Carson Pass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carson Pass Kit Carson Pass
The Carson Pass (foreground) overlooks Red Lake to the east.
Elevation	8,574 ft (2,613 m)
Traversed by	SR 88
Location	Sierra Crest, Eldorado National Forest, Alpine County, California, United States
Range	Sierra Nevada
Coordinates	38°41′38″N 119°59′15″W / 38.69389°N 119.98750°W / 38.69389; -119.98750
California Historical Landmark
Official name: Kit Carson Marker
Reference #:	315

Carson Pass is a famous mountain pass located high up in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains in eastern California. You can find it in the Eldorado National Forest and Alpine County.

This pass is crossed by California State Route 88, a major road. It sits on the Great Basin Divide, which means rivers on one side flow east towards the Great Basin, and rivers on the other side flow west towards the Pacific Ocean. The West Fork Carson River is on the east, and the South Fork American River is on the west.

Carson Pass was a very important spot on the historic Carson Trail during the California Gold Rush. Many people used it to travel to California. It was even used to ship supplies during the American Civil War before the first transcontinental railroad was finished. Today, the famous Pacific Crest Trail also goes through Carson Pass. You can find California Historical Landmark #315 here, marking where the explorer Kit Carson carved his name into a tree.

Exploring Carson Pass: A Journey Through History

Carson Pass has a rich history, especially linked to early American exploration and the Gold Rush. It was a challenging but vital route for many pioneers.

The Frémont Expedition of 1844

In 1844, a group led by John C. Frémont was exploring the western United States. They were in Nevada in January when their guide, Kit Carson, suggested they try to reach Sutter's Fort in California for supplies. This was a risky idea because it was winter, and the mountains were covered in snow.

Local Washoe Native Americans warned them about the deep snow. They said it would be very hard to find food. Frémont decided to go anyway. The Washoe people were right; the expedition struggled to find food and had to eat their own animals to survive.

On February 14, Frémont and his mapmaker, Charles Preuss, climbed Red Lake Peak. They became the first recorded white explorers to see Lake Tahoe in the distance. A week later, on February 21, the group successfully made it through what is now called Carson Pass. They arrived at Sutter's Fort on March 6, having survived the difficult journey without losing anyone.

The Carson Trail and the Gold Rush

A few years later, in the summer of 1848, a group of Mormons who were leaving California built a new route. This route became known as the Carson Trail. It crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains from Sly Park, California to the Carson Valley, going right through Carson Pass.

The Carson Trail quickly became one of the main paths for people traveling to California. Thousands of immigrants used it during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. They hoped to find gold and start new lives. However, in July 1857, many Mormon settlers around Carson Pass were asked to leave because of a conflict called the Utah War.

Maiden's Grave: A Sad Story on the Trail

West of Carson Pass, there is a place called Maiden's Grave. In 1850, a young girl named Rachel Melton was buried here. Her family was traveling from Iowa to California when Rachel became very sick. They stopped to rest and hoped she would get better, but sadly, she passed away. This site is now recognized as a California Historical Landmark.