Seeking Advice Sierra Passes

[ploconto]

Hi -

I will be in the SF area on biz in mid September and am planning to take a few days, pick up a rental and explore South Lake Tahoe.

The loop I'm planning to do over 3 days is SF to Lake Tahoe to Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite and then back to SF.

Looks like I have a couple of options up to Tahoe, Route 50 or Route 88. Is one any better than the other? Are either better or worse than 108 (which I did a few years ago).

Any other suggestions for that area?

Thanks in advance for any help!
Pete

[Tyler]

Depends on what type of roads you like to do... 4, 120, 89 are a few numbers you might want to look up. And there are a ton of other options through the Sierras beyond that. If a choice between 50 and 88, I'd take 88.

[CRASH]

Originally Posted by Tyler

If a choice between 50 and 88, I'd take 88.

50 is too heavily traveled. 120 through Yosemite is also traveled heavily and has a very low speed limit. 108 (Sonora Pass) is the top of the list for me. 88 and 4 are also good

[Brent ST]

between 50 and 88, 88 wins by far!

[BMWJones]

I agree with Brent... 88 is the way to go!

[Tom1500]

Both US 50 and Hwy 88 are open year round unlike 108 (Sonora Pass) which closes seasonally and is a lower traffic road. There are a couple twists I can suggest for you.

For the best alpine scenery, take US50 to the Pollock Pines exit and head south to Jenkinson Lake, and make a left on Mormon Emigrant Trail. That well paved, low-traffic forest road connects to Hwy 88. Continue east on 88 over Carson Pass and down into the Hope Valley, then left on Hwy 89 over Luther Pass and through Meyers to South Lake Tahoe. By all means do the route around the lake, especially the west shore around Emerald Bay.

[roadstar-rich]

The comments about taking 88 to Lake Tahoe are perfect as I am heading up that way this weekend as mentioned in my topic on Reno-STAR days. I was not sure about the 88 route but it really helped to read the comments. I have never been up in that area ever and the main group from Orange county is going up Hwy 4, but somehow 88 looked interesting as well. We will loop around the western side of Tahoe on the return trip past Emerald Bay. My route map is posted on www.blog-richard.com I noticed a couple errors around the South Lake Tahoe routes but it is mostly correct.