Devil's Gate Pass
Encyclopedia
Devil's Gate Pass is a mountain pass
in Mono County, California
, traversed by U.S. Route 395. The pass is named for the Devils Gate, a granitic formation located west of the summit of the pass.
and the East Walker River
lie to the east and south of Devil's Gate, and the West Walker River
lies to the west and north. The Sierra Nevada rise up from the west and south of the pass, while to the northeast the Sweetwater Mountains
spur off from the Sierra Nevada. The Little Walker Caldera
lies southwest of the pass.
Devil's Gate Pass is a few miles east of Sonora Junction, which is the junction of U.S. 395 with State Route 108
. This segment of U.S. 395 connects Antelope Walker valley to Big Meadows (Bridgeport). State Route 108
terminates at Sonora Junction with the west bound road connecting to Sonora Pass
and Sonora over the Sierra Nevada. The given coordinates are the location of the highest point of U.S. Route 395 through the pass (what Caltrans calls the summit of the pass).
crossed the pass in Feb 1844. His party was surveying the the western boundary of the Nevada Basin but due to inclement weather they were searching for a route across the Sierra Nevada. Due to difficult terrain and deep snow, he was forced to abandon his cannon after crossing the pass. It is unclear if the cannon has ever been found.
Various commercial activities have been attempted along the pass. A water powered mill was noted by William H. Brewer in his journal entry for July 15, 1863.
A stage stop and resort at Fales Hot spring 2 miles to the west was operated from about 1877 through 1952. A newer resort was constructed in 1954 and is now being restored after falling into disrepair. The gasoline station next to the resort remained open until at least the 1970s and was torn down around 1990.
A small ski run was operated at Swaugger Creek, 4 miles to the east of the pass, in the 1930s. A pack station catering to deer hunters was operated at the pass in the 1970s. Currently much of the private land is used as pasture (west side of pass) or for private homes (east side of pass).
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in Mono County, California
Mono County, California
Mono County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California, to the east of the Sierra Nevada between Yosemite National Park and Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,202, up from 12,853 at the 2000 census...
, traversed by U.S. Route 395. The pass is named for the Devils Gate, a granitic formation located west of the summit of the pass.
Location
BridgeportBridgeport, California
Bridgeport is a census-designated place that is the county seat of Mono County, California. It lies at an elevation of 6463 feet in the middle of the Bridgeport Valley. Bridgeport is located at the intersection of highways US 395 and State Route 182. The population was 575 at the 2010...
and the East Walker River
East Walker River
The East Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin....
lie to the east and south of Devil's Gate, and the West Walker River
West Walker River
The West Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the Sierra Nevada range along the California-Nevada border in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin.It rises from snowmelt in the...
lies to the west and north. The Sierra Nevada rise up from the west and south of the pass, while to the northeast the Sweetwater Mountains
Sweetwater Mountains
The Sweetwater Mountains is a small mountain range in Northern Mono County, California and Western Lyon County, Nevada, separating the West Walker River from the East Walker River. Most of the range is only accessible by four wheel drive vehicle, on foot, or pack animal. Most of the range is...
spur off from the Sierra Nevada. The Little Walker Caldera
Little Walker Caldera
Little Walker Caldera is a depression in the eastern Sierra Nevada that is adjacent to the Sweetwater Mountains. The caldera is very large, measuring about in diameter. The Little Walker Caldera is named for the Little Walker River; it is the river that is little, not the caldera. U.S...
lies southwest of the pass.
Devil's Gate Pass is a few miles east of Sonora Junction, which is the junction of U.S. 395 with State Route 108
California State Route 108
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway in California. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California from downtown Modesto near the SR 99/SR 132 interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada state line...
. This segment of U.S. 395 connects Antelope Walker valley to Big Meadows (Bridgeport). State Route 108
California State Route 108
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway in California. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California from downtown Modesto near the SR 99/SR 132 interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada state line...
terminates at Sonora Junction with the west bound road connecting to Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass is the second-highest highway pass in the Sierra Nevada, lower by 321 ft. than Tioga Pass to the south. State Route 108 traverses the pass.-Description:...
and Sonora over the Sierra Nevada. The given coordinates are the location of the highest point of U.S. Route 395 through the pass (what Caltrans calls the summit of the pass).
Visitor information
Visitors to the area should acquire a Toiyabe National Forest service map before exploring beyond U.S. Route 395. Although most of the surrounding land is publicly owned and accessible via Burcham Flat Road and Little Walker Road, the land on either side of U.S. Route 395 through the pass is privately owned. The forest service map highlights public and private lands in color.History and land use
John C. FremontJohn C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
crossed the pass in Feb 1844. His party was surveying the the western boundary of the Nevada Basin but due to inclement weather they were searching for a route across the Sierra Nevada. Due to difficult terrain and deep snow, he was forced to abandon his cannon after crossing the pass. It is unclear if the cannon has ever been found.
Various commercial activities have been attempted along the pass. A water powered mill was noted by William H. Brewer in his journal entry for July 15, 1863.
A stage stop and resort at Fales Hot spring 2 miles to the west was operated from about 1877 through 1952. A newer resort was constructed in 1954 and is now being restored after falling into disrepair. The gasoline station next to the resort remained open until at least the 1970s and was torn down around 1990.
A small ski run was operated at Swaugger Creek, 4 miles to the east of the pass, in the 1930s. A pack station catering to deer hunters was operated at the pass in the 1970s. Currently much of the private land is used as pasture (west side of pass) or for private homes (east side of pass).