Carson Pass

Carson Pass
The Carson Pass (foreground) overlooks Red Lake to the east.
Carson Pass Location within California
Elevation	8,574 ft (2,613 m)
Traversed by	SR 88
Location
Location	Sierra Crest, Eldorado National Forest, Alpine County, California, United States
Range	Sierra Nevada
Coordinates	38°41′38″N 119°59′15″W
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Kit Carson Marker
Reference no.	315

Carson Pass is a mountain pass on the crest of the central Sierra Nevada, in the Eldorado National Forest and Alpine County, eastern California.

The pass is traversed by California State Route 88. It lies on the Great Basin Divide, with the West Fork Carson River on the east and the South Fork American River on the west.

The historic pass was a point on the Carson Trail during the California Gold Rush and was used for American Civil War shipping to California until the completion of the First transcontinental railroad. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the Carson Pass summit, which has California Historical Landmark #315 at CA 88 postmile 