Sonora Pass open today (6/9/2023) UPDATE for 5-8-25

[civiclx]

Hoping no one minds that I post another little update only a week later. I don't know if they're moving any faster than in previous years but CalTrans does have 108 open up to Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station. I believe Kennedy Meadows is about 26 miles from Strawberry and it looks like it's about another 25 or 26 miles to Sonora Junction at Highway 395. The reason I keep checking 108 is because that's the way I go up to the mountains when I get out of town. I discovered Twin Lakes back in 2023 and fell in love with the scenery so that's become my destination each time I've gone up after that June/July discovery two years ago.

Again, apologies for another post such a short time later and when it's not fully open yet. I'll save my next post for when the pass is fully open

 

[greenmonster]

Don’t apologize. Your enthusiasm runs through

 

[BillSmith]

civiclx- As noted above, no reason to apologize. Lots of us ride the passes. More information, and in timely fashion, is appreciated.

You might even earn the nickname Lou the II.

 

[Escape pod]

Blue light on Lu the two’s post / informative and appreciated.

 

[vaara]

Ebbetts is reopening on Thursday the 8th. Sonora is clear of snow but needs some damage repaired. Opening date is TBD.

Update: Snow Cleared On Sonora And Ebbetts Pass - myMotherLode.com

Caltrans updates that one of the passes will open later this week, while the other will remain closed a little longer.

www.mymotherlode.com

 

[vaara]

Looks like Sonora is opening tomorrow (5/15).

 

[civiclx]

Looks like Sonora is opening tomorrow (5/15).

Saw that as well but it wasn't until I saw a comment on a FB post that I saw that it says it will be open going WB but I believe it says that EB will still be closed. This was on a FB page from CalTrans District 10.
Seeing that part of Ebbetts Pass was temporarily closed again, I'm glad that any weather has not affected the date for Sonora Pass opening. I am planning to hit Bridgeport during the Memorial Day weekend and I will assume that Sonora Pass will be fully open in both directions by then, if not as soon as tomorrow.

 

[vaara]

Ah OK. I was going by an article on MyMotherLode.com from Monday.

 

[BillSmith]

As much as California needs a robust snowpack, it is nice to see the Sierra passes opening. Motorcycle is wiggling in the garage with anticipation.

 

[civiclx]

As vaara said, Sonora Pass is now open all the way up to 395. It appears that it's open in both directions, eastbound and westbound. Bridgeport, Twin Lakes here I come

 

[Das MotorRad]

As vaara said, Sonora Pass is now open all the way up to 395. It appears that it's open in both directions, eastbound and westbound. Bridgeport, Twin Lakes here I come

i'm thinking of doing either ebbetts or sonora next week, probably friday. i'd head out from marsh creek in east bay, have you been to the mountains yet on two wheels?

 

[civiclx]

i'm thinking of doing either ebbetts or sonora next week, probably friday. i'd head out from marsh creek in east bay, have you been to the mountains yet on two wheels?

I haven't! And to be honest, I'm not sure I would want to take my DR650 all the way up to Bridgeport. I'd love to be able to tow it one day with my Mazda3. It does appear that towing with my car is possible. Besides that being quite a long ride up there on a dual sport, I sleep in my car while I'm up there.

I'm not sure where Marsh Creek is. I'll have to Google it. I'm not sure what the weather will be like in the next few days. My mom said she read that a big storm is coming and they may close it again. I have Monday and Tuesday night off from work and I will have Memorial Day off so I would leave on on the morning of Sunday the 28th. Will you spend the night when you go up? As I mentioned previously, I have never been up past Lake Alpine on Ebbetts. I wasn't even familiar with that area until my parents relocated from Sonora to Murphys. Beautiful country up there!

 

[Das MotorRad]

I haven't! And to be honest, I'm not sure I would want to take my DR650 all the way up to Bridgeport. I'd love to be able to tow it one day with my Mazda3. It does appear that towing with my car is possible. Besides that being quite a long ride up there on a dual sport, I sleep in my car while I'm up there.

I'm not sure where Marsh Creek is. I'll have to Google it. I'm not sure what the weather will be like in the next few days. My mom said she read that a big storm is coming and they may close it again. I have Monday and Tuesday night off from work and I will have Memorial Day off so I would leave on on the morning of Sunday the 28th. Will you spend the night when you go up? As I mentioned previously, I have never been up past Lake Alpine on Ebbetts. I wasn't even familiar with that area until my parents relocated from Sonora to Murphys. Beautiful country up there!

ah i see, so you are planning to take the mazda3? yes, it would be a long haul on the dr650. if i were in your shoes with less than a few months of riding under my belt, i'd be looking at local roads to cut my teeth on.

marsh creek is hwy 4 before it turns into hwy 4, starting in clayton.

this will just be a day ride, blast up and back in around 9 hours, it will be one of the first 'long' rides on my gsa. beautiful is right! i love the first full breathe of fresh mountain air, i swear i can feel my blood pressure drop even just thinking about the ride!

