From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia list article
The following is a list of mountain passes and gaps in California . California is geographically diverse with numerous roads and railways traversing within its borders. In the middle of the U.S. state lies the California Central Valley , bounded by the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the Sierra Nevada to the east, the Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. Although most of these passes are now traversed by state highways, some date prior to California's statehood in 1850 and are today registered as California Historical Landmarks .
* Interstate highway bypasses the actual mountain pass
^ Long-distance trail. No road or rail access
Name
Mountain range
County
Elevation
Coordinates
Primary access route
Other access route(s)
GNIS
Altamont Pass
Diablo Range
Alameda
1,009 feet (308 m)
37°44′45″N 121°39′30″W / 37.74583°N 121.65833°W / 37.74583; -121.65833 (Altamont Pass )
I-580 *
Altamont Pass RoadUnion Pacific Railroad
218189
Anderson Grade Summit
Cascade Range
Siskiyou
3,067 feet (935 m)
41°48′06″N 122°34′55″W / 41.80167°N 122.58194°W / 41.80167; -122.58194 (Anderson Grade Summit )
I-5
N/A
Apache Saddle
San Emigdio Mountains
Kern
6,099 feet (1,859 m)
34°51′38″N 119°12′34″W / 34.86056°N 119.20944°W / 34.86056; -119.20944 (Apache Saddle )
FH 95
Cerro Noroeste Road
254416
Bear Divide
San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
2,687 feet (819 m)
34°21′36″N 118°23′36″W / 34.36000°N 118.39333°W / 34.36000; -118.39333 (Bear Divide )
Little Tujunga Canyon Road
Santa Clara Truck Trail
239096
Beckwourth Pass [1]
Sierra Nevada
Plumas
5,221 feet (1,591 m)
39°47′30″N 120°6′28″W / 39.79167°N 120.10778°W / 39.79167; -120.10778 (Beckwourth Pass )
SR 70
Feather River Route
256775
Bushnell Summit
Sierra Pelona Mountains
Los Angeles
4,101 feet (1,250 m)
39°47′30″N 120°6′28″W / 39.79167°N 120.10778°W / 39.79167; -120.10778 (Beckwourth Pass )
CR N2
Forest Route 7N23
239899
Black Butte Summit
Cascade Range
Siskiyou
3,912 feet (1,192 m)
41°21′59″N 122°20′53″W / 41.36639°N 122.34806°W / 41.36639; -122.34806 (Black Butte Summit )
I-5
n/a
Cahuenga Pass
Santa Monica Mountains
Los Angeles
745 feet (227 m)
34°7′28″N 118°20′34″W / 34.12444°N 118.34278°W / 34.12444; -118.34278 (Cahuenga Pass )
US 101
239987
Cajon Pass
San Bernardino /San Gabriel Mountains
San Bernardino
3,777 feet (1,151 m)
34°19′33″N 117°25′42″W / 34.32583°N 117.42833°W / 34.32583; -117.42833 (Cajon Pass )
I-15 *
SR 138 Union Pacific Railroad BNSF Railway
270155
Carson Pass [2]
Sierra Nevada
Alpine
8,574 feet (2,613 m)
38°41′38″N 119°59′15″W / 38.69389°N 119.98750°W / 38.69389; -119.98750 (Carson Pass )
SR 88
258006
Cedar Pass
Warner Mountains
Modoc
6,407 feet (1,953 m)
41°33′45″N 120°16′08″W / 41.56250°N 120.26889°W / 41.56250; -120.26889 (Cedar Pass )
SR 299
220791
Cloudburst Summit
San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
7,034 feet (2,144 m)
34°21′05″N 117°56′04″W / 34.35139°N 117.93444°W / 34.35139; -117.93444 (Cloudburst Summit )
SR 2
Pacific Crest Trail
240711
Conway Summit
Sierra Nevada
Mono
8,143 feet (2,482 m)
38°05′17″N 119°10′55″W / 38.08806°N 119.18194°W / 38.08806; -119.18194 (Conway Summit )
US 395
258665
Corral Hollow Pass
Diablo Range
Alameda
1,600 feet (490 m)
