Sonora Pass, California

[Travelers]

My wife and I are planning a camping trip before winter hits. Is it advisable to tow a 28’ travel trailer over Sonora Pass or Tioga Pass in California. If so is there any recommended camping areas. I drove over Sonora Pass about 30 years ago and thought it had extremely windy roads as you climb to over 9000 ft elevation. I remember a lot of switchbacks.

I recently talked to someone who drove a motor home over the Sonora Pass and they said it was fine.

I will be towing a 2015 28’ Jayco Whitehawk with a 2017 Chev Silverado Crew Cab with max towing package.

Thank you very much for any input you might provide.

[redsnapper]

Sonora pass.........It's still twisty and steep.

If you do go, watch the weather forecast closely.
It could snow at anytime.

Levitt meadows on the east side has a USFS campground.
But I am sure will it be closed down for the season now, or very soon.

[Big1]

I'm near Grant Pass so I would look at the weather forecast, if you are planning on going like this month you should be good but in October you still might be good, like it been said you have to watch the forecast and see.

[Cindi]

Sonora Pass is nasty. We tried it once, from the east side to the west. As mentioned, it is steep and windy. There is no place to turn around. We would have turned around if there had been a place. We boiled our brake fluid on the way down, and had to stop at Kennedy Meadows for a couple of hours for the brakes to cool down. My knuckles were white, going up and down. At the base of the eastern side there was a sign that said "No House Trailers." Take that to mean "No Trailers of Any Kind." Tioga Pass is steep, and somewhat windy, but doable.

[travelingjw]

We have camped in Tuolumne Meadows, on the Tiioga Pass road for over 40 years. this road is very passable with your RV. There are some tight turns and long downhill sections. Use for engine for braking, take your time, and you will be fine. It does get windy but if you are traveling anywhere in the Sierra's you are already aware of that. I agree that in early spring and late fall you want to check the weather, but who doesn't when they are driving over a mountain pass .

[Travelers]

Thank you very much for your responses. Very helpful in making our decision.a Again, thank you.

[Bob71]

I would not recommend Sonora pass w/ a 28' trailer I live in Sonora an go over S.pass a lot,once w/ a16' TT but not w/my 22'TT. I have used Rt88 w/ TT but maybe Tioga thu Yosemite but it is a long down hill twisty... But not this weekend we're expecting storms w/high winds.... Good luck

[Travelers]

Thank you for your comments. I will play it safe and take a different route than SonoraPass.
Again, thanx

[Cosmik Debris]

See if you can find the old Lucy and Desi movie The Long Long Trailer. There are scenes where they drag their trailer on that road.

[mokurt]

Where do you plan on going?
Hwy 88 thru Markleeville to Nevada is not bad.

[Travelers]

I think the route through Markleevile on 88 makes the most sense. Both routes are gorgeous but highway 88 much safer. Thanx