Central Sierra

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

We think the Central Sierra has the best motorcycle roads in the entire mountain range. The quality—and quantity—of twisty, long-distance rides here is amazing. This could be some of the best riding in North America.

There are 22 passes in the 400-mile (640-kilometer) length of the Sierra Nevada range. Ten of those passes are in the Central Sierra, all packed within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of spectacular high-elevation terrain.

All ten of those Central Sierra passes are above 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) of elevation. Six are higher than 8,000 feet (2,438 meters). And two are above 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). The highest, Tioga Pass, is just under 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

Mountain pass roads of the Central Sierra

Here’s a list of all the passes in the Central Sierra, from north to south, with links to read a few facts about each:

• Mount Rose Summit, NV 431
• Spooner Summit, US 50
• Daggett Pass/Kingsbury Grade, NV 207
• Echo Summit, US 50
• Luther Pass, CA 89
• Carson Pass, CA 88
• Monitor Pass, CA 89
• Ebbetts Pass, CA 4
• Sonora Pass, CA 108
• Tioga Pass, CA 120

Best roads for motorcycling

Here are our favorites:

• Sonora Pass, CA 108
• Ebbetts Pass, CA 4
• Monitor Pass, CA 89

And here’s why:

Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass, on California State Route 108, is our favorite. We think it is the best motorcycle road in the Central Sierra, and possibly in the entire range. Heading east from the historic Gold Rush town of Sonora you’ll travel 80 miles up and over the mountains before dropping suddenly down into the Eastern Sierra.

The scenery is beautiful for most of the ride. It is spectacular for the last 40 miles (64 kilometers) or so, up and over the crest, to the junction with US 395.

Ebbetts Pass

Ebbetts Pass, on California State Route 4, is probably one of the least-used routes over the Sierra Crest. And it is one of the best roads for motorcycling in the Sierra. It has tight, technical switchbacks and grades in excess of 23 percent.

Long stretches of roadway on Ebbetts Pass are less than two lanes wide, with no center stripe. It is common to find large vehicles taking up most of the road, leaving little room for you. It can be a demanding—and rewarding— ride.

Monitor Pass

Monitor Pass, on California State Route 89, is also one of the best roads for motorcyclists. It’s got big, sweeping curves, tight twisty switchbacks, spectacular scenery, and hardly any traffic.

One of the best things about Monitor Pass is that you can use it to connect Sonora Pass and Ebbetts Pass. Imagine an epic day of riding, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) of incredible mountain scenery, fantastic twisties, and three Sierra passes over 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) high. We’ve done this. You should, too.

About the Central Sierra

There are no official definitions of exactly what constitutes the Central Sierra. It’s a unique and distinct region with only vague boundaries.

We think of the Central Sierra as that part of the range from Mount Rose Summit to Tioga Pass. That makes for a nice, neat group of ten passes in just about 100 miles of mountains.

The mountain pass highways are roads not boundaries. They connect places rather than separate them. So our definitions of the regions actually overlap slightly. You’ll see how this works when you use our Find Your Roads tool. We’ve included the passes at the junctions of two regions in both of those areas. So Mount Rose Summit will show in searches for either the Central Sierra or the Northern Sierra. And Tioga Pass will turn up in searches for the Central Sierra and the Southern Sierra.

Landscape

The Central Sierra is high and rugged. Between Mount Rose Summit and Tioga Pass there are 12 peaks higher than 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). Five of those are higher than 11,000 feet (3,352 meters) and two are higher than 12,000 feet (3,657 meters).

All those high peaks mean the roads over the mountains are also high, dramatic, and exhilarating. When winter sets in, four of the most rugged, most remote passes close until late spring. Those four passes are also some of the best motorcycle roads in the Central Sierra. And the shortened riding season makes them all the more desirable.

Weather

The four seasons are especially dramatic in the Central Sierra. The terrain seems to amplify the weather.

Spring

Spring comes to the Central Sierra any time from early April through June. At the highest elevations, spring wildflowers will bloom in July.

Whenever spring arrives it will need to work hard to push winter aside. Snow will remain on the ground well into May, even as daytime temperatures begin to climb above 70° F (21° C).

Winter weather can continue for weeks past the official first day of spring. Winter storm warnings are not at all uncommon, along with temporary mountain road closures and tire chain requirements.

Summer

Summer in the Central Sierra is beautiful. Daytime high temperatures are generally pleasant above about 6,000 feet (about 1,800 meters) of elevation. It can be uncomfortably hot at lower elevations.

Summers are mostly dry, though afternoon thunderstorms can rise suddenly. At upper elevations the air is usually much drier and clearer than you are probably used to. Bring a hat and sunscreen or risk severe sunburn that could end your trip.

