Donner Lake is just 3 miles from the historic downtown of Truckee, Sierra Nevada's under-the-radar mountain hub for outdoor activities and another worthy stop to escape the crowds of Tahoe.

California is often thought of as an outdoor lover's paradise, and that's especially true for this lake, which offers fun activities regardless of season.

Ostensibly one resort, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in North Lake Tahoe is actually two sibling mountains, each quite large, sitting right next to each other, under shared ownership and one lift ...