Little Truckee Ice Creamery- Quality Ice Cream You Can Taste

40 min. away from downtown Reno

Trailer closed for winter. Donner Lake Shop open year-round. Visit website for hours.

Locations:

*Truck Located in Downtown Truckee (This post)

Directions 

*Donner Lake Shop 
15628 Donner Pass Rd
Truckee, CA 96161

Directions

More reviews, details, and directions on Yelp
Website

The moment I tasted this ice cream, I couldn't wait to tell the whole world about how amazing it is and immediately set out to write a review on Yelp.  

Little Truckee Ice Creamery has all of the basic flavors (made with class, for sure), with some unique gourmet ones thrown in.  

I love that they serve out of a truck located in a parking lot in beautiful Downtown Truckee and also have a charming location close to Donner Lake.  

Though it may get busy during the weekends at their Downtown location, there is plenty of street parking available nearby.

Blueberry Honey Lavender was super delicious and fresh, with the honey and lavender prominent and the blueberry subtle.  Each bite warranted a "YUM!"

Truckee Trails - pecan brittle and brownie in a sweet ice cream- was OUT of THIS WORLD! The brittle was crunchy and so flavorful and paired well with the brownie and sweet ice cream. Not to mention, I've never even had brittle in ice cream.  I could eat a whole tub of this ice cream in one sitting.

I tasted my kid's Mountain Top Mint Chip and Cookies & Cream, both fresh and delicious.  These two flavors are me and my husband's favorite go-to flavors, and I approve of them.  

From cooking at home all the time, I know that something simple could be elevated just by using the best ingredients. Here they do just that, but also do it in a way that's perfectly balanced (something not easy to achieve).  

In addition to flavor, they've achieved the thing I look for in every ice cream - great texture.  Full-bodied, smooth, creamy with a cool mouth feel, and soft enough to enjoy. 

Topping options include: brownies, cookies, coconut, chocolate/caramel sauce, nuts, cherries, chocolate chips.  

There was one vegan flavor available-roasted coconut, which was yummy because they kept it simple, with a coconut milk base, toasted coconut, and chocolate shavings... a flavor combination you can't go wrong with.  Any Almond Joy lovers in the house?

There are a few tables located at the back of the truck and one in front.  

There are also many other places around Downtown Truckee where you can enjoy your ice cream.  The walk downtown is absolutely fun, with lots of ramps, things to climb on (for kids), little shops, great views, and fresh air from the evergreens surrounding the area.  

Me and my family visited the shop after a long and fun day at Donner State Memorial Park ($10 day use fee), which was only a few miles from here.  At the park, it's beyond scenic, with water sport rentals available, happy trails, lots of shaded patches of beach, picnic areas (BBQ), and the option to camp.  Little Truckee Ice Creamery ended up being the little ice cream truck that was the biggest cherry on top of our day.

Update 7/24/2020

I went back and tasted Toffee Chip, Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Lemonade, and Spooner Strawberry.  

All the flavors were super clean and fresh with Salted Caramel making a big impression and Strawberry Lemonade tasting super refreshing and yummy.  The chocolate flavor in Chocolate Brownie was super sophisticated with the homemade brownies adding another delectable layer of flavor and texture.  

If you're celebrating a special occasion on your visit or just celebrating life in general, their brownie sundae is the ultimate treat.  It's huge so it's ideal for sharing. 


Notes

-In a single, you are allowed two flavors.  

-They have a mini option, which is great for kids and sampling. 

-If planning on camping at Donner State Memorial Park, make sure to book your visit well in advance as the campsite books up fast. 

-At the Donner location, you can buy tacos on Fridays and coffee is available for purchase (as of 7/21/2022).

Prices as of 2020

categorized under "Good Eats"