque and receive a framed, limited-edition Save Donner Climbing Poster. The North Face has also joined in the effort, auctioning off items hand-picked by a local climbing legend, Jim Zellers.

To for more information or to donate, visit the Save Donner Climbing website.