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Tahoe 4-Day 2026

Day 4: Donner Memorial State Park

Date: (Mon.) Aug. 3, 2026
Location: Truckee, CA
Event Director: - 650.250.2878
Course Setter: Kyle Poland
Type: C; Day 4 of the Tahoe 4-Day events will provide a multiple-course Sprint event. Beginners and non-members are welcome; beginner instruction will be offered. Attendance at other Tahoe 4-Day events is not required.

Related Event Information

Event Results Main Tahoe 4-Day Page Volunteer Sign-up (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ti-APHMFdFA6D3WSsLDOx7LHmaBjt8cHCEFibgWLfI4/edit) Day-1 Event Information Day-2 Event Information Day-3 Event Information Day-4 Event Information Day-4 Course Setter's Notes Attackpoint Event Page (http://attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_60560)

Please note that fees and time limits apply. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


July 29th Reminders — Two days until the Tahoe 4-Day begins:


For this fourth and final day of the Tahoe 4-Day event, we will visit Donner Memorial State Park (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503). There will be three courses: Beginner, Short Sprint, and Long Sprint.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this event, including beginners and non-members. Free beginner instruction will be available during the time shown below.

Schedule

The following non-standard event schedule will be followed:

   9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Registration is open
   9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Starts are open for all the courses
                 12:30 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
Notes: Participants under age 18 who register at the event must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian. (The standard registration form is available here [12KB PDF]. Note, however, that some of the fees for this event might be different than those on the form.)

Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00. (You can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served.)

Beginner instruction is 15–20 minute, repeating sessions ("clinics") that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete a beginner (White or Yellow) course.

Note: Beginners are given their course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic.

Everyone must return to the Finish by 12:30 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 12:30, we must initiate a search for them.

Costs & Registration

Since this is a "special" event, the standard BAOC registration fees do not apply.

The prices for the Tahoe 4-Day Package and for individual events are shown on the main Tahoe 4-Day event webpage. (Be sure to read the notes below the prices table.)

Note: In addition to the BAOC fees, you will need to pay a $10 vehicle day-use fee if you park in the Visitor Center parking lot next to the Assembly Area. (See the parking information below.)

Online registration closed on July 28th. However, registration for individual events (but not the Tahoe 4-day Package) will be available at all the events.

The list of current registrations is available here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/reglist/tahoe4day2026).

Location of the Event

The event will be in Donner Memorial State Park, near Truckee. The driving directions and parking information are below.

The Assembly Area (Registration, E-punch, etc.) for the event will be next to the Visitor Center parking lot — look for signs and orienteers.

Both the Start and the Finish are short walks from the Assembly Area.

You will need to pay a $10 vehicle day-use fee if you park in the Visitor Center parking lot. (See the parking information below.)

Venue Facilities

There are nice indoor restroom facilities in the Visitor Center, but it does not open until 10 AM. If you arrive at the park before that, you will need to use the porta-potties outside. Or there are some nearby gas stations that can probably accommodate you.

Water will be available near the Assembly Area.

What to Bring

Due to the dry air and altitude, consider taking water on your course even if you normally wouldn't. Don't forget sunscreen and possibly a hat!

For the Beginner course, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.

For the Short and Long courses, a steeper hillside might be a bit slippery due to dry leaves and loose dirt, so shoes with good grip are recommended. Long pants and/or gaiters should not be necessary.

A compass is not required, but can be very helpful — and can improve safety — so is recommended. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.

We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident E-punch fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at Registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)

Hazards

The biggest hazard will be cars and bicycles on the park roads. Keep your eyes open!

Fortunately, there is no poison oak in the Sierras! 😊

However, deer ticks are found in this area, and they might carry Lyme disease. So, please be sure to check yourself carefully after the event.

You should be mindful of dehydration because the high-altitude air will be dry. That concern will be even greater if the weather is hot. So, you should consider carrying water while on your course.

Also because of the altitude, there will be increased risk of sunburn, so be sure to use plenty of quality sunscreen.

