An enthusiastic group—including local author Gage McKinney, a descendant of lead rescuer Aquilla Glover, who took part in the 1847 Donner Relief Parties—gathered on Friday, October 30, to dedicate the Mule Spring historic site and unveil its commemorative plaque. The site was designated a county historical landmark by the Board of Supervisors on September 9, 2025. Its official designation is NEV 25-10.
The designation honors Mule Spring’s place in the rescue effort mounted from Sutter’s Fort to reach the starving survivors of the Donner Party. Four relief parties risked their lives in winter conditions to cross the Sierra Nevada and bring aid to those stranded near Donner Lake.
Plaque Text
Mule Spring located on the California Trail, known locally as the Overland Emigrant Trail was one of the principal routes used by pioneer wagon trains traveling to California from the east which carried a great amount of traffic over-the-plains in the years 1846 to 1852. The spring was a favored location for the pioneers to rest, feed and water their livestock before traveling on to the Johnson Ranch.
Mule Spring remains embedded in early Nevada County history for the heroic efforts of a group of amazing volunteers. In early 1847 at the urging of survivor James Reed of the Donner Party, four Relief Parties were organized in hopes of rescuing the remaining starving members at the Donner Camps.
The rescue began at the Johnson Ranch on February 4th, 1847, when the first Relief Party left with several hundred pounds of provisions packed on mules and horses. When the Relief Party members arrived at Mule Spring in mid-February they were met by heavy snow and were forced to leave all their animals behind. Seven members of the Relief Party continued on, switching to heavy packs and snowshoes. They then began hiking up and over the Sierra, risking their lives, to rescue the remaining Donner Party members who were stranded and starving below the steep mountain pass near frozen Donner Lake.
Project and future interpretation
Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commissioner Chuck Scimeca and Oregon-California Trails Association President Brian Waag worked on the Mule Spring project for more than two years. The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission, the Oregon-California Trails Association, and the project applicant, the Bureau of Land Management, partnered to help designate Mule Spring as a historic site.
The organizations are also collaborating on a survey intended to establish the route of the pioneer California–Truckee Trail through the area. That trail, part of the National Historic Trail system, passed through the vicinity of Mule Spring and formed an important corridor for overland emigrants bound for California.
This plaque will be featured in the Commission’s interactive map and in the next electronic edition of its book Exploring Nevada County, a guide to all the County’s historical landmarks. The book is available in electronic format for any smartphone or tablet from Apple or Amazon. Go to You Bet Press to find clickable links.
Prefer paper? Copies of the last edition are available from Comstock Bonanza Press.
The purpose of the Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission is to promote the general welfare of Nevada County and its citizens through official recognition, recording, marking, preserving and promoting the historical resources of Nevada County. For more information, please call 530-264-0115.