Fredonyer Pass
Encyclopedia
Fredonyer Pass is a high mountain pass
in Lassen County, California
. The pass is slightly higher than Morgan Summit
to the west. Snow falls on the pass during winter.
State Route 36
passes through Fredonyer Pass. The pass is west of Susanville, California
and southeast of Mount Lassen and is the route's highest point. The pass is part of the approximate northern boundary between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range
. This irregular boundary is sometimes defined as the southern extent of Cenozoic
igneous surface rock from the Cascade range. This boundary roughly follows the drainage of the North fork of the Feather River
southeast to Fredonyer Pass. Note that there are other Cenozoic igneous rocks in the Sierra (e.g., near Lake Tahoe
), but there is a clear geological division near Fredonyer Pass, and points westward until the Sacramento Valley.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in Lassen County, California
Lassen County, California
Lassen County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,895, up from 33,828 at the 2000 census...
. The pass is slightly higher than Morgan Summit
Morgan Summit
Morgan Summit is a mountain pass on a road shared by Highway 89 and Highway 36 in Tehama County, California. The pass is located in between the town of Mineral and Childs Meadow south of Lassen Peak and Lassen Volcanic National Park. The stated elevation of the pass varies between and . The pass...
to the west. Snow falls on the pass during winter.
State Route 36
California State Route 36
State Route 36 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California that is routed from U.S. Route 101 in Humboldt County to U.S. Route 395 just east of Susanville in Lassen County. The portion of SR 36 travelling past Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lake Almanor is part of the...
passes through Fredonyer Pass. The pass is west of Susanville, California
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
and southeast of Mount Lassen and is the route's highest point. The pass is part of the approximate northern boundary between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. This irregular boundary is sometimes defined as the southern extent of Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
igneous surface rock from the Cascade range. This boundary roughly follows the drainage of the North fork of the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
southeast to Fredonyer Pass. Note that there are other Cenozoic igneous rocks in the Sierra (e.g., near Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
), but there is a clear geological division near Fredonyer Pass, and points westward until the Sacramento Valley.