Courses

The course details are below. Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information. 

    Course      Length    Climb  Controls  Navigation
    Beginner    1.7 km     35 m     10     Beginner  
    Short       2.4 km     35 m     14     Advanced  
    Long        3.5 km     55 m     18     Advanced

Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setters' opinion), without regard for any descending. Because you won't travel in straight lines, and might not follow the optimum routes, your actual distance and climb will be somewhat more than what is shown above, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make).
Everyone should be aware that "straight-line" course lengths are given above. (Sprint events often use "best-route" course lengths.)
The maps are 1:5000 scale with 5-meter contours.

Course Setter's Notes

By Kyle Poland

We have set three courses at Donner Memorial State Park for the Monday event: Beginner, Short advanced, and Long advanced. The advanced courses are slightly longer than normal Sprint courses at 2.4 km and 3.5 km, respectively. The clearing (yellow) and open-woods (white) areas on the map are easily runnable, and the courses should be fast for those who choose to go fast. However the light-green and dark-green map areas are dense, and you should stick to paths and roads through those areas rather than trying to fight through off trails in green sections. The courses are largely flat, with some slight elevation in the south section of the Long advanced course.

Cautions

The main cautions on the courses are to watch for cars on the roads in the park, and to avoid entering or crossing campsites in the campground areas. In previous years there have been complaints about orienteers crossing through campsites. (There have even been complaints about people running close to campsites, so please do not go close to campsites.) The courses are designed to route you around the campgrounds, which are marked as out-of-bounds areas on the map. Please respect these areas and the campers, so we can continue to use this park in the future.

Note: The roads through the campgrounds are out of bounds. However, no benefit would be gained by using them.

There are no wildlife concerns, and poison oak is not prevalent. Ticks are uncommon, but you should still check when you complete the course.

Assembly Area

The Assembly Area will be next to the main parking lot by the Visitor Center. Restrooms are located inside the Visitor Center building. There is a short, 10-minute walk from the Assembly Area to the course Starts; take the main southwest road through the park, and bear right at the fork in the road after crossing the bridge.

Note: The $10 per vehicle State Park entry fee must be paid if you park in the lot at the Visitor Center. There are some parking spots on the side of the road west of the park entrance — from there you can walk to the Assembly Area (with no fee).

Volunteers Needed

As always, we need volunteers for this event.

Please consider volunteering to help — even part of a shift will help! Previous experience is not needed (except for Beginner Clinics), and easy training will be provided as needed, so please don't hesitate to sign up.

The shifts and current assignments are shown in this form (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ti-APHMFdFA6D3WSsLDOx7LHmaBjt8cHCEFibgWLfI4/edit). You can check the form to see what's available, then put your name on the form. If you want, you can send email to , the Event Coordinator, or to , the Event Director, to indicate your interest or ask where they would like help. Rex or Ouri will respond back to you.

Driving Directions

Traffic can be heavy, so leave plenty of time to get to the venue.

Donner Memorial State Park is off I-80 at the west end of Truckee (12593 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161). The approximate coordinates of the Assembly Area are 39.3238,-120.2327.

From westbound I-80: Take exit 184 for Donner Pass Rd, and turn left onto Donner Pass Rd. After crossing I-80, go "straight" through the traffic circle. The park entrance will be on the left after about 0.3 mile.

From Tahoe City: Take Highway 89 north to westbound I-80. Take the first exit (#184) and continue as described above.

From Kings Beach: Take Highway 267 north to westbound I-80. Continue as described above.

Parking

Parking will be in the lot at the park Visitor Center.

Note: 
Even though you will not need to go through the park entrance to get to the lot, you must pay the $10 day-use fee if you are going to park in that lot.
You can get a parking pass from an automated kiosk in the lot, inside the Visitor Center, or at the park entrance.
Any of the California State Parks Passes also work.
There are some parking spots on the side of the road west of the park entrance — from there you can walk to the Assembly Area (with no fee).