Highway 88 Carson Pass chain control: Jackson to Kirkwood

SR-88 chain control over Carson Pass is in effect whenever Caltrans posts R-1, R-2 or R-3 between Jackson and Pickett's Junction, most often starting around Cook's Station, Ham's Station or Peddler Hill eastbound and at Kirkwood or Carson Pass westbound. Today's Highway 88 and Kirkwood status is shown above.

The road

From Jackson in the Gold Country, SR-88 climbs steadily east through Pine Grove and Pioneer, past Cook's Station and Ham's Station, over Peddler Hill and along Silver Lake to the Carson Spur, then reaches Kirkwood and Caples Lake before topping out at Carson Pass, above 8,500 feet and the highest of the Tahoe-area highway passes. It then drops down the Red Lake grade to Pickett's Junction, where SR-89 comes in from Luther Pass, and continues through Woodfords into Nevada. The SR-88 page lists every Caltrans checkpoint along it with the current level, the message signs and the cameras, refreshed every 3 minutes.

Where the controls start

Eastbound, the control usually goes up somewhere between Cook's Station and Peddler Hill, wherever the snow starts sticking, and runs over the pass to Pickett's Junction. Westbound, it starts at Kirkwood, Caples Lake or Carson Pass for traffic coming from the Tahoe side. Because the pass is so high, SR-88 holds its controls longer than I-80 or US-50 after a storm, and R-2 lingering into a sunny afternoon is normal. In a big storm the eastbound start point drops all the way to Pine Grove.

Carson Spur

The Carson Spur is the exposed stretch between Silver Lake and Kirkwood where the highway is cut across a steep slope. It is an avalanche path, and Caltrans closes SR-88 there for avalanche control during and after heavy snow. When the Spur is closed, Kirkwood cannot be reached from Jackson; it may still be reachable from the Tahoe side over Carson Pass, or it may be cut off from both directions until the control work is done. Snowy Roads shows a Spur closure as a closure on the SR-88 and Kirkwood chips.

Kirkwood from South Lake Tahoe

From the lake, take US-50 to Meyers, SR-89 south over Luther Pass to Pickett's Junction, then SR-88 west over Carson Pass to Kirkwood, about 35 miles. Both passes carry their own controls, and Luther Pass often has R-2 when US-50 through Meyers is clear. Heavenly and Sierra-at-Tahoe skiers heading to Kirkwood for a day should expect chains or an exempt vehicle on most storm days; see the Echo Summit guide for the US-50 side.

From Nevada

SR-88 continues east from Woodfords to Minden and Gardnerville. The Nevada DOT posts its own requirements on that side (nvroads.com, 511), and Snowy Roads shows those segments with the NDOT wording.

What the levels mean for your car

Under R-1 you need chains unless you have snow-tread tires (M+S, M/S, MS or the mountain snowflake symbol); under R-2 unless you drive a 4WD or AWD vehicle with snow-tread tires on all four wheels; under R-3 everyone chains up. Exempt vehicles must still carry chains. See R-1 vs R-2 vs R-3. SR-88 has fewer chain installers than I-80, so know how to put on chains yourself.

Before you go

Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) and 1-800-427-7623 are the official sources. Requirements change without notice, and on SR-88 they change later than you expect: a control that has lifted on I-80 by noon may still be R-2 at Carson Pass. Always carry chains.