Nestled between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe...
Alpine County is located between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the California Sierra Nevada mountains. The county is divided into three unique areas : Bear Valley/Lake Alpine, Kirkwood/Hope Valley, and Markleeville/Woodfords. These communities are connected by a network of high-elevation alpine highways.
The segment of Highway 4 between Lake Alpine and Markleeville Highway 89 is closed during the winter months (approximately mid-November to May). However, recently designated as a Federal Scenic Byway, Highway 4 is one of the most beautiful mountain passes in the country in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn. The road is narrow and winding, so allow plenty of driving time between your destinations!
CalTrans Road Information: Click Here
Alpine County Road Department Updates: Click Here
Winter Travel: Traveling during the months between November and May? The weather during this period is unpredictable! Therefore, we strongly encourage you to carry snow chains. Call our office to find out where you can purchase chains in Alpine County: (530) 694-2475.
Bear Valley & Lake Alpine
The Bear Valley and Lake Alpine region of Alpine County boasts a rich history and remains a beloved destination for thousands of visitors each year. From summer hikes to winter sports, the area offers year-round recreation surrounded by stunning natural beauty.
Originally named Grizzly Bear Valley, the area was surveyed in August 1855 by a team led by O.B. Powers. In his report, Powers noted the name came from the “abundance of bear signs” they encountered. Today, Highway 4, which winds through this picturesque landscape, is recognized as a National Scenic Byway, earning the designation from the U.S. Department of Transportation in October 2005.
Despite its name, John Ebbetts is not known to have ever crossed Ebbetts Pass. Historical accounts suggest he merely pointed in its general direction from Antelope Peak—though the pass is not visible from that vantage point. If he was indeed gesturing that way, he was likely referring to Border Ruffian Pass, which served as the preferred route, known as the Big Tree Road, until the silver rush prompted the need for a new passage. After Ebbetts tragically died in a boiler explosion during an illegal steamboat race, his friend, surveyor Goddard, proposed naming the newly established route in his honor.
The development of Bear Valley Village and its nearby ski area began in the early 1960s on the site of Blood’s Toll Station, originally homesteaded by Harvey Blood a century earlier. The foundation for the modern community was laid in 1952 when the Orvis family, prominent ranchers from the San Joaquin Valley, purchased 480 acres in the area. By 1955, the first subdivision of 20 acres on the valley’s north side marked the beginnings of today’s Bear Valley community.
Bear Valley Mountain Resort, initially called Mt. Reba, opened in December 1967, coinciding with the construction of homes, condominiums, and commercial facilities. Nearby, Lake Alpine—a manmade reservoir—features a rustic lodge, cabins, a restaurant, a store, and extensive camping facilities.
Today, Bear Valley is a year-round outdoor haven, offering diverse recreational activities from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and fishing. It’s also within easy reach of foothill golf courses and Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The community proudly hosts the Bear Valley Music Festival, the longest-running cultural event in Alpine County, held each summer in July and August.
Hope Valley & Kirkwood
Alpine County’s northern region is a land of contrasts, from the alpine peaks of the Sierra crest to the sage covered ranges of the Great Basin. Linked by historic Highway 88, the route of explorers, emigrants and goldseekers, Kirkwood and Hope Valley offer Alpine County visitors an wide selection of recreation, scenic beauty and historical points of interest.
The modern day resort community of Kirkwood came into being with the land claim in 1855 of one Zachariah Kirkwood in a serene alpine valley near the summit of the range. One of the few settlers in this untamed land, Kirkwood grazed sheep and cattle in the nearby meadows, and with the opening of the new Amador-Carson Valley Road in 1862, operated a waystation at the present day Kirkwood Inn.
In the late 1960’s planning began in the valley on the newest ski resort in California, Kirkwood, which opened to the public in 1972. Along with an extensive lift and trail system, numerous custom homes and hotel and condominium units were constructed. Today, Kirkwood is home to a vibrant destination ski and summer resort, with a variety of amenities and services.
Hope Valley was probably first seen by John Fremont and Kit Carson in their mid winter trip across the Sierra in 1844, but it was members of the Mormon Battalion, returning from the Mexican War of ’46-’47 who named the lovely valley in 1848.
During the massive emigration to California which began with the 1849 Gold Rush, the valley’s tall grass was important, offering plentiful forage for cattle and horses for emigrants using the Carson River Route of the Emigrant Trail. From the late 19th century through the 1970’s, Hope Valley continued to be used by Carson Valley ranchers for their summer pasturage.
Threatened with development in the 1980’s, a coalition of Alpine County citizens and visitors successfully lobbied the State of California to purchase much of the undeveloped land in Hope Valley, forever protecting one of the largest alpine meadows in the Sierra Nevada for future public use.
During the winter months, Hope Valley is a popular cross country ski and snowmobile area, while fishing, hiking, camping and cycling are popular activities through the rest of the year. The valley is also well known for its Fall colors, with large groves of Quaking Aspen trees.
Markleeville & Woodfords
Separated from the rest of California by the towering Sierra Nevada, the county seat of Markleeville and nearby Woodfords have long maintained strong ties with the communities of Western Nevada.
Many of Alpine County’s pioneer families have deep roots in the Carson Valley, and even today, residents rely on Nevada for essential goods and services.
Woodfords, located along historic Highway 88 at the entrance to the West Fork Carson River canyon, holds the distinction of being the region’s oldest non-native settlement. In 1847, Mormon Battalion member Sam Brannan left supplies near a spring here while en route to Salt Lake City. Originally known as Brannan Springs, the site quickly became a key stop along the bustling road to California.
Nestled along historic Highway 88 at the entrance to the West Fork Carson River canyon, Woodfords holds the distinction of being the region’s oldest non-native settlement. In 1847, Mormon Battalion member Sam Brannan left supplies near a spring here while traveling to Salt Lake City. Originally known as Brannan Springs, the settlement briefly carried the name Carey’s Woodfords Canyon Mills before being officially named Woodfords in 1849, following the establishment of a post office and hotel by Daniel Woodford.
Today, Woodfords continues to serve travelers along the highway and is home to around 150 full-time residents. Nearby, the Southern Band of the Washo Tribe maintains a small community in Diamond Valley.
Markleeville traces its origins to 1861, when Jacob Markley staked a land claim and built a toll bridge across a tributary of the Carson River, aiming to profit from the freight and supplies flowing to the booming silver mines of Silver Mountain City. However, Markley’s ambitions were cut short when he was killed in a gunfight in 1863—his assailant walking free on a plea of self-defense.
As mining declined, Markleeville became Alpine County’s seat of government, serving as a hub for the mining, lumber, and ranching industries for over a century. Today, it remains the county’s administrative center, home to local, state, and federal government employees, including the U.S. Forest Service and Caltrans, as well as small businesses catering to tourists and visitors to Grover Hot Springs State Park.
During winter, Markleeville is only accessible from the north via Highways 88 and 89, as heavy snowfall forces the seasonal closure of both Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass.
In October 2006, a dedication at Milepost 5.0 on Highway 89 named the Robert M. Jackson Memorial Highway in honor of a longtime Alpine County resident who played a key role in the development of the county’s roads over Monitor Pass.