37°38′57″N 121°36′34″W / 37.64917°N 121.60944°W / 37.64917; -121.60944 (Corral Hollow Pass )
CR J2
N/A
Cottonwood Pass
Diablo Range
Kern
1,312 feet (400 m)
Unknown
SR 41
N/A
Damnation Pass
Klamath Mountains
Shasta
4,278 feet (1,304 m)
40°56′31″N 122°32′28″W / 40.94194°N 122.54111°W / 40.94194; -122.54111 (Damnation Pass )
Dog Creek Road
Sanford Pass Road
259027
Dawson Saddle
San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
7,943 feet (2,421 m)
34°22′04″N 117°48′12″W / 34.36778°N 117.80333°W / 34.36778; -117.80333 (Dawson Saddle )
SR 2
241294
Deadman Summit
Sierra Nevada
Mono
8,047 feet (2,453 m)
37°46′15″N 119°00′30″W / 37.77083°N 119.00833°W / 37.77083; -119.00833 (Deadman Summit )
US 395
N/A
Devil's Gate Pass
Sweetwater Mountains
Mono
7,519 feet (2,292 m)
38°20′54″N 119°21′43″W / 38.34833°N 119.36194°W / 38.34833; -119.36194 (Devil's Gate Pass )
US 395
222305
Donner Pass
Sierra Nevada
Nevada
7,056 feet (2,151 m)
39°18′57″N 120°19′17″W / 39.31583°N 120.32139°W / 39.31583; -120.32139 (Donner Pass )
I-80 *
Donner Pass RoadCalifornia Trail Overland Route
259475
Ebbetts Pass [3]
Sierra Nevada
Alpine
8,736 feet (2,663 m)
38°32′40″N 119°48′43″W / 38.54444°N 119.81194°W / 38.54444; -119.81194 (Ebbetts Pass )
SR 4
259784
Echo Summit
Sierra Nevada
El Dorado
7,382 feet (2,250 m)
38°48′47″N 120°01′49″W / 38.81306°N 120.03028°W / 38.81306; -120.03028 (Echo Summit )
US 50
259792
Etna Summit
Klamath Mountains
Siskiyou
5,912 feet (1,802 m)
41°23′42″N 122°59′35″W / 41.39500°N 122.99306°W / 41.39500; -122.99306 (Etna Summit )
Sawyers Bar Road
Pacific Crest Trail
259971
Fandango Pass [4]
Warner Mountains
Modoc
6,135 feet (1,870 m)
41°48′08″N 120°12′12″W / 41.80222°N 120.20333°W / 41.80222; -120.20333 (Fandango Pass )
Fandango Pass Road
223385
Forester Pass
Sierra Nevada
Tulare
13,153 feet (4,009 m)
36°41′39″N 118°22′19″W / 36.69417°N 118.37194°W / 36.69417; -118.37194 (Forester Pass (John Muir Trail) )
John Muir Trail ^
260262
Fredonyer Pass
Sierra Nevada /Cascades
Lassen
5,751 feet (1,753 m)
40°21′35″N 120°52′03″W / 40.35972°N 120.86750°W / 40.35972; -120.86750 (Fredonyer Pass )
SR 36
260357
Gaviota Pass [5]
Santa Ynez Mountains
Santa Barbara
135 feet (41 m)
34°29′22″N 120°13′34″W / 34.48944°N 120.22611°W / 34.48944; -120.22611 (Gaviota Pass )
US 101
271287
Gilbert Pass
White /Inyo Mountains
Inyo
6,381 feet (1,945 m)
37°25′51″N 117°56′19″W / 37.43083°N 117.93861°W / 37.43083; -117.93861 (Gilbert Pass )
SR 168
1667222
Glen Pass
Sierra Nevada
Fresno
11,798 feet (3,596 m)
36°47′20″N 118°24′45″W / 36.78889°N 118.41250°W / 36.78889; -118.41250 (Glen Pass (John Muir Trail) )
John Muir Trail ^
260603
Godde Pass
Sierra Pelona Mountains
Los Angeles
3,386 feet (1,032 m)
34°02′20″N 116°49′49″W / 34.03889°N 116.83028°W / 34.03889; -116.83028 (Godde Pass )
Godde Hill Road
271321
Greenhorn Summit
Sierra Nevada
Kern
6,092 feet (1,857 m)
35°44′18″N 118°33′26″W / 35.73833°N 118.55722°W / 35.73833; -118.55722 (Greenhorn Summit )
SR 155
Rancheria Road
271436
Gunsight Pass
San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino
7,316 feet (2,230 m)
34°36′30″N 118°14′40″W / 34.60833°N 118.24444°W / 34.60833; -118.24444 (Gunsight Pass )
Raywood Flat Road
243090
Hatchet Mountain Pass
Klamath Mountains /Cascade Range
Shasta
4,340 feet (1,320 m)
40°51′09″N 121°46′01″W / 40.85250°N 121.76694°W / 40.85250; -121.76694 (Hatchet Mountain Pass )
SR 299
261152
Hecker Pass
