Trans-Sierra Passes

Scotts Valley, CA, Library
    A look at the eastern approach on CA120 to Tioga Pass (9945'), highest of the passes crossing the Sierra Nevada in Californa.
    Most of the routes crossing the Sierra Nevada continue east to at least US395, if not farther. Luther, Walker, & Yuba Passes are omitted since they are shortcuts to other more heavily-traveled east-west passes.

 

 

    Sonora Pass (9624') on CA108 is the pass I've used to cross the Sierra Nevada the most often. It's the second-highest trans-Sierra pass.

 

    My favorite pass is not on a California State Route but is on US Forest Service Road #22S05 near the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. On a clear day one can see Mt Whitney to the NNE from the Vista Area atop Sherman Pass (9200'). Hwr, while paved, the road is not accessible by vehicles towing moderate to large trailers such as 5th-Wheelers. And most Class A RVs will be unable to navigate the hairpin turns from Kernville to Sherman Pass. [SeeTRGLinks below.]

 

 

    Ebbetts Pass (8736')is not for the faint-of-heart since it has improved only slightly from when it was a trail for the Miwok and Washoe Indians. Oh, this 4th-highest (by my rankings) pass on CA4 is passable, but avoid it unless you are an experienced driver of mountain roads.

 

 

 

 

    Red Lake near Carson Pass (8574') is not too far from Lake Tahoe on CA88.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A California State Historical Landmark on US50 for Echo Summit, near where the U.S. Track Team trained for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

 

 

 

 

 

    Donner Pass, named after the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846-7, has a couple of different heights depending on which road you use, 7056' or 7240' (Euer Saddle). [See the link below to Wikipedia's list of California's Mountain Passes.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

    The lowest of the trans-Sierra passes: Beckwourth Pass (5221').

 

 

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Links:

• Wikipedia article on Tioga Pass
• Wikipedia article on Sonora Pass
• Wikipedia article on Sherman Pass
• Wikipedia article on Ebbetts Pass
• Wikipedia article on Carson Pass
• Wikipedia article on Echo Summit
• Wikipedia article on Donner Pass
• Wikipedia article on Beckwourth Pass
• Wikipedia list of Mountain Passes in Calif.

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TRG Links:

• Yosemite:Tioga Rd
• Over Sonora Pass
• Sherman Pass
• & Ebbetts Pass
• Carson Pass
• We Relate site on Donner Pass
• Chasing Blue Sky site on Beckwourth Pass

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Routes:

• F 26 Aug Actual Route: DWL's - Aptos Lib - Marina W/M - Castroville - DWL's
• Sa 27 Aug Actual Route: DWL's - Salvation Army - Goodwill - DWL's
...
• T 30 Aug Actual Route: DWL's - Aptos Lib - Los Banos - Watorford - Groveland R/S
• W 31 Aug Actual Route: The Pines USFS CG - Crane Flat - Tioga Pass - Benton - Montgomery Ps - US95 R/A
• Th 1 Sep Actual Route: US95 R/A - Tonapah,NV - RR Vy - Ely - Prospector Casino RV Pk
• F 2 Sep Actual Route: Prospector RV Pk - Baker - Gt Basin NP - Delta,UT - Salina (Hollys Pantry)
• Sa 3 Sep Actual Route: Hollys Pantry - Green River - Grand Jcn,CO, Lowe's - Rimrock Rd W/M
• Su 4 Sep Actual Route: Rimrock Rd W/M - $ Tree - Lowe's - Rimrock Rd W/M
• M 5 Sep Route: Rimrock Rd W/M - Lowe's - Rimrock Rd W/M
• T 6 Sep Route: Rimrock Rd W/M - Sears - Rifle

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Finding Campgrounds:

• RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
• Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
• Free campsites website
• Info on finding BLM Campgrounds

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.