Sonora Pass (2025)

457 mi · 19,700 ft of climbing · high point 9,590 ft · start/finish downtown Napa (First St & Main St)

Ridden Sep 24, 2025 · Eastern Sierra & Nevada

The ride

The 2025 version. Out over Jameson Canyon and CA-12 across the Delta through Rio Vista and Terminous to Stockton, then Farmington Road and CA-4 into Calaveras County. This time the route takes O'Byrnes Ferry Road past Lake Tulloch and down to Chinese Camp, then CA-120 and CA-108 into Sonora.

From Sonora, 108 climbs through Mi-Wuk Village, Cold Springs and Dardanelle along the Stanislaus River country, then over Sonora Pass, the route's high point at 9,590 ft. The east side drops steep into Mono County to US-395, and you head north past Walker before turning west on CA-89 over Monitor Pass.

The way home is CA-4 back over Ebbetts Pass, through Bear Valley and Ganns, Avery and Angels Camp. Then, unlike the 2026 version, it goes north on 49 to San Andreas and takes CA-12 through Burson, Lockeford and Lodi back across the Delta. About 457 mi with ~19,700 ft of climbing, a very long day, so start early. Fuel up in Sonora or along 108 before Dardanelle: from there over the pass to 395 is a long, empty stretch, and from Walker over Monitor and Ebbetts to Bear Valley it's about 70 mi with nothing. Sonora, Monitor and Ebbetts passes close for the winter, usually from the first big snow until late spring, so check Caltrans first.

[Steve: add your full write-up here]

Key roads and highlights

  • CA-12 across the Delta (Rio Vista, Terminous) to Stockton

  • Farmington Road and CA-4

  • O'Byrnes Ferry Road by Lake Tulloch

  • Chinese Camp, CA-120 to Sonora

  • CA-108 through Mi-Wuk Village, Cold Springs, Dardanelle

  • Sonora Pass, high point ~9,590 ft

  • US-395 north to Walker

  • CA-89 over Monitor Pass

  • CA-4 over Ebbetts Pass, Bear Valley, Avery, Angels Camp

  • CA-49 to San Andreas, CA-12 through Lockeford and Lodi home

Gallery

Ride photos coming soon

Not starting in Napa? No problem. Every Two Wheel Touring GPX is a loop that begins and ends at First & Main in downtown Napa, but you don't have to. Join the line wherever it's closest to you, ride any section you like, or flip the whole thing and run it the other way. For step-by-step help in Garmin, REVER, Calimoto, Scenic, Google My Maps, and a free GPX editor, see Riding a route from your own start.

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