 

[civiclx]

ah i see, so you are planning to take the mazda3? yes, it would be a long haul on the dr650. if i were in your shoes with less than a few months of riding under my belt, i'd be looking at local roads to cut my teeth on.

marsh creek is hwy 4 before it turns into hwy 4, starting in clayton.

this will just be a day ride, blast up and back in around 9 hours, it will be one of the first 'long' rides on my gsa. beautiful is right! i love the first full breathe of fresh mountain air, i swear i can feel my blood pressure drop even just thinking about the ride!

Yeah, it's a special place for sure. How lucky are we to have it in our backyard. I'm not sure if I've ever been to Lake Tahoe so I'm going to have to get up there someday. I know I haven't been as an adult. For your ride, what about up Ebbetts and back on Sonora or vice versa?

And yeah, that would be a heck of a long ride for a beginning rider. I feel like I could handle it but my body may say different. So far, the furthest I've been on the freeway is only about 10 miles on 880 from where I live in downtown San Jose to the dealer in Fremont. I'll bring the car and my mountain bike and look forward to some riding, maybe some hiking and a whole lot of enjoying the beautiful scenery. I fell in love with Twin Lakes back in 2023 and now I can't imagine not going up there when ever I get the chance.

 

[vaara]

I did overnight Ebbetts/Monitor/Sonora rides during opening weekend last year & the year before; not this year though (the guy I normally go with is currently bikeless ). Maybe we’ll go the first w/e of June if it’s not too hot in the Valley.

 

[bikeama]

I did overnight Ebbetts/Monitor/Sonora rides during opening weekend last year & the year before; not this year though (the guy I normally go with is currently bikeless ). Maybe we’ll go the first w/e of June if it’s not too hot in the Valley.

I have watched the gates open several times. Ebbetts was the cleanest I have ever ridden it, I was told they run the sweeper just before opening. Had a TKR 11 days ago so will be a while before I go.

 

[eskiemong]

No notification before they are opening the pass this year. Could have done Ebbetts and Sonora today. Will do soon. Only Tioga left to open, but the best loop of Ebbetts and Sonora are now open.

Oh yay. Thanks for the info

 

[atoyf]

subscribing, if ya'll planning a long day ride to Yosemite and back, i would be down, depends on the weekend though..

 

[civiclx]

Going to add that Tioga Pass/120 is scheduled to reopen at 8am on Monday. You will need a reservation to enter the park between 6am to 2pm. I believe it said that starting the 27th, you won't need a reservation until June 15th. I'm going to go over Sonora Pass and base at Bridgeport/Twin Lakes so Tioga Pass is the way that I would get to Yosemite. Assuming it will be like last year where reservations won't be required if entering on foot or bicycle. I won't have the Suzuki with me but I'll have the mountain bike.

 

[bikeama]

Going to add that Tioga Pass/120 is scheduled to reopen at 8am on Monday. You will need a reservation to enter the park between 6am to 2pm. I believe it said that starting the 27th, you won't need a reservation until June 15th. I'm going to go over Sonora Pass and base at Bridgeport/Twin Lakes so Tioga Pass is the way that I would get to Yosemite. Assuming it will be like last year where reservations won't be required if entering on foot or bicycle. I won't have the Suzuki with me but I'll have the mountain bike.

Correct. Below from the Yosemite NP website.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When will the reservation system be in place?

Reservations will be required to drive into or through Yosemite from 6 am to 2 pm on certain days between May 24 through September 1, 2025:

• May 24–May 26 (Memorial Day weekend): Reservation required to enter Yosemite between 6 am–2 pm.
• May 27–June 14: Reservation not required at any time.
• June 15–August 15: Reservation required to enter Yosemite between 6 am to 2 pm every day.
• August 16–August 29: Reservation not required at any time.
• August 30–September 1 (Labor Day weekend): Reservation required to enter Yosemite between 6 am to 2 pm.

On days when reservations are required, you can enter before 6 am and after 2 pm without a peak-hours reservation but will still need to pay the entrance fee.


EDIT, Don't forget National park passes. $80 per year If you go to a National Park 3 times you are money ahead.

Several of the passes are free, Click here for info.
Active Military and Veterans. Anyone with permanent disability.

A lifetime senior pass is $80