The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will open State Route 4/Ebbetts Pass and Route 108/Sonora Pass at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022, for the spring season. The passes offer access to some of the world’s finest springtime backcountry skiing and riding.
Caltrans opened Route 89/Monitor Pass on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from a storm closure.
Caltrans District 10 manages three trans-Sierra passes in the central Sierra that are closed during winter and generally open in spring: Ebbetts Pass/SR-4 in Alpine County, Sonora Pass/SR-108 (Tuolumne County), and Monitor Pass/SR-89 (Alpine County).
Highway 108 over Sonora Pass leaves Hwy 49 in Sonora, CA, and rolls about 50 miles up to the Tuolumne/Mono County line at 9624′, before dropping 16 miles down to Highway 395 at Sonora Junction north of Bridgeport, CA. Highway 108 is the access for Dodge Ridge Ski Area, Eagle Meadows, Kennedy Meadows, Sonora Pass, and Leavitt Lake, all of which provide jumping-off points for backcountry skiing. Above Kennedy Meadows, this is a steep, winding, narrow, two-lane road.
Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass leaves Highway 49 in Angel’s Camp, CA, and travels 61 miles from Arnold, CA over the 8736′ pass to Markleeville, CA. You can access Highway 89 to Highway 395 over Monitor Pass before you get to Markleeville. Highway 4 accesses Bear Valley Mountain Resort, Lake Alpine, Highland Lakes, and Ebbetts Pass. Above Lake Alpine, this is a steep, narrow, winding road, often with only a single lane. The current west side closer is at the east end of Lake Alpine, with crews clearing to near Mosquito Lake.
District 10’s goal always is to open the mountain passes the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend, and their crews have worked hard to meet this goal.
Even though the pass is open, motorists still should be prepared for emergencies, as weather and road conditions can change rapidly.
For the latest information on road conditions throughout District 10, follow them on Twitter (@CaltransDist10) or Facebook (CaltransDistrict10).
Before you hit the road, plan your trip with the Caltrans QuickMap app or website at quickmap.dot.ca.gov. You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).
