Sunrise Bowl

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 Negro Canyon. This sun bathed run grows great corn, but coverage can be spotty.

The Tahoe Donner development keeps a small parking area plowed for access to Sunrise Bowl. From downtown Truckee, drive west on Donner Pass Road towards Donner Lake and I-80. Turn right (north) onto Northwoods Blvd and drive 1.4 miles until the stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign and go 2.2 miles until turning left onto Christie Ln. Christie shortly comes to a “T” where you will take a right onto Skislope Way. Skislope winds for another 2.2 miles to the top of the neighborhood, where you will take a left on Glacier Way, and an immediate left into the parking area. Skin up the broad and mellow ridge of Donner Ridge, and drop east anywhere along the ridge. Dropping west is a longer run into Negro Canyon.