Sierra Passes?

[mbsv]

also, no need to dig through the thread. you can just look at the caltrans website for a usually accurate update.

they even have a crappy map now which highlights most closures:
http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/


btw another option (open with controls due to bits falling into canyon/canyon onto the road) is 49: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr49

it doesn't list traffic controls on 88 at the moment but maybe they're doing construction somewhere like the trashed part between silver lake and the carson spur?

 

[GetOuttaMyWay]

Closed: 4, 108, 120, Sherman Pass Rd (thru Sequoia NF)
Open: 178
Open, but boring: 50, 80
Open with traffic controls: 88
Fell into a canyon, but open: 70

What are traffic controls? When they only let cars go by in convoys? Caltrans isn't mentioning anything:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/display.php?page=sr88

 

[ScottRNelson]

btw another option (open with controls due to bits falling into canyon/canyon onto the road) is 49: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/sr49

Highway 49 doesn't include any passes. It stays along the west edge of the Sierras for its entire 300 mile length.

 

[EastBayDave]

Highway 49 doesn't include any passes. It stays along the west edge of the Sierras for its entire 300 mile length.

Yep; trying to ride the entire thing in a day is quite the chore. Tried it once; never again! Was nice road (quality), lots of traffic (Holiday weekend =dummy!), & CHP quite active (Got ticket near San Andreas, CA. Turns out the "Frogjumps" were that weekend. Derp.)

Ridden along it's length several times; was enjoyable the time I did it on a weekday morning (Bay Area to Auburn via Sonora.) THEN it was fun in light traffic. Rode w/riding partner, both of us on GPz's back in the 80's. We had a ball but tired at the end @ partners ranch N. of Auburn....

 

[monkeythumpa]

Highway 49 doesn't include any passes. It stays along the west edge of the Sierras for its entire 300 mile length.

When did Yuba Pass get stripped of pass status?

 

[jwb]

What are traffic controls? When they only let cars go by in convoys? Caltrans isn't mentioning anything:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/display.php?page=sr88

They often don't work on weekends, so it's no surprise that it's free and clear right now.

 

[ScottRNelson]

When did Yuba Pass get stripped of pass status?

The only thing Google Maps shows me for "Yuba Pass" is on I-80 just east of where Highway 20 connects in. Are you referring to the place just east of Sierra City? If so, that is not in the same league any of the rest of the passes on 120, 108, 4, 88, 89, 50 or I-80.

 

[Knobnose40]

Yuba Pass is on 49 with the top a few miles west of the intersection with 89. It's a really fun road with good bits starting just past Nevada City, can be a lot of traffic and is pretty aggressively patrolled in my experience.

 

[Plus Ultra]

If you guys are waiting for Ebbetts, Sonora and Tioga to open, consider this. 88 and 89 Monitor are open and the traffic is minimal. I've been over and back 3 times in the last 3 weeks to various destinations, topaz, Bridgeport, Virginia city. I had Monitor to myself last night on the return trip. When the other passes open up it will all change. Get out and enjoy while it lasts.

 

[jwb]

When did Yuba Pass get stripped of pass status?

Altamont is also a "pass" but nobody is trying to find out if 580 is open.

 

[EastBayDave]

Altamont is also a "pass" but nobody is trying to find out if 580 is open.

a personal favorite; f/unmentioned reasons.

 

[anglerdon]

Rode Carson Pass yesterday....beautiful.
Heading down #395 today.
Snow capped mountains everywhere.

 

[davidji]

Altamont is also a "pass" but nobody is trying to find out if 580 is open.

As is Mission Pass (on 680). But it doesn't seem likely to close for Winter.

Of course these aren't Sierra passes like in the subject...

 

[Ridley]

Are you referring to the place just east of Sierra City? If so, that is not in the same league any of the rest of the passes on 120, 108, 4, 88, 89, 50 or I-80.

And the same thing could be said about all the passes you mentioned...if your from Colorado. 120, 108, pfft those are bumps in the road. Independence, Wolf Creek, trail ridge Rd in Co... over 11,000ft are real passes, Ca passes barely break 9k.

Yuba Pass is a great ride. Take a fishing pole with you and enjoy the upper NYR.

 

[ScottRNelson]

And the same thing could be said about all the passes you mentioned...if your from Colorado. 120, 108, pfft those are bumps in the road. Independence, Wolf Creek, trail ridge Rd in Co... over 11,000ft are real passes, Ca passes barely break 9k.

Yuba Pass is a great ride. Take a fishing pole with you and enjoy the upper NYR.

If you check the Wikipedia article for Yuba Pass, it states: "Thus, unlike most of the well-known Sierra Nevada passes, including the much lower Beckwourth Pass on the east edge of the Sierra Valley, Yuba Pass does not lie on the Great Basin Divide."

And that's why I feel that it isn't in the same league as the others.


As for fishing, that would just wreck a great ride for me.

 

[Ridley]

If you check the Wikipedia article for Yuba Pass, it states: "Thus, unlike most of the well-known Sierra Nevada passes, including the much lower Beckwourth Pass on the east edge of the Sierra Valley, Yuba Pass does not lie on the Great Basin Divide."

And that's why I feel that it isn't in the same league as the others.


As for fishing, that would just wreck a great ride for me.

That is a really stupid reason for it to not be considered worthy of being a pass. Based on that logic, I guess that the so-called passes in Ca are not worthy of being called a pass since they don't measure up to those in Colorado.

Regardless you're missing out on some great fishing and a great road.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Regardless you're missing out on some great fishing and a great road.

I've been on the north end of Highway 49 and know that it's a great road. Everything from Nevada City north is great.

As for fishing, that's like missing a great time golfing or something. Or a great time watching paint dry. I ain't gonna have a great time doing it no matter what.

 

[davidji]

Sonora Pass Friday at noon.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1432360506844721&id=178603062220478

 

[Krooklyn]

Speaking of the passes, is Leviathan Peak worth taking a detour to see? Is the road up to that even open yet?

 

[seralat]

While you're up there, if you have a spare hour, take a detour over to Calaveras Dome. It's quite interesting. You can either take the road that goes by Bear River Reservoir or take Ellis Road a little bit further west. It's worth seeing at least once. Head towards Salt Springs Reservoir to get there.

Looks like both Ellis and Salt Springs are closed and unlikely to open soon, according to the US Forest Service site, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/landmanagement/?cid=fseprd539237, which is a drag as I'm heading up that way at the end of the month and this sounds like a fun detour.