Between 2016 through 2018 I drove the majority of California State Route 88 from CA 99 in Stockton east over Carson Pass to CA 89.
CA 88 was not one of the original Signed State Highways. CA 8 was the original designation over Carson Pass which can be seen on the 1938 California State Highway Map.
1938 State Highway Map
CA 8 was substantially different than CA 88 west of Jackson as it largely follows the current route of CA 26. From US 99E in 1934 and later US 50/99 in 1936 from Stockton CA 8 originally used the following route to reach Jackson:
- Legislative Route 5 from US 99 in Stockton to CA 49 in Mokelumne Hill. According to CAhighways.org this segment of LRN 5 was adopted in 1933.
CAhighways.org on LRN 5
- Legislative Route 65 from Mokelumne Hill on a multiplex with CA 49 to Jackson. LRN 65 was the original iteration of the "Mother Lode Highway" between Auburn south to Tuolumne County adopted in 1921.
CAhighways.org on LRN 65
CA 8 and later CA 88 would use LRN 34 east of Jackson to cross the Sierras to reach the Nevada State Line. LRN 34 was apparently extended in 1911 to cross Carson Pass according to CAhighways.org.
CAhighways.org on LRN 34
By 1940 CA 88 was created and replaced CA 8 east of Jackson to the Nevada State Line.
1940 State Highway Map
CA 88 used the following route from US 50/99 in Stockton to reach Jackson:
- LRN 97 from Stockton to downtown Ione. LRN 97 was adopted in 1933 according to CAhighways.org.
CAhighways.org on LRN 97
- LRN 34 from Ione to Jackson.
By 1960 a new state highway was built south of Ione bypassing the city which CA 88 appears to have been shifted onto. This appears to have been when CA 88 took it's fully modern alignment.
1960 State Highway Map
From CA 99 in Stockton in San Joaquin County CA 88 eastward starts at Waterloo Road.
Northeast of Waterloo CA 88 picks up CA 12 at Victor Road. Jackson is shown as 31 miles to the east.
At Jack Tone Road in southern Lockefort CA 88/12 picks up Signed County Route J5 which multiplexes it through downtown to Elliot Road where it splits away. J5 is one of the few clear instances where a Signed County Route multiplexes a State Route. Lockeford is on the fringe of the Californian Gold Country and was first settled in 1851.
CA 88/12 continues through Clements where the latter splits away towards the south shore the Comanche Reservoir. CA 88 continues towards the Amador County line near Ione and Jackson.
Just south of Ione CA 88 meets a junction with CA 124 at Church Street. CA 88 originally would have followed Church Street to downtown Ione where it would have used used Main Street and Ione Street on modern CA 104 to continue towards Jackson. Oddly CA 104 meets CA 88 east of Ione and multiplexes it to Ridge Road only a couple miles from it's eastern terminus at CA 49 in Sutter Creek.
Near Martell CA 88 meets CA 49 and multiplexes it to Jackson. It appears that CA 88 likely used Sutter Street, Main Street, Water Street, and Court Street through downtown Jackson. The alignment north of Carson Creek appears on the 1935 California Division of Highways Map of Amador County.
1935 Amador County Map
The picture below is the junction of Main Street and Water Street in downtown Jackson. CA 49/CA 88 would have likely turned left at this location. CA 49 definitely used Broadway to exit Jackson heading southbound.
Modern CA 88 splits away from CA 49 at the junction of Sutter Street and Carson Pass Highway.
East of Jackson CA 88 begins to ascend the Sierras towards Carson Pass. CA 88 eastbound out of Jackson is signed with scenic placards as it crosses the North Fork Jackson Creek before meeting it's former alignment at Court Street.
Lake Tahoe is signed as being 91 miles way from Jackson on CA 88.
CA 88 east of Jackson crosses through the community of Bonnefoy which serves as access to the Jackson Racheria at Dalton Road.
CA 88 next crosses through Pine Grove and has a junction with Ridge Road which was intended to be the eastern extension of CA 104.
Pine Grove is another Gold Rush community dating back to the 1850s. Pine Grove currently consists of two other Gold Rush Era communities; Clinton and Irishtown.
CA 88 meets Pine Grove-Volcano Road in Pine Grove.
