Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
Highways 4 and 89 over the Sierra Nevada between Arnold and Markleeville, past Calaveras Big Trees, Lake Alpine and Grover Hot Springs.
Also known as Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway; Highways 4 and 89
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length61 miles[1]The Forest Service also gives 61 miles.
- Drive timeAbout two hours of driving, or five hours to explore[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsHighways 4 and 89[2]
- Start and endArnold in Calaveras County to Markleeville in Alpine County[2]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]State parks along it charge their own fees.
- Best seasonEarly October, when fall color peaks and traffic is light[6]Mid-June through Labor Day weekend is the busiest time.
- SurfacePaved; a two-lane highway at each end and a single lane of asphalt in the middle[1]
- Vehicle notesThe middle of the route becomes a steep, curvy, single-lane road.[1]
- Seasonal closuresThe pass is closed in winter, when snow makes the upper part of the route unreachable.[1]The Forest Service points drivers to Caltrans QuickMap for current conditions.
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway runs 61 miles on Highways 4 and 89 between Arnold in Calaveras County and Markleeville in Alpine County. It crosses two national forests on the way over the Sierra Nevada.
State parks sit at either end: Calaveras Big Trees, with its giant sequoias, near Arnold, and Grover Hot Springs near Markleeville. In between, Lake Alpine sits in a granite basin east of Bear Valley.
The middle of the road narrows to a steep, curving single lane, so take it slowly. The pass closes in winter; check Caltrans for current conditions before you go.
Stops along the way
-
Arnold
Calaveras County town at the west end.
Official information · 38.25548, -120.35104 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Giant sequoia park four miles northeast of Arnold on Highway 4.
Official information · 38.26381, -120.27854 · about 1.9 mi from the route line
-
Lake Alpine
Reservoir in a granite basin just east of Bear Valley.
Official information · 38.47853, -120.00381 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Markleeville
Alpine County seat at the east end.
Official information · 38.69491, -119.78019 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Grover Hot Springs State Park
Hot springs pool in a meadow four miles west of Markleeville.
Official information · 38.70219, -119.83798 · about 3.1 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- CalaverasGROWN Murphys Certified Farmers' MarketMurphys, CA · about 8.3 mi from the route
- Val du Vino's Farmer's MarketMurphys, CA · about 8.4 mi from the route
- Angels Camp "Fresh Fridays" Certified Farmers MarketAngels Camp, CA · about 14.5 mi from the route
- CalaverasGROWN Certified Farmers' Market San AndreasSan Andreas, CA · about 16.5 mi from the route
- Sierra Chef Farmers Market @ Lampe ParkGardnerville, NV · about 16.5 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- Asian pearsAug, Sep, Oct
- Butternut squashSep, Oct, Nov
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Lake Tahoe - Eastshore DriveNV · about 44 mi away
- Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat RoadCA · about 50 mi away
- Pyramid Lake Scenic BywayNV · about 97 mi away
- Big Sur Coast HighwayCA
- Death Valley Scenic BywayCA
- San Luis Obispo North Coast BywayCA
More scenic drives in California
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway (Stanislaus National Forest, USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Lake Alpine Recreation Area (Stanislaus National Forest, USDA Forest Service) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Calaveras Big Trees State Park (California State Parks) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Grover Hot Springs State Park (California State Parks) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).