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz
1,339 feet (408 m)
36°59′40″N 121°43′02″W / 36.99444°N 121.71722°W / 36.99444; -121.71722 (Hecker Pass )
SR 152
225111
Henness Pass
Sierra Nevada
Sierra
6,916 feet (2,108 m)
39°30′10″N 120°26′22″W / 39.50278°N 120.43944°W / 39.50278; -120.43944 (Henness Pass )
Henness Pass Road
225177
Ibex Pass
Sperry Hills
Inyo -San Bernardino border
2,072 feet (632 m)
35°47′40″N 116°20′26″W / 35.79444°N 116.34056°W / 35.79444; -116.34056 (Ibex Pass )
SR 127
243763
Islip Saddle
San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
6,670 feet (2,030 m)
34°21′25″N 117°51′02″W / 34.35694°N 117.85056°W / 34.35694; -117.85056 (Islip Saddle )
SR 2
SR 39 (closed)Pacific Crest Trail
243931
Laguna Summit
Cuyamaca Mountains
San Diego
4,055 feet (1,236 m)
32°48′39″N 116°30′36″W / 32.81083°N 116.51000°W / 32.81083; -116.51000 (Laguna Summit )
I-8
Sunrise Highway
N/A
Lord-Ellis Summit
Northern Coast Ranges
Humboldt
2,267 feet (691 m)
40°55′49″N 123°51′36″W / 40.93028°N 123.86000°W / 40.93028; -123.86000 (Lord-Ellis Summit )
SR 299
Old Dolly Varden Road Old Highway 200
262920
Low Gap
Northern Coast Ranges
Trinity
2,753 feet (839 m)
40°27′38″N 123°31′25″W / 40.46056°N 123.52361°W / 40.46056; -123.52361 (Low Gap )
SR 36
262992
Luther Pass
Sierra Nevada
Alpine -El Dorado border
7,740 feet (2,360 m)
38°47′13″N 119°56′45″W / 38.78694°N 119.94583°W / 38.78694; -119.94583 (Luther Pass )
SR 89
263076
Mendocino Pass
Northern Coast Ranges
Glenn
5,006 feet (1,526 m)
39°47′39″N 122°56′06″W / 39.79417°N 122.93500°W / 39.79417; -122.93500 (Mendocino Pass )
FH 7 / SR 162
263454
Minaret Summit
Sierra Nevada
Madera -Mono border
9,265 feet (2,824 m)
37°39′23″N 119°03′37″W / 37.65639°N 119.06028°W / 37.65639; -119.06028 (Minaret Summit )
SR 203
Reds Meadow Road
263666
Mission Pass
Diablo Range
Alameda
662 feet (202 m)
37°33′37″N 121°54′39″W / 37.56028°N 121.91083°W / 37.56028; -121.91083 (Mission Pass )
I-680
228838
Monitor Pass
Sierra Nevada
Alpine
8,314 feet (2,534 m)
38°40′32″N 119°37′10″W / 38.67556°N 119.61944°W / 38.67556; -119.61944 (Monitor Pass )
SR 89
228917
Morgan Summit
Sierra Nevada
Tehama
5,760 feet (1,760 m)
40°21′50″N 121°32′07″W / 40.36389°N 121.53528°W / 40.36389; -121.53528 (Morgan Summit )
SR 89 / SR 36
1659178
Mount Baldy Notch
San Gabriel Mountains
San Bernardino
7,821 feet (2,384 m)
34°16′22″N 117°36′38″W / 34.27278°N 117.61056°W / 34.27278; -117.61056 (Mount Baldy Notch )
Mount Baldy Road (Private)
246254
Muir Pass
Sierra Nevada
Fresno
11,955 feet (3,644 m)
37°06′42″N 118°40′14″W / 37.11167°N 118.67056°W / 37.11167; -118.67056 (Muir Pass (John Muir Trail) )
John Muir Trail ^
263951
Newhall/Fremont Pass
Santa Susana /San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
750 feet (230 m)
34°20′43″N 118°30′26″W / 34.34528°N 118.50722°W / 34.34528; -118.50722 (Newhall Pass )
I-5
SR 14 San Fernando Road Sierra Highway
242485
Oak Creek Pass [6]
Tehachapi Mountains
Kern
4,820 feet (1,470 m)
35°03′39″N 118°23′20″W / 35.06083°N 118.38889°W / 35.06083; -118.38889 (Oak Creek Pass )
Tehachapi Willow Springs Road
246716
Onyx Summit
San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino
8,443 feet (2,573 m)
34°11′32″N 116°43′8″W / 34.19222°N 116.71889°W / 34.19222; -116.71889 (Onyx Summit )
SR 38
272805
Oregon Mountain Summit
Klamath Mountains
Trinity
