The Scenic Highway 108 Sonora Pass route begins at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, and rises to an elevation of 9,628 feet above sea level. The pass connects the communities of Sonora to the west and Bridgeport to the east. Like Most high elevation passes across the Sierra Nevada, the highway is closed in the winter, generally between November and May, due to large quantities of snow.
The highway over the pass is extremely steep, narrow and winding between Kennedy Meadows on the west side to Leavitt Meadows on the east. The route is not recommended for vehicles or vehicle combinations that are unusally wide, heavy or long. Adjacent to the summit of the pass is a picnic/parking area to nearby Sonora Peak, Wolf Creek Lake, and other spots north or south along the Pacific Crest Trail.
California State law defines snowmobiles as Over Snow Vehicles (OSV). All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) are not considered Over Snow Vehicles. Both ATVs and OSVs are considered Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV). Many areas of the Summit Ranger District are open and accessible for motorized oversnow travel during the winter months. The District offers over 30 miles of groomed OSV routes, as well as many more miles of un-groomed trail and open cross-country riding areas.
Welcome to the Calaveras Ranger District, which encompasses the Highway 4 corridor in the northwest portion of the Stanislaus National Forest. For more information please call the Calaveras Ranger District at 209-813-6007.
