Walker Pass
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| Walker Pass | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,250 ft. / 1,600 m. |
| Location | California,  United States |
| Range | Sierra Nevada |
| Coordinates | |
| Traversed by | California State Route 178 |
Walker Pass (el. 5,250 ft. / 1,600 m.) is a mountain pass in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains.
It is located in northeastern Kern County, approximately 53 mi (85 km) ENE of Bakersfield and 10 mi (16 km) WNW of Ridgecrest. The pass provides a route between the San Joaquin Valley on the west and the Mojave Desert on the east.
It was charted as route through the Sierra in 1834 by Joseph Reddford Walker, a member of the Bonneville Expedition. Walker returned to the pass in 1843, leading the Joseph B. Chiles emigrant party. In 1845 the military surveying expedition of John C. Fremont used the pass.
It is the highest point on California State Route 178.
Between Walker Pass and Tioga Pass, several hours drive to the north, there are no passes over the Sierra Nevada. Between Walker Pass and Emigrant Pass (I-80) there are no passes not regularly closed for days or months by winter snowfall. Walker Pass is never closed due to snowfall due to its southern location and relatively low elevation compared to the high passes to the north.
Despite the fact that Walker Pass remains open year round, Highway 178 is a narrow, twisting two lane road for almost all of its length through the Sierras. For this reason, most east-west traffic utilizes the much lower, six lane Tehachapi Pass, located about one hour's drive to the south.
Walker Pass is a National Historic Landmark, and is owned by the Bureau of Land Management.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- BLM management plan for Walker Pass National Historic Landmark
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