Echo Summit - Sierra Mountain Passes

Echo Summit:

7,377 feet (2,249 meters) above sea level
US Highway 50
Between Pollock Pines and Meyers, California
38° 48′ 46″ N, 120° 1′ 48″ W
El Dorado County, California
Central Sierra
Usually open in winter

What to expect:

Beautiful scenery
Heavy traffic
Better riding

Most visitors to the south shore of Lake Tahoe travel over Echo Summit on US 50. A lot of people visit Lake Tahoe, and there aren’t many roads into the area. So highway 50 is often crowded. It offers beautiful scenery and a few places to pull off the highway to take it in. (Or, stop to take a selfie as soon as the lake comes into view. You’ll see people doing this in a small turnout just beyond the summit.)

We’ve ridden Echo Summit quite a few times. On a beautiful day, in the spring or fall shoulder seasons, it can be a fantastic experience. But if you need to get over the mountains, especially on a busy holiday weekend, Highway 50 can be frustrating.