Sherman Pass Rd. Sequoia National Forest

[jmcgilroy]

Sherman Pass is a forestry road that is accessed in the Porterville, CA area and goes over the top of the Sierras, dropping into Hwy 395 about 30 miles south of Lone Pine, CA. This road is all paved and closes in the late fall then opens after the snow melts. The elevation tops out at 9,200' and is listed as Road 22S05 on the forestry maps.

The connecting road from the central valley is named Sierra Ave, Avenue 66 out of Earlimart, CA at Hwy 99. GET GAS HERE ! Then it changes names to Hot Springs Road east of Ducor, CA and travels past California Hot Springs and Johnsondale.




Oaks and Manzanita in the foothills...slowly changes to conifers with lots of beetle kill...



then to a decent pine forest.

 

[jmcgilroy]

Sherman Pass Road turns off to the left and is well marked...



There's a good turn out at the top and great views..


and I don't think they're lying about the snow closures.

 

[jmcgilroy]

I stopped near the summit and cooked lunch.. a couple of bratwursts on the exhaust headers turned out nicely.





Back on the road headed down the east side of the Sierras where it turns rather arid.

 

[jmcgilroy]

Getting closer to Hwy 395 is a small community called Kennedy Meadows (not to be confused with the Kennedy Meadows on Hwy 108). There are two places for a meal and beverages here and emergency gas. I say emergency 'cause the listed price was $4.89/gal.





Then a short trip to Hwy 395 by Olancha, CA and the summer heat.

 

[jmcgilroy]

I stayed the night in Lone Pine with views of Mt. Whitney.


Then up Hwy 395 past a mostly dead Mono Lake



and into Reno, NV for a minor league baseball game (Reno Aces vs. Salt Lake City Bees). Real nice park, walking distance from the downtown casinos and the best seat in the house was only $32.



Great trip with great scenery!

Oh, the scenery at the Silver Legacy's pool wasn't bad either.

 

[14s10]

That looks like an awesome trip! How many miles total and how many days?


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[tomatocity]

Wish I knew you were riding Sherman Pass. I would have come down to ride it with you.

I have looked at more than one route and like yours. This is the route I want to ride https://goo.gl/maps/mKUM6dRKhXm . Maybe next week.

note to all: think Kennedy Meadows was in the movie 'Wild' about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

 

[jmcgilroy]

That looks like an awesome trip! How many miles total and how many days?


The circuit was around 900 miles from Gilroy, Ca with three days of riding.

 

[14s10]

Okay cool, I'm just up on San Jose, not far from you, I gotta get out and do a trip like that, it's been awhile since any trips, looks like a great time!


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[barkingllizard]

awesomesauce, jmcgilroy, anybody cooking bratwurst off the headers IS someone I want to ride with.....

 

[Boondocker]

That is one of my favorite rides. We try to do it annually with camping north of Johnsondale. Hwy 190 out of Porterville and on down towards Kernville then over Sherman Pass to Hwy 395 is as fun of a twisty road as I've ever ridden.

 

[hawk281]

was up that way a couple of weeks ago, turned it into a 1200 mile ride through the mountains north.