Current Conditions along Sonora Pass

Pinecrest, Dodge Ridge, Kennedy Meadows

Mileage to Pinecrest Lake

Sonora - 30 miles
Stockton - 90 miles
Sacramento - 134 miles
Modesto - 77 miles
San Jose - 152 miles
San Francisco - 160 miles

Sonora Pass & Campground Report

What is Open and What is Closed

Current Weather Conditions at Pinecrest Lake

Pinecrest Lake is at 5,679 feet of elevation. Weather conditions there reflect conditions at nearby Dodge Ridge, Strawberry, Leland High Sierra Snowplay and Beardsley Reservoir.

Current Weather Conditions at Dardanelle

Dardanelle is at 5,774 feet of elevation, but is 23 miles farther up Sonora Pass than Pinecrest where conditions can be quite different. Weather at Dardanelle reflects conditions at nearby Kennedy Meadows. Beyond Kennedy Meadows, the highway begins a steep climb to its 9,623-foot summit.

Is Sonora Pass Open?

Sonora Pass, June 11, 2011

Highway 108

For the most current information on roads, check with Caltrans:

Call 1-800.427.7623 or visit the Cal Trans website: Cal Trans - Department of Transportation - Road Conditions. Highway 108

Sonora Pass, June 16, 2017

Closing & Opening Dates in Past Years

Sonora Pass usually remains open until the first heavy snowfall of the winter arrives. Often that occurs sometime in November, but snow can temporarily close the pass at any time.

Traditionally the pass re-opens in mid-May, but once again, even after it opens, late season storms can cause it to close again.

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National Forest Campgrounds

For campgrounds on the west side of Sonora Pass, check the Stanislaus National Forest website to find the most current information:

Stanislaus National Forest Recreation

For campgrounds on the east side of Sonora Pass, check the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest website to find the most current information:

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Campgrounds

Resorts

Dodge Ridge Ski Resort: Closing April 28 for 2023-24
Leland High Sierra Snowplay: Closed for the 2023-24 season
Kennedy Meadows Resort: Open for 2024 season
Dardanelle Resort: Closed all of 2023 for rebuilding

Snow Report Websites

Current conditions at Dodge Ridge Ski Area - weather report and snow depth:

Dodge Ridge Snow Report

Showing Current conditions at Deadman Creek (near the summit of Sonora Pass), elevation 9,250', California Department of Water Resources:

Sonora Pass Snow Depth

Road Conditions - Chain Controls

Road Conditions - Highway 108
Chain Controls

Road conditions, chain controls, and road closures from California Department of Transportation.

Web Cams

Dodge Ridge Ski Area Web Cams

Bald Mountain Helibase Web Cam

Looking Northeast toward Dardanelle
Bald Mountain Hellibase WebCam

Twain Harte Web Cam

Twain Harte Web Cam - elevation 3,800'

Historical Conditions on Sonora Pass

Road Closures

Sonora Pass usually closes for the season in November when snow accumulates on Highway 108, making it unsafe for travel. Often the gates are closed first at Kennedy Meadows and Leavitt Meadows and then as lower snow falls, gates 6 miles east of Strawberry and at Pickel Meadow are closed for the season.

In the spring Sonora Pass is sometimes open for travel in April, usually by early or mid-May. As with the fall closures, Highway 108 to Kennedy Meadows opens first, often in April, sometimes sooner.

Past Winter Closure and Spring Opening Dates for
Sonora Pass

Winter	Sonora Pass Closed	Sonora Pass Open
1994		April 13
2004-05		May 28
2005-06		May 28
2006-07		May 11
2007-08	December 10	May 8
2008-09	December 14	May 14
2009-10	December 1	May 28
2010-11	November 22	May 27
2011-12	January 21, 2012	May 4
2012-13	December 19	April 24
2013-14	December 9	April 18
2014-15	November 29	April 17
2015-16	November 28	May 18
2016-17	November 19	June 13
2017-18	November 13	May 3
2018-19	November 21	May 30
2019-20	November 27	May 15
2020-21	November 5	May 6
2021-22	December 6	May 12
2022-23	November 1	June 9
2023-24	December 1	May 16

For current road conditions the Department of Transportation website listed above is the best resource.

Snow Depths

Sonora Pass usually sees snow depths exceeding 100 inches during the winter. At Relief Valley, which is near Kennedy Meadows, snow levels in April, 2005 reached an average of 183 inches. Snow can extend as low in elevation as 2000' in the winter, but usually the snow line is about 3500'.