A scenic paved road to the summit of Yuba Pass
Yuba Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.050m (6,725ft) above the sea level, located in Sierra County, in the U.S. state of California.
Nestled in the Northern Sierra Nevada mountain range, within the Tahoe National Forest, the road to the summit is paved. It’s called State Route 49 (CA-49) also known as Golden Chain Highway. When the snow falls - which it does in the winter – things get tough and slippery. The pass is accessible year round, unless snow restrictions require closure in the winter months. Winter weather closures, implemented by gates, can occur between mile marker 16.4 and 23.7.
The pass is 20.11km (12.5 miles) long, running west-east from Bassetts (in Sierra County) to Sattley, formerly known as Church's Corners (in Sierra County). This is definitely one road trip that you want to record with lots of photographs. The journey provides a spectacular scenic driving experience while following the North Fork of the Yuba River canyon. Views from the byway let road travelers feel the vast, ruggedness of the area. The summit has ample parking for visitors to get out of their vehicles and explore the area. The road is pretty steep, with a 5% gradient through some of the ramps.