Road trip guide: Conquering the Kavanaugh Ridge

Kavanaugh Ridge is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.347m (10,980ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, in the east central portion of the U.S. state of California. It’s one of the highest roads in California.

Kavanaugh Ridge

Located east of the Sierra Nevada, in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the rocky road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s narrow in places, windy, and exposed. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. It is not generally snow-free until late June or even July in some years. The trail follows numerous remnants of California's mining heritage. It’s suitable for most stock 4x4 SUVs with decent ground clearance. This ridge offers an incredible view of Green Lake, East Lake, and West Lake.

There is a little lake not far from the top. The drive is pretty steep. Starting from FS-32178, the ascent is 5km (3.10miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 487 meters. The average gradient is 9.74%.
Pic: James Hatton

 

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