{"id":8510,"date":"2018-02-25T21:40:04","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T05:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/?p=8510"},"modified":"2026-01-03T14:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T22:00:17","slug":"amtrak-sierra-scenic-train-reno-nevada-donner-lake-san-francisco-bay-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/2018\/02\/25\/amtrak-sierra-scenic-train-reno-nevada-donner-lake-san-francisco-bay-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Amtrak Sierra Scenic Train &#8211; Reno Nevada &#8211; Donner Lake &#8211; San Francisco Bay Area"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\">It&#8217;s been several years since I&#8217;ve last the ridden the train. The last time was through Alaska while &#8220;land cruising&#8221;.\u00a0 This train adventure would be from Martinez, California to Reno, Nevada and back. While the train certainly isn&#8217;t as quick as driving to Reno, it is more relaxing, and a fresh snow fall make it quite scenic. While Amtrak has a Reno fun train that&#8217;s more for partying than transportation, this trip was aboard the California Zephyr which starts in Emeryville, CA and arrives in Chicago, Illinois 51 hours and 20 minutes later according to the Amtrak website. Seems like a long trip, but having flown into Chicago\/O&#8217;hare airport a couple of times, it&#8217;s not too much longer than the time required to taxi to the terminal once you land.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8511\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-01.jpg\" alt=\"Bald Eagle flying over Donner Lake seen from Amtrak train.\" width=\"939\" height=\"649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-01.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-01-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-01-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-01-391x270.jpg 391w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Just a stroke of luck, as a Bald Eagle flies over Donner lake as our train passes by. You can view a larger version of this photo at this link &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.keithsimonian.com\/portfolio\/visual-excellence-personal-work\/bald-eagle-soars-donner-lake-amtrak-reno-train\">Bald Eagle Soars over Donner Lake.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8512\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-02.jpg\" alt=\"Cars waiting at train stop as Amtrak goes by.\" width=\"939\" height=\"657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-02.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-02-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-02-768x537.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-02-386x270.jpg 386w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The cars wait as our Amtrak train passes through Truckee, California. Yes, that is the famous River Street Inn on the left in the background.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8513\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-03.jpg\" alt=\"Snow covered mountains seen from Amtrak train.\" width=\"939\" height=\"647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-03.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-03-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-03-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-03-392x270.jpg 392w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Highway 80 and the Truckee river seen from the train.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8514\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-04.jpg\" alt=\"Snowfall in Reno Nevada with local wearing shorts and jacket.\" width=\"939\" height=\"752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-04.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-04-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-04-768x615.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-04-337x270.jpg 337w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Brave visitor to Reno makes his way through the snow.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8515\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-05.jpg\" alt=\"Tennis shoe foot prints in fresh snow - Reno Nevada.\" width=\"615\" height=\"905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-05.jpg 615w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-05-204x300.jpg 204w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-05-183x270.jpg 183w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><br \/>\nWho wears tennis shoes in the snow?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8516\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-06.jpg\" alt=\"Water fountain between Eldorado and Silver Legacy hotels in Reno Nevada\" width=\"939\" height=\"641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-06.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-06-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-06-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-06-396x270.jpg 396w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thought I would try a different angle of the fountain that is between the Eldorado and the Silver Legacy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8517\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-07.jpg\" alt=\"Hotel guests braving the snow to reach their cars in Reno, Nevada.\" width=\"939\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-07.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-07-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-07-768x559.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-07-371x270.jpg 371w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Blowing snow can make getting to your car an adventure that one hopes doesn&#8217;t end with you taking a hard fall on your bottom side.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8518\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-08.jpg\" alt=\"Train track bridge on Amtrak route over the Sierra Nevada mountains.\" width=\"939\" height=\"670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-08.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-08-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-08-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-08-378x270.jpg 378w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A rail bridge crossing the Truckee river.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8519\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-09.jpg\" alt=\"A bend in the Truckee river seen from Amtrak train on it's way to the San Francisco Bay Area from Reno.\" width=\"939\" height=\"638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-09.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-09-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-09-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-09-397x270.jpg 397w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The fresh snow adds to the feel of the Black and White image made of the winding Truckee river.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8520\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-10.jpg\" alt=\"A bend in the tracks gives a view of the lead Amtrak cars passing through the snow.\" width=\"939\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-10.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-10-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-10-768x613.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-10-338x270.jpg 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The lead cars of our Amtrak train passing through the Sierra Nevada mountains.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8521\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-11.jpg\" alt=\"Snow cover hills and the Truckee river seen from Amtrak car.\" width=\"939\" height=\"687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-11.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-11-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-11-768x562.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-11-369x270.jpg 369w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Passing over the Truckee river about Amtrak.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8522\" src=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-12.jpg\" alt=\"Fresh snow on the trees and clouds in the sky seen from Amtrak train passing through the Sierra Nevada mountains.\" width=\"939\" height=\"842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-12.jpg 939w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-12-300x269.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-12-768x689.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Amtrak-Reno-Train-12-301x270.jpg 301w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s been several years since I&#8217;ve last the ridden the train. The last time was through Alaska while &#8220;land cruising&#8221;.\u00a0 This train adventure would be from Martinez, California to Reno, Nevada and back. While the train certainly isn&#8217;t as quick as driving to Reno, it is more relaxing, and a fresh snow fall make it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"0","ocean_second_sidebar":"0","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"0","ocean_custom_header_template":"0","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"0","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[]},"categories":[3],"tags":[2738,161,3025,2740,861,14,2739],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8510"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8510"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11693,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8510\/revisions\/11693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ksimonian.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}