Near Nyack in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Emigrant Gap

Photographed by Karen Key, August 27, 2006

1. Emigrant Gap Marker

Inscription. The spring of 1845 saw the first covered wagons to surmount the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They left this valley, ascended to the ridge and turned westward to Old Emigrant Gap. The wagons were lowered by ropes to the floor of Bear Valley. Hundreds followed, before, during and after the Gold Rush. This was a hazardous portion of the Overland Emigrant Trail.

State Registered Landmark No. 403

Tablet placed by California Centennials Commission. Base furnished by Placer County Historical Society
Dedicated June 25, 1950.

Erected 1950 by California Centennials Commission and Placer County Historical Society. (Marker Number 403.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 25, 1933.

Location. 39° 17.955′ N, 120° 40.369′ W. Marker is near Nyack, California, in Placer County. It is on Highway 80 (Interstate 80), on the right when traveling west. Marker is at a Scenic Vista parking area on the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Emigrant Gap CA 95715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker

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, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Emigrant Gap (approx. 0.6 miles away); Nyack Lodge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Nevada City Road - Washington Ridge Summit (approx. 4.4 miles away); Alpha and Omega (approx. 4.4 miles away); Ormonde (approx. 5.8 miles away).

Photographed by Karen Key, August 27, 2006

2. Emigrant Gap Marker

Bear Valley as seen from marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karen Key, August 27, 2006

3. Bear Valley as seen from marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2006, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 61,428 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 27, 2006, by Karen Key of Sacramento, California. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.