Back in 2016 I stopped in Volcano to view the community since it dates back to 1849 during the California Gold Rush. Early miners apparently thought bowl shaped valley the community was in was caused by a volcanic eruption. Volcano almost became the Amador County Seat on two occasions in the late 1850s before the community began to decline.
East of Pine Grove Carson City is listed as being 95 miles away.
In Pioneer CA 88 meets the eastern terminus of CA 26.
East of Pioneer CA 88 climbs above 3,000 feet in elevation and begins it's somewhat gentle ascent to Carson Pass.
CA 88 is largely forested and quickly rises to an elevation of 4,000 feet above sea level.
Lodging and camping is very common to find on CA 88. This particular lodge is actually named after CA 88.
CA 88 includes numerous reassurance guide signs showing the distances to major destinations like Carson City and Lake Tahoe.
CA 88 eastbound climbs to 5,000 feet above sea level at Cook's Station.
East of Cook's Station CA 88 enters El Dorado National Forest.
Upon entering El Dorado National Forest it isn't long until CA 88 ascends above 6,000 feet.
CA 88 in El Dorado National Forest is signed as a Forest Service Scenic Byway.
At Bear River Road CA 88 has a vista from Peddler Hill. The Peddler Hill vista overlooks the Bear River Reservoir which is actually two reservoirs. The Upper Bear River Reservoir is a 83 foot high rockfill dam completed by Pacific Gas & Electricity in 1900. The Lower Reservoir has a completely separate dam that I can't find a construction date for. Both reservoirs are apparently near the 5,800 foot elevation line.
CA 88 eastbound ascends to 7,000 feet above sea level at the Peddler Hill Maintenance Station.
East of Peddler Hill CA 88 intersects the Mormon Emigrant Trail.
The Mormon Emigrant Trail takes traffic from CA 88 northwest towards Signed County Route E16 near Placerville. The Mormon Emigrant Trail is the approximately path that a Mormon Wagon Train took from Coloma over the Sierras to reach Carson Pass in 1848. El Dorado County has more extensive information on the Mormon Emigrant Trail.
El Dorado County on the Mormon Emigrant Trail
CA 88 at the Mormon Emigrant Trail is signed as being 26 miles away from CA 88.
At Tragedy Springs there is an overlook of the Sierras northward towards US Route 50. Tragedy Springs was the location where Mormon Scouts who were plotting a route back to Salt Lake City following the Mexican American War were found robbed and murdered in 1848.
East of Tragedy Springs CA 88 rises above 8,000 feet above sea level before dipping towards Silver Lake which is located at 7,300 feet above sea level. Silver Lake is part of the course of the South Fork American River and the big island in the middle is apparently called Treasure Island.
East of Silver Lake Woodfords is signed as 26 miles away.
CA 88 crosses over the 7,990 foot Carson Spur and enters Alpine County near Kirkwood on the shore of Caples Lake.
I stopped at Caples Lake to view the nearby dam and overhead snow amid the worsening weather. Caples Lake is located at 7,804 feet above sea level.
Carson Pass lies 8,574 feet above sea level and overlooks Red Lake at the divide of the Sierras.
Woodfords is shown as 19 miles to the east on CA 88 past Caples Lake.
East of Caples Lake CA 88 rises to the 8,574 foot Carson Pass.
Modern CA 88 takes a northern course around Red Lake whereas the original roadway used Red Vista Road.
Red Vista Road is shown as the original alignment over Carson Pass on the 1935 California Division of Highways Map of Alpine County.
1935 Alpine County Highway Map
CA 88 begins a 8% grade drop where it encounters Red Lake Vista. The former highway alignment can be seen on the right descending south of Red Lake.
Carson Pass is named after Kit Carson and was part of the 1844 Fremont Expedition which crossed the Sierras to Sutter's Fort. Kit Carson was advised by local Washoe of a mountain pass which ultimately came to bear his name. Carson Pass was used a primary means to ship goods into California until the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad over Donner Pass to the north.
The descent from Carson Pass to the West Fork Carson River is pretty dramatic looking on the 8% downhill grade. CA 88 meets the other end of Red Vista Road as it approaches the West Fork Carson River.
CA 88 enters Hope Valley where it follows the course of the West Fork Carson River.
CA 88 meets CA 89 at Pickets Junction.
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