California 88 is a major east-west highway that provides a third crossing over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. While most other two-lane highways (California 108, California 120, California 4, and others) close each winter, California 88 remains open all winter except during the worst snowstorms. As a result, California 88 is a good alternative to the other all-weather routes that cross the Sierra Nevada, such as U.S. 50 and Interstate 80. In fact, a portion of California 88 over the Carson Pass is also designated as Alternate U.S. 50. This way, travelers may use California 88 in lieu of U.S. 50 during times of not only snow storms but also floods in the American River Canyon.
Starting in Stockton at Junction California 99, California 88 follows the alignment of former California 8 through Victor, Ione, and Jackson. As it passes each town, California 88 leaves the Central Valley and begins to ascend the Sierra Nevada. After passing by Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, the town of Pioneer, and the entrance into El Dorado National Forest, California 88 leaves the foothills and enters the mountains, with Kirkwood Ski Resort located near Carson Pass. The trip down after the pass is sudden and dramatic, as the route then weaves east to join California 89 through Woodfords, then connects to Nevada 88 en route to Minden-Gardnerville. Nevada 88 ends at its junction with U.S. 395.
California 88 West
Advisory signs, such as this one located along westbound California 88 after the Nevada State Line, approaching Junction California 89, provide motorist information about whether certain mountain passes have been closed for the winter. This particular sign profiles California 4 (Ebbetts Pass), California 88 (Carson Pass), and California 89 (Luther and Monitor Passes). Photo taken by Mike Ballard and Joel Windmiller, 06/99.
Westbound California 88 and Northbound California 49 in Jackson. The two routes merge briefly through the city center, then split. California 49 continues north to Placerville along the Gold Country Highway. California 88 continues to ascend the foothills as it heads toward Carson Pass (elevation 8,573 feet). Photo taken by Joel Windmiller and Mike Ballard, 06/99.
Scenes Pertaining to California 88
This photo shows a C monument located near Silver Lake, at an elevation of 7,300 feet. C monuments were used to mark right of way for California highways in the earlier days of establishing highway corridors in California. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 06/01.
