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California Cruzin Question

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Bob McElwee

Bob McElwee

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Posted this in the Pub and Greg W wasn't sure Tahoe Healey visited there much so am posing here also.

We are taking a vacation that will include a part of California. I've been laying out each days route using Garmin BaseCamp.

When i tried to go from Jamestown, CA to S. Lake Tahoe, CA it routed me:
CA 49 to CA 88 to CA 89 into S. Lake Tahoe.

I was wondering if anyone would recommend either of these two alternatives:

1. CA 108 to US 395 to CA 89 into S. Lake Tahoe.

2. CA 49 to CA 4 to CA 89 to S. Lake Tahoe.

We will be in a 2010 Honda Civic and two-lane twisties don't bother us, logging trails do. :fat:

Thanks for any help.
 
Last summer, on the recommendation of a friend who lives in Placerville, did 88/89 from Jackson to Tahoe and it's beautiful - a top scenic road. Lots of lake views at the higher elevations. If you go rte 4 you can stop at the Calaveras Big Trees and see the huge Sequoias. I'm guessing 4 is not as scenic because there aren't many lakes along it. If you stay in Murphy's do the side trip to the Big Trees.

If you're staying in Angel's Camp, Murphy's or Jackson, you might want to do a wine tour. I recommend Gold Country Wine Tours. (No financial etc)
 
The trip over Sonora Pass on Hyway 108 east to 395 is beautiful and smooth. A decent highway with great views. The decent down the east side of the Sierras into Lee Vining is steep but spectacular. Certainly something a Civic can handle easily. Just remember to downshift into lower gears when descending rather than riding the brakes. The trip up 395 north to Tahoe is easy and the eastern side of the Sieras is beautiful in its own way.
 
If you're south far enough on 395, from Olancha north through Lone Pine offers spectacular views of 14,000 ft peaks, including Mt. Whitney. In Olancha, the escarpment ascends two miles straight up only a couple of miles from the highway. In Lone Pine, the Alabama hills are in the middleground, which the movie fan will recognize from many films, such as Gunga Din. In general, the views from 395 south of Bridgeport are the most spectacular. The views from the west side are not as good, until you drive up in the mountains.
 
104 is the Sonora pass and was closed a couple of weeks ago due to snow not being removed. For beauty and fun driving 88 to 89 is the best. As SteveG says, check out the HUGH trees along the way in Calaveras. The GGAHC travels all the passes (Dave Nock likes to leads a three pass tour) and 4 is great fun but steep and windy. Very slow and technical until you get to the 4 lane.
Coming by 395 you will travel over Monitor pass then Carson pass which is pretty but not as pretty as 88/89 which still takes you over Carson pass.
With some back tracking but you can include Yosemite and the Tioga Pass. Fill up with gas before you travel 395. Lee Vining is about a buck higher per gallon than any where else.
What time of year are you planning to travel?
 
We will be staying in Jamestown, CA 3 days in late May before coming to S. Lake Tahoe. Our 41st anniversity is on Memorial day so that will be dedicated to what SWMBO decides she wants to see (shopping).
After checking on BaseCamp some more it looks like we can do some day trips to cover part of the previously suggestions. We could even do a run down 395 but that would be a long day depending on how far we wanted to go south. What is 120 through Yosemite like. Is snow closing still a problem in late May?
It looks like we can easily include the trees in Calaveras on our way to Tahoe as a side trip. It sounds like the 88/89 route would be the best one to take.
We were in S. Lake Tahoe area for Open Roads 2002. Our main reason for coming back, actually for the whole trip, is to see some plaques that have been placed on the Children's Memorial Tree in Tahoe.
Thanks to everyone for their replys and suggestions. I enjoy looking at a map (and BaseCamp) to lay out a trip route.
 
Hyway 120 to Yosemite is a easy drive and no you won't have any issues with snow.....there wasn't any this year. Also you might consider a short side trip to Columbia State Historic Park. It's only a few miles from Jamestown and admission is free IIRC. It's a gold rush era town with interesting stores, saloons and sights.
 
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