Proceed east from Donner Memorial State Park (photo left) (elev 6,000') along Donner Pass Road.  After crossing I-80 you shortly will arrive at Northwoods Blvd (stoplight).  Continue straight for the 55 mile route.  Turn left to climb up to lovely Alder Creek Road, then return to Donner Memorial State Park (15 and 20 mile routes).

If you turn left, you will head up Northwoods Blvd and immediately will encounter the steepest climb of the day (12%), which takes you into the "Tahoe Donner" development.  Continue to Alder Creek Road, which will reward you with a gentle, scenic descent to Highway 89.  Turn right and proceed back into Truckee (photo right) and thence to Donner Memorial State Park.

If you continue straight on Donner Pass Road, you will navigate a roundabout and bike through old Truckee (CAUTION:  watch the parked vehicles).

Proceed south on Hwy 267 toward Kings Beach.  Shortly you will pass (on your left) the Truckee-Tahoe airport; located in an open basin, it not infrequently records some of the coldest winter temperatures in all 50 states.  A gradual climb takes you past the Northstar development on your right.  Climbing then steepens somewhat (but never becomes severe), and soon you arrive at Brockway Summit (elev 7,179') (photo below left).  

Enjoy the fast descent to Kings Beach (elev 6,245'). 

Then turn left onto Lake Blvd (Rt 28).  CAUTION:  both vehicular and pedestrian traffic is very heavy!  (Take particular care turning into and out of Rest Stop #1 - photo right.) 

Refuel amply, and top off liquid reservoirs; there are no services between Incline Village, Mt Rose Summit, and Highway 395. 

Soon you cross the California-Nevada border.  CAUTION:  shortly thereafter the road shoulder disappears completely.  Turn left onto Route 431. 

I love the climb up to Mt Rose Summit (elev. 8,900').  The views are grand, the road surface is excellent, the shoulder is unusually wide, and traffic usually is light.  Even though it is a sustained 2,700' climb, the effort never seems hard and passes quickly. 

I recommend stopping at the overlook (photo left) for a terrific view of the entire Lake Tahoe basin (great photo opportunity) and for nibbles.  To the immediate north lies the Mount Rose Wilderness. 

You will know you are nearing the summit when you see communication antennas in the distance. 

The summit affords a distant, often hazy view of the south Reno area; I usually stop to refuel (Rest Stop #2).

From the Mt Rose Summit (photo above),  enjoy a great eight mile descent!  It is fast, but not too fast (braking infrequently is necessary).  Views are panoramic and colorful.  Again, take care on the narrow section of Rt 28; this time you will be climbing slowly.  Rest Stop #3 (or #4) will give you respite before the second climb to Brockway Summit.  This climb is shorter and easier than the earlier effort.  CAUTION:  the descent from Brockway Summit toward Truckee initially is very fast; it is easy to reach 50 mph!  The descent soon slows and continues all the way to the basin.

Turn left onto Donner Pass Road, bike (carefully) through historic, old Truckee, and continue to ride's end at Donner Memorial State Park.  If you never have visited the Emigrant Trail Museum and have the time (and strength!), do so!  It is well organized and interesting (the struggles of the Donner Party make this ride's efforts seem trivial.).  It also is just a very short distance to Donner Lake (photo below), an alpine jewel well worth viewing.