2,910 feet (890 m)
40°44′19″N 122°58′59″W / 40.73861°N 122.98306°W / 40.73861; -122.98306 (Oregon Mountain Summit )
SR 299
Glennison Gap Road Jennings Road
1665401
Pacheco Pass [7]
Diablo Range
Santa Clara
1,368 feet (417 m)
37°3′59″N 121°13′7″W / 37.06639°N 121.21861°W / 37.06639; -121.21861 (Pacheco Pass )
SR 152
230196
Pacific Grade Summit
Sierra Nevada
Alpine
8,051 feet (2,454 m)
38°31′00″N 119°54′34″W / 38.51667°N 119.90944°W / 38.51667; -119.90944 (Pacific Grad Summit )
SR 4
274786
Panoche Pass
Diablo Range
San Benito
2,250 feet (690 m)
36°37′41″N 121°00′51″W / 36.62806°N 121.01417°W / 36.62806; -121.01417 (Panoche Pass )
CR J1
230286
Patchen Pass
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz -Santa Clara border
1,814 feet (553 m)
37°08′39″N 121°59′05″W / 37.14417°N 121.98472°W / 37.14417; -121.98472 (Patchen Pass )
SR 17
Summit Road
252422
Pine Mountain Summit
Santa Ynez Mountains
Ventura
5,160 feet (1,570 m)
34°39′00″N 119°23′08″W / 34.65000°N 119.38556°W / 34.65000; -119.38556 (Pine Mountain Summit )
SR 33
N/A
Polonio Pass
Temblor / Diablo Range
Kern
1,407 feet (429 m)
Unknown
SR 46
N/A
Ridgewood Summit
Mendocino Range
Mendocino
1,956 feet (596 m)
39°20′27″N 123°19′00″W / 39.3407°N 123.3167°W / 39.3407; -123.3167 (Ridgewood Summit )
US 101
N/A
San Francisquito Pass
Sierra Pelona Mountains
Los Angeles
1,114 feet (340 m)
34°38′22″N 118°22′50″W / 34.63944°N 118.38056°W / 34.63944; -118.38056 (San Francisquito Pass )
San Francisquito Canyon Road
N/A
San Gorgonio Pass
San Bernardino /San Jacinto Mountains
Riverside
1,591 feet (485 m)
33°55′0″N 116°45′03″W / 33.91667°N 116.75083°W / 33.91667; -116.75083 (San Gorgonio Pass )
I-10
Union Pacific Railroad
273482
San Marcos Pass
Santa Ynez Mountains
Santa Barbara
2,225 feet (678 m)
34°30′42″N 119°49′29″W / 34.51167°N 119.82472°W / 34.51167; -119.82472 (San Marcos Pass )
SR 154
248912
Santa Rosa Summit
Santa Rosa
Riverside
4,997 feet (1,523 m)
33°33′41″N 116°34′13″W / 33.56139°N 116.57028°W / 33.56139; -116.57028 (Santa Rosa Summit )
SR 74
273567
Santa Susana Pass
Santa Susana Mountains /Simi Hills
Los Angeles
1,608 feet (490 m)
34°16′06″N 118°37′58″W / 34.26833°N 118.63278°W / 34.26833; -118.63278 (Santa Susana Pass )
SR 118
Santa Susana Pass Road
249127
Sepulveda Pass
Santa Monica Mountains
Los Angeles
1,130 feet (340 m)
34°7′37″N 118°28′29″W / 34.12694°N 118.47472°W / 34.12694; -118.47472 (Sepulveda Pass )
I-405
Sepulveda Boulevard
N/A
Sherman Pass
Sierra Nevada
Tulare
9,200 feet (2,800 m)
35°59′26″N 118°21′57″W / 35.99056°N 118.36583°W / 35.99056; -118.36583 (Sherman Pass )
Sherman Pass Road
1667613
Sherwin Summit
Sierra Nevada
Mono
6,426 feet (1,959 m)
37°30′52″N 118°37′40″W / 37.51444°N 118.62778°W / 37.51444; -118.62778 (Sherwin Summit )
US 395
1659642
Soledad Pass
Sierra Pelona / San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
3,209 feet (978 m)
34°30′24″N 118°6′44″W / 34.50667°N 118.11222°W / 34.50667; -118.11222 (Soledad Pass )
SR 14
Angeles Forest Highway Sierra Highway Union Pacific Railroad
273803
Sonora Pass
Sierra Nevada
Mono -Tuolumne border
9,624 feet (2,933 m)
38°19′40″N 119°38′9″W / 38.32778°N 119.63583°W / 38.32778; -119.63583 (Sonora Pass )
SR 108
1934439
Tehachapi Pass
Tehachapi Mountains / Sierra Nevada
Kern
3,771 feet (1,149 m)
35°06′08″N 118°16′58″W / 35.10222°N 118.28278°W / 35.10222; -118.28278 (Tehachapi Pass )
