Walker Pass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Walker Pass | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Historic Landmark) | |
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| Nearest city: | Bakersfield, California |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1834 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1966 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 66000210[1] |
| Governing body: | BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT |
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 State Route 178.
Between Walker Pass and Tioga Pass, several hours drive to the north, there is only one paved road for automobiles to cross over the Sierra Nevada mountains (Sherman Pass Road). All roads between Walker Pass and Carson Pass (State Route 88), over 200 miles in distance, are subject to extended closure by winter snowfall. Walker Pass is sometimes closed due to snowfall, but due to its lower elevation these closures are for brief periods.
Walker Pass can also be closed, especially during winter, due to rock falls. Road conditions are reported by Caltrans or local radio stations. Rock slides and falling rocks are a danger, and care should be taken at all times of the year. Highway 178 is a narrow, twisting two lane road for most its entire 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.
Tourists visiting Death Valley, and the Kern River Resort areas often enjoy the drive through Walker Pass.
Walker Pass is a National Historic Landmark, and is under the stewardship of the Bureau of Land Management.
[edit] References
| Walker Pass | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,250 ft. / 1,600 m. |
| Location | California,  United States |
| Range | Sierra Nevada |
| Traversed by | State Route 178 |
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
[edit] See also
- Tehachapi Pass
- Sherman Pass (California)
- Tioga Pass
[edit] External links
- BLM management plan for Walker Pass National Historic Landmark
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