Explore Outdoors: Donner Peak offers cool view to beat Labor Day heat

If you are looking for a last minute, hiking idea to escape the Labor Day weekend's heat wave, then consider a trek along a path steeped in early Gold Rush history. Donner Peak, at roughly 4 miles round trip, offers an accesible hike with a cool view in the cooler air above an elevation of 8,000 feet. If you're up for it, the hike can also include a visit to a nearby spot that offers a first-hand look at the challenges the first wagon trains faced when encountering the terrain surrounding Donner Peak. To get a glimpse of the cool view and the spot with a historical past, click on the video above.