Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway

State: California
Length: 60 miles / 96.0 km
Time to Allow: 2 hours

The Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway measures just 61 miles making it a fantastic road trip in central California, a few hours from Sacramento. It sits just an hour away from central Nevada, south of Reno. The area explores the Stanislaus National Forest with areas of greenery and desert as it winds north. Along the route, find tight switchbacks, alpine views, and so much more.

Start the trip in Arnold, a little mountain town with tons of snow in the winter. People craving snow sports will love this town as they can use the Arnold Rim trail for 17 miles of fun year-round. It offers views of Cougar Rock and San Antonio Falls. The town offers much more like the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum, the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and White Pines Lake with Sandy beaches perfect for a swim.

Next, stop in the town of Dorrington, a historic stopping place with a toll station from the late 1800s. Spend the night at the cabin or visit the Lube room Saloon for a full bar. For nature lovers, stop at the Hell’s Kitchen Vista Point, a ridge that goes up a thousand feet winding around glacial rocks and volcanic peaks. Meadows crossed by rivers offer a quilt of beautiful flowers in the summer. Stay nearby at the Lake Alpine Lodge for a rustic adventure and a delicious breakfast.

The narrow road passes through Cape Horn Vista and Bear Valley Ski Resort. Both beginners and experts can enjoy multiple lifts and a variety of ski runs or try out cross country skiing. In the summer, try out fishing or day hikes around several water sources, including Utica Reservoir and Mosquito Lake. Take a horseback ride out to one of several caverns, including Mercer, California, or Moaning.

Several more lakes and reservoirs dot the byway, along with incredible mountain scenery with several mountains. Take a few days to go through the mountains, including Peep Sight Peak, Bull Run Peak, and Silver Peak. The area is ripe with campgrounds, too, including Hermit Valley Campground with metal campfire rings and amenities nearby. Bloomfield Campground offers a small fee and tent camping along with drinkable water.

No visit to this byway would be complete without a stop at the Volcanic Neck and Upper Cascade Falls. The jagged rocks are a couple of miles east of Kinney Reservoir and offer a massive outcrop of volcanic fragments. In the spring, the waterfall offers roaring waters. Keep in mind, this area of the byway is particularly steep and winding, with few areas to pull over or park.

Markleeville delivers the end of the byway with a picturesque town joining two bodies of water. It’s a fun place to end a trip with local artists, restaurants, and hotels. Check out the Grover Hot Springs for camping and RVs. Make sure to check out the oldest building in town, the Fisk Hotel, transported from Silver Mountain City in the late 1800s. Visit the Historical Museum too, as it’s dedicated to Alpine county with tons of information about the local area.

More California Byways

You can check out additional Byways in California by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the California Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.