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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 unusually 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 209-795-1381.
The lakes are set in a spectacular high alpine valley, close to the top of Ebbetts Pass at an elevation of 8,600 feet. These two lakes are unique in that they are headwaters for two different watersheds: the eastern lake flows into the Mokelumne River drainage, while the western lake flows into the Stanislaus River drainage. Maximum boat speed on both lakes is 5 mph, and gas powered motors are discouraged. Highland Lakes visitors enjoy camping, hiking and horseback riding.
During the winter months, Highway 4 is groomed for snowmobile use from the closure gate 2.5 miles east of Bear Valley to the top of Ebbetts Pass (approximately 15 miles) and to Highland Lakes. This trail has numerous segments, appropriate for different skill levels from novice to expert. As the trail climbs towards the pass, the views are spectacular. Opportunities exist for expert riders to continue riding on the un-groomed portion of the Highway on the east side of Ebbetts Pass. (Note: The groomed portion of Highway 4 is a multi-user trail, and is heavily used by nordic skiers as well as snowmobilers, particularly in the Lake Alpine region.)
You can pick up the most recent Over Snow Vehicle Use map at the Calaveras Ranger District office. Or download a Geotagged PDF of the Over Snow Vehicle Use Map here.
