Johnson Canyon

If you’re in need of a quick lap in the Truckee area, Sunrise Bowl is your spot. Perched above Truckee’s Tahoe Donner development, this little bowl sees fairly regular skier traffic from people getting out before work, learning the quirks of their backcountry setup, or who just need to get out of the house for a bit. Although short, this little bowl has mellow pitches rolling through large openings and small trees making for fun soul turns. Also, Sunrise is a great spot to ski after the first snow of the season. The gentle pitch, leeward snow filling, and forgiving ground surface make this a great spot for your first turns of the winter. Keep in mind that the parking is at 7,400’, but the bottom of the bowl is at 7,200’ and a half mile from the lot. Be sure to save a little energy to skin back to the car from the bottom, or make your last run down the ascent ridge. Skiing off of Sunrise Bowl’s west face descends into Johnson Canyon. This sun bathed run grows great corn, but coverage can be spotty.

Negro Canyon: What’s in a name?

Negro Canyon has a storied history, and many speculate that it is named after Albert Johnson, one of the first in a stream of African Americans that traveled west during the Gold Rush.

Johnson, who reportedly came to the area in 1878, settled on Donner Lake at Gregory Creek. He cooked and rented cabins on the lake until his death, at age 94, in 1911. The name Negro Canyon first appeared in official documents almost 45 years later in 1955
-Sierra Sun and the Truckee Donner Land Trust

Parking for Johnson Canyon couldn’t be easier. From I-80, take the Donner Lake exit #180, which is 5.4 miles west of downtown Truckee. Once off the freeway, drive north on Donner Lake Road for less than 0.25 miles and find the plowed parking area.