Monitor Pass
Encyclopedia
Monitor Pass is a high mountain pass
in California
in the Sierra Nevada southeast of Lake Tahoe
. It connects the basins of the West Walker River
and Carson River
, and is traversed by State Route 89
near that highway's southern terminus at U.S. Route 395 near the community of Topaz.
The highway through the pass was completed in the early 1950s, making it one of the most recent Sierra Nevada passes to be opened by a paved road. The highway project was promoted by Robert M. Jackson of nearby Markleeville, California
, who worked for the Alpine County Public Works Department for more than 30 years.
State Route 89
over Monitor Pass is subject to winter closure due to snow accumulation. Dates of closure vary depending on the weather, but Monitor Pass is generally not open to vehicular traffic between late November and early April.
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 California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the Sierra Nevada southeast of 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...
. It connects the basins of the West Walker River
West Walker River
The West Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the Sierra Nevada range along the California-Nevada border in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin.It rises from snowmelt in the...
and Carson River
Carson River
The Carson River is a northwestern Nevada river that empties into the Carson Sink, an endorheic basin. The main stem of the river is long....
, and is traversed by State Route 89
California State Route 89
State Route 89 is a California State Highway that travels in the north–south direction, and is the major thoroughfare for many mountain communities. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the Luther...
near that highway's southern terminus at U.S. Route 395 near the community of Topaz.
The highway through the pass was completed in the early 1950s, making it one of the most recent Sierra Nevada passes to be opened by a paved road. The highway project was promoted by Robert M. Jackson of nearby Markleeville, California
Markleeville, California
Markleeville is a census-designated place and the county seat of Alpine County, California. The population was 210 at the 2010 census, up from 197 at the 2000 census.The CDP of Markleeville also includes Woodfords....
, who worked for the Alpine County Public Works Department for more than 30 years.
State Route 89
California State Route 89
State Route 89 is a California State Highway that travels in the north–south direction, and is the major thoroughfare for many mountain communities. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the Luther...
over Monitor Pass is subject to winter closure due to snow accumulation. Dates of closure vary depending on the weather, but Monitor Pass is generally not open to vehicular traffic between late November and early April.