Sonora Pass

Ski Resorts

Ski Resorts

The Motherlode area is home to both Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley ski areas.  Bear Valley and Dodge both usually open in November and offer ski and snow board enthusiast a variety of trails for all levels of skill from beginner to professional. The Dodge Ridge Ski Resort: is Located in the community of Pinecrest off Highway 108. The resort offers 1,600 vertical feet, 67 runs, 12 lifts and 862 acres of skiable terrain. The Bear Valley Ski Resort is located up highway 4,  the resort offers 1,900 vertical feet 1,680 acres of varied terrain, more than 70 trails, two terrain parks featuring numerous features.  Bear Valley averages over 30 feet of annual snowfall per year.....

CONTINUE READING
Crossing the Sonora Pass

Crossing the Sonora Pass

Have you driven or ventured across the Sonora pass? The Sonora pass is believed to have been established in 1841 from the Walker river on the Nevada side, to Clark Fork on the Stanislaus river on the California side, travelers followed the rivers into California and the San Joaquin Valley. Today’s Highway 108 follows a similar route and is also part of the original trails of Bret Harte and Mark Twain. The peak of the pass on hwy 108 is approximately 9,624 ft just over 1800 ft below the Sonora pass mountain peaks. Highway 108 passes through the Sierra Mountain Range on highly scenic route of National Forest. The Pass is closed during winter months and open to vehicles in the summer only. From Sonora to the Sonora Pass, is approximately 45 miles and takes a little over an hour to reach the peak. The views and scenery are...

CONTINUE READING