Road trippin': SR-88, from flat to Sierra to Nevada

There are primarily six Central/Northern California highways that traverse the Sierra Nevada mountain range. From north to south they are Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50, State Route 88, State Route 4, State Route 108 and State Route 120, the latter of which slices through Yosemite National Park and is also known as Tioga Road and Tioga Pass. This time around, CT News tackles SR-88, also known as the Carson Pass Highway. It's a pretty spin of the wheels, and we're delighted to welcome you aboard for this edition of Road Trippin'.

Gallery

(Screen shot courtesy of Google Maps)

State Route 88 begins its northeast journey to the Nevada border at this exit off State Route 99 in Stockton.

State Route 88 is one of a half-dozen roadways that traverse the Sierra Nevada. U,S. Highway 50 runs roughly parallel to its north.

There are no especially large towns along State Route 88. Waterloo, a few miles off SR-99, is but one example.

State Routes 12 and 88 team up for a Central Valley stretch; soon SR-12 veers off eastward toward the foothills town of San Andreas.

Vineyards are a common sight along Highway 88 as it makes its way through the Central Valley toward the Sierra Nevada.

Lockeford is another example of a small town that State Route 88 (here still paired with SR-12) passes through.

Soon after Lockeford, State Route 88 breaks free from Highway 12 and continues northeast toward Jackson.

This plaque explains how Jackson once had a different name, one referring to all the empty bottles gold prospectors scattered there.

The terrain morphs out of farmland status to more of a foothills look as Highway 88 heads up toward the Sierra Nevada.

The Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians and its casino, off the north side of State 88, are owned and operated by the tribe.

The community of Pine Grove is traced back to the early 1850s, and its Gold Rush glory lives on, quietly, with 21st century prospectors.

The fact that Tombstone, Arizona, is a good bit away didn't stop this SR-88 pit stop from embracing the Wild West theme.

At about the 6,000-foot elevation mark in early June, State Route 88 began to have patches of old snow along its banks.

This vista point allows motorists to have a sweeping look at the Sierra Nevada and, to the southwest, the Bear River Reservoir.

At the overlook, this worse-for-wear sign tells the story of a man who did important things for mountain motorists in District 10.

In 1848, members of the disbanded Mormon Battalion -- which played a role in Yosemite lore -- helped blaze this beautiful trail.

It's unlikely that any major roadway across the Sierra Nevada lacks evidence of wildfires that have recently ignited in California.

State Route 88 spends quite a bit of time above the 8,000-foot level as it crosses the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Winter's remnants are still very much part of the tableau as State Route 88 passes by Caples Lake, just past Kirkwood.

There are several places along this particularly scenic stretch of State Route 88 that motorists can pull over and safely gawk.

Many travelers from points east and west veer north on SR-89 to access U.S. Highway 50, which links Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Things have largely flattened out from their mountainous heights by the time State Route 88 nears Nevada.

In all, the so-called Carson Pass Highway extends 123 miles and is transformed to Nevada State Highway 88 before Gardnerville.

Statewide Campaigns

Statewide Campaigns

Statewide Campaigns

Statewide Campaigns