Kinney Reservoir, just
over another mile east.The Drive » With a maximum
24% grade (no vehicles with
trailers or over 25ft long), Hwy
4 loses elevation via dozens of
steep hairpin turns, crossing
multiple creek and river bridges
as forested valley views open up
below bald granite peaks. After
13 miles, turn left onto Hwy 89
and drive 4.5 miles northwest to
Markleeville.66 Markleeville
Breathlessly coming
down from Ebbetts
Pass, Hwy 4 winds past
remnants of old mining
communities long gone
bust, including a pioneer
cemetery, ghost towns
and cattle ranches. From
Monitor Junction, Hwy
89 runs gently north
alongside the Carson
River, where anglers fi sh
for trout from pebble-
washed beaches that kids
love. Crossing Hangman’s
Bridge, Hwy 89 threads
through Markleeville,
a historic toll-roadoutpost that boomed
with silver mining in
the 1860s. Today it’s a
quiet spot to refuel and
relax. Downtown, turn
left onto Hot Springs Rd,
then head up School St to
Alpine County Historical
Complex (%530-694-
2317; http://www.alpinecountyca.
gov; School St; husually late
May-Oct), with its one-
room 1882 schoolhouse,
log-cabin jail and tiny
museum displaying
Native American baskets
and pioneer-era artifacts.
Back on Hot Springs
Rd, drive 4 miles west
through pine forests to
Grover Hot Springs State
Park (%530-694-2248/2249;
http://www.parks.ca.gov; Hot Springs
Rd; husually 11am-7pm Thu-
Tue Sep-May, daily Jun-Aug;
c), which has a shady
picnic area, campground
and natural spring-fed
swimming pool. Carry
tire chains in winter.54 p 243
The Drive » Drive north out
of Markleeville for 6 miles to the
unremarkable junction of Hwys
88 and 89 at Woodfords. Turn
left and continue lazily west
another 6 miles, crossing the
bridge over the Carson River to
Hope Valley, where Hwys 88 and
89 split at Picketts Junction.77 Hope Valley
After all the fantastical
scenery leading up to
and over Ebbetts Pass,
what’s left? Hope Valley,
where wildfl owers,
grassy meadows and
burbling streams are
bordered by evergreen
pines and aspen trees
that turn brilliant yellow
in fall. This panoramic
valley is ringed by Sierra
Nevada peaks, which
remain dusted with snow
even in early summer.
Incidentally, the historic
Pony Express route once
ran through this way.
Today, whether you want
to dangle a fi shing pole
or splash around in the
chilly mountain waters,
or just take a bird-
watching stroll or trek
on snowshoes in winter
around the meadows,
Hope Valley can feel like
the most magical place
in Alpine County. Start
exploring on the nature
trails of Hope Valley
Wildlife Area (www.dfg.
ca.gov).4 p 243
CROSSING EBBETTS PASS
Hwy 4 is usually plowed from the west as far as
Bear Valley year-round, but Ebbetts Pass closes
completely after the fi rst major snowfall in October,
November or December. The pass typically doesn’t
open again until mid-May, sometimes June.
Check current road conditions with the California
Department of Transportation (%800-427-7623;
http://www.dot.ca.gov).242
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA22
(^) EBBETTS PASS SCENIC BYWAY
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