Donner Summit climbing area accessible to public

The historic 400-foot Black Wall that stands guard on the eastern flanks of Donner Summit, as well as the Peanut Gallery and Road Cut climbing areas are open to the public again.

The Truckee Donner Land Trust and the Access Fund bought the land, which also protects the access trails to the popular Space Wall and Stealth Wall.

Truckee Donner Land Trust will hold the 11.9-acre property, adding it via a boundary line adjustment to the neighboring 65 acres of land they already hold in fee. Access Fund will maintain a permanent conservation easement on the Black Wall property to back up the Land Trust’s long-term commitment and ensure climbing access in perpetuity.

The world-class climbing at Donner Summit features finely textured granite with deep chimneys, low-angle slabs, overhanging test pieces, and splitter cracks.

Climbers have been scaling the walls on Donner Summit for 50 years. But in 2013, the private landowners expressed concerns about liability, putting access to the historic climbing area at risk. After nearly a year of negotiations, they agreed to sell the property.

The climbing community and partners in just seven months raised more than $300,000 to purchase the property.