As summer is the most popular visitor season expect accomodations, campgrounds, and restaurants to be busier than other times of the year.

Check our Weather page to learn a lot more about the climate and seasons in the Sierra.

Fall

Autumn in the Central Sierra is fantastic. Summer crowds begin to thin noticeably after the first week of September. Pleasant summer weather generally lasts nearly until the end of the month.

The Central Sierra has large groves of quaking aspen trees, typically between about 5,000 feet (about 1,525 meters) and 9,000 feet (about 2,750 meters) of elevation. The trees begin to change into their fall colors in late September and early October. The fall color show lasts perhaps a month or so.

Some of the most spectacular fall color displays are along Highway 88, east of Carson Pass, and on Highway 108, on both sides of Sonora Pass. That’s just another reason why we think it is one of the best motorcycle roads in the Central Sierra.

By late October daytime high temperatures will begin to get cool but it can still be pleasant to be outdoors until well into November. Or, it could snow. This time of year it’s best to be prepared for just about any kind of weather.

Fall is our favorite time of year to ride our motorcycles in the Central Sierra.

Winter

The onset of winter is notoriously difficult to predict in the Central Sierra. It generally arrives in early December, though it could be a month or more earlier or later.

When the first snow arrives the ground is typically still fairly warm, so it generally melts quickly, especially on pavement.

When winter does finally settle in, it is dramatic. Winter storms in the Sierra can dump three feet (one meter) of snow or more in a day. Storms can last for days. Winds on the highest ridges often top 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour.

Tioga Pass, Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass, and Monitor Pass are closed for the duration of winter. The remaining passes are often closed temporarily during and right after storms.

See our Road Closures page to find out which Sierra passes are usually open, closed in winter, and when things change.

Towns and cities

Western slope

The western slope of the Central Sierra is dotted with historic small towns that mostly sprang up during the Gold Rush that began in 1849. Most of the larger towns are strung out along Highway 49 that runs north and south through the foothills. You’ll find much smaller towns along the roads that connect to Highway 49 and criss-cross the mountains.

Some of these places aren’t much more than a wide spot in the road. We’ve found some great places to eat and to stay in some of these unexpected, out-of-the-way little towns.

South Shore Lake Tahoe

The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is an extremely popular vacation and resort destination. Each weekend, tens of thousands of people pile into their cars in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and drive up Highway 50 to Lake Tahoe. From about mid-June through about the middle of September the Lake Tahoe area is jammed with people and cars.

If you want to enjoy motorcycling at Lake Tahoe, it is best to go in late spring or fall.

Carson City

Carson City is Nevada’s state capital. It has a charming historic downtown neighborhood with connections to Mark Twain and John Wayne, and several interesting museums. It’s a big enough city, with about 55,000 people, that you should be able to find supplies, parts, or services. There are also three motorcycle dealers, with Carson City Motorsports being one of the best dealerships we’ve ever dealt with.

Carson Valley

Carson Valley, with the quiet little towns of Minden, Genoa, and Gardnerville, is a peaceful farming community, just over the mountains from Lake Tahoe. Coming down Kingsbury Grade from Daggett Pass you’ll get a spectacular view of Jobs Peak as the valley unfolds below you.

The people here are friendly and there are some very good restaurants. If you have never tried Basque food, then we strongly recommend J. T. Basque Restaurant, in downtown Gardnerville.

Eastern Sierra

The eastern side of the Sierra along US 395, south of Gardnerville, is pretty thinly populated. That’s one of the things we like about it. But if you need to buy something or get something fixed, you won’t find a lot of choices.

Topaz Lake, on the state line between California and Nevada, has a casino with good food, lodging, fuel, and a convenience store.

Walker has several motels that cater to outdoors folk, a small store with fuel, and one of the best burger stands in the world, Walker Burger.

Bridgeport has about 600 people, a couple of gas stations, a handful of restaurants, a couple of small stores, and a historic hotel. There are some natural hotsprings nearby, but you will need to be comfortable riding on loose surfaces to get to them. These are definitely not the best motorcycle roads in the Central Sierra.

Lee Vining only has a couple of hundred residents, but it caters to people visiting Mono Lake and Yosemite National Park. You’ll find several motels and restaurants. The Whoa Nellie Deli, inside a gas station near the junction of US 395 and CA 120, is world famous.

Most of the best motorcycle roads in the Sierra are in the central part of the range. And there’s more to the mountains than Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Get on your bike. Find your roads.

Read our About the Passes page to learn much more about all the Sierra Nevada mountain pass roads.