SR 58
Union Pacific Railroad
254326
Tejon Pass
Sierra Pelona / Tehachapi / San Emigdio Mountains
Los Angeles / Kern County
4,160 feet (1,270 m)
34°48′10″N 118°52′37″W / 34.80278°N 118.87694°W / 34.80278; -118.87694 (Tejon Pass )
I-5
North Peace Valley Road
274055
Teofulio Summit
San Felipe Hills
San Diego
3,681 feet (1,122 m)
33°12′17″N 116°36′13″W / 33.20472°N 116.60361°W / 33.20472; -116.60361 (Teofulio Summit )
CR S2
252258
Tioga Pass
Sierra Nevada
Mono -Tuolumne border
9,943 feet (3,031 m)
37°54′40″N 119°15′29″W / 37.91111°N 119.25806°W / 37.91111; -119.25806 (Tioga Pass )
SR 120
255154
Towne Pass
Inyo Mountains
Inyo
5,000 feet (1,500 m)
unknown
SR 190
n/a
Vincent Gap
San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles
6,581 feet (2,006 m)
34°22′25″N 117°45′08″W / 34.37361°N 117.75222°W / 34.37361; -117.75222 (Vincent Gap )
SR 2
Big Rock Creek RoadPacific Crest Trail
251060
Walker Pass [8]
Sierra Nevada
Kern
5,250 feet (1,600 m)
35°39′47″N 118°1′37″W / 35.66306°N 118.02694°W / 35.66306; -118.02694 (Walker Pass )
SR 178
Pacific Crest Trail
255847
Westgard Pass
White /Inyo Mountains
Inyo
7,313 feet (2,229 m)
37°18′01″N 118°09′11″W / 37.30028°N 118.15306°W / 37.30028; -118.15306 (Westgard Pass )
SR 168
237547
Yaqui Pass
Santa Rosa
San Diego
1,742 feet (531 m)
33°08′47″N 116°21′06″W / 33.14639°N 116.35167°W / 33.14639; -116.35167 (Yaqui Pass )
CR S3
251845
Yuba Pass
Sierra Nevada
Sierra
6,709 feet (2,045 m)
39°37′3″N 120°29′20″W / 39.61750°N 120.48889°W / 39.61750; -120.48889 (Yuba Pass )
SR 49
238294
See also
References
^ "Beckwourth Pass" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . Beckwourth Pass ... was discovered in 1851 by James P. Beckwourth
^ "Kit Carson Marker" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . On this spot, the summit of the Kit Carson Pass, stood the Kit Carson Tree on which the famous scout Kit Carson inscribed his name in 1844 when he guided the then Captain John C. Frémont, head of a government exploring expedition, over the Sierra Nevada
^ "Ebbetts Pass Route" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . The Emigrant Trail through Ebbetts Pass, discovered by and named after Major John Ebbetts, was opened up in the early 1850s
^ "Applegate-Lassen Emigrant Trail (Fandango Pass)" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . This spot marks the convergence of two pioneer trails used by emigrants during the years 1846-1850
^ "Gaviota Pass" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . Here, on Christmas Day, 1846, natives and soldiers from the Presidio of Santa Barbara lay in ambush for Lieutenant Colonel John C. Frémont ... [he] learned of the plot and ... came instead over the San Marcos Pass to capture Santa Barbara
^ "Oak Creek Pass" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . In 1776, Father Francisco Garcés used the Oak Creek Pass to return to the Mojave after exploring the San Joaquin Valley
^ "Pacheco Pass" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . On June 21, 1805, on his first exploratory journey into the San Joaquin Valley, Lieutenant Gabriel Moraga traversed and recorded this pass
^ "Walker Pass" . Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved July 8, 2013 . Discovered by Joseph R. Walker, American trailblazer, who left the San Joaquin Valley through this pass in 1834