Mountain Passes

Caltrans District 10 manages three passes in the Central Sierra that are closed during winter and re-opened in the spring. These passes are:  Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) in Alpine County, Sonora Pass (State Route 108) in Tuolumne County, and Monitor Pass (State Route 89) in Alpine County.

Caltrans District 10 ensures the timely seasonal closing and opening of these three passes by considering public and worker safety, public and economic interests, weather conditions, and existing snow levels as factors in determining the actual closing and opening dates from year to year. 

Although the locations for winter closures remain the same from year to year, the effort and time necessary for pass opening can vary greatly. The major factors that affect our efforts are the amount of accumulated snow, the frequency and duration of late season spring storms, springtime temperatures and winter damage to the roadway.

Crews typically begin removing snow from the roadway on the first Monday of April each year, and work seven days per week until each pass is free of snow and all roadway hazards before declaring them officially open for the spring and summer months.

 

Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) in Alpine County

• The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued the official winter seasonal closure of Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) on Friday, December 26, 2025. Weather and subsequent road conditions are among the determining factors in the decision to issue an official seasonal closure of the highway. Once Ebbetts Pass is closed for winter, the road will not be reopened until road conditions warrant in the Spring.
• Each season, Caltrans District 10 maintenance crews work diligently to clear debris, remove snow, and make repairs so the highway can reopen safely to motorists. Ebbetts Pass is closed eastbound at Mount Reba Road, and westbound at the State Route 4/89 Junction in Alpine County.
• Caltrans winter pass closures are subject to seasonal weather and road conditions. Our Woodfords Maintenance Crews will continue to work every day as safely and swiftly as possible to reopen westbound State Route 4 out to Willow Creek (Gate 4) or Raymond Meadows (Gate 3) allowing increased public access for winter recreational activities. For the latest real-time winter highway updates visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov or download Caltrans QuickMap app to your mobile device.

Ebbetts Pass snow removal video: https://youtu.be/ydzaLdfKekA

 

Monitor Pass (State Route 89) in Alpine County

• The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued the official winter seasonal closure of Monitor Pass (State Route 89) on Friday, December 26, 2025. Weather and subsequent road conditions are among the determining factors in the decision to issue an official seasonal closure of the highway. Once Monitor Pass is closed for winter, the road will not be reopened until road conditions warrant in the Spring.
• Each season, Caltrans District 10 maintenance crews work diligently to clear debris, remove snow, and make repairs so the highway can reopen safely to motorists. Monitor Pass is closed eastbound at the State Route 4/89 Junction in Alpine County, and westbound at US-395 in Mono County. Caltrans winter pass closures are subject to weather and road conditions, for the real-time winter highway updates visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov or download Caltrans QuickMap app to your mobile device.

 

Sonora Pass (State Route 108) in Tuolumne County

• The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued the official winter seasonal closure of Sonora Pass (State Route 108) on Friday, December 26, 2025. Weather and subsequent road conditions are among the determining factors in the decision to issue an official seasonal closure of the highway. Once Sonora Pass is closed for winter, the road will not be reopened until road conditions warrant in the Spring.
• Each season, Caltrans District 10 maintenance crews work diligently to clear debris, remove snow, and make repairs so the highway can reopen safely to motorists. Sonora Pass is closed eastbound at the California State Parks OHV SNO-Park, and westbound at the Marine Corps Training Facility. Caltrans winter pass closures are subject to weather and road conditions, for the real-time winter highway updates visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov or download Caltrans QuickMap app to your mobile device.

Sonora Pass snow removal video: https://youtu.be/qd0nzDTx0II