Near Sorensens in Alpine County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Luther Pass Trail - Leaving the Carson Trail
Photographed By Alvis Hendley, October 22, 2021
1. Luther Pass Trail - Leaving the Carson Trail Marker
"We crossed Carson River, for here we leave the Carson Route and take what is called the Johnson Route or 'Johnson's Cut-Off to Hangtown'."
Erected 2013. (Marker Number LP-1.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 25, 1856.
Location. 38° 46.535′ N, 119° 55.153′ W. Marker is near Sorensens, California, in Alpine County. Marker is on Burnside Road south of Carson Pass Highway (California Route 88), on the right when traveling south. Parking is available near the marker on Burnside Road about 200 feet south of the intersection of CA-88 and CA-89. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Markleeville CA 96120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Carson Trail - Hope Valley (here, next to this marker); Emigrant Trail - Carson River Route (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Luther Pass Trail - Leaving the Carson Trail (here, next to this marker); Luther Pass Trail - Luther Pass (approx. 1.7 miles away); Carson Trail - Crooked Trail (approx.
this page online
Regarding Luther Pass Trail - Leaving the Carson Trail. In 1854, Ira M. Luther traversed a Sierra Nevada pass for a distance of about ten miles in a covered wagon thereby opening a new trail to link the Carson Trail and the Johnson Cutoff Trail. Today the Luther Pass Trail is a stretch of State Route 89 called Luther Pass Road. Trails West, Inc. has erected five markers along the trail.
The initial route for the Pony Express across the Sierra Nevada in 1860 connected Placerville across Luther Pass to Woodfords and thence to Nevada, but the route was quickly changed to use the Kingsbury Grade instead.
Trails West, Inc. has erected five T-markers along the trail (as of October 2022). The length of the marked trail is about nine and a half miles.
Photographed By Alvis Hendley, October 22, 2021
2. Markers for Luther Pass Trail and Carson Trail
The top rail displays the Luther Pass plate. The bottom rail displays two plates for the Carson Trail in Hope Valley, one on each side of the rail.
Photographed By Alvis Hendley, October 22, 2021
3. Luther Pass Trail Marker 1 and Carson Trail Marker 40
The markers are between the truck and the tall tree.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 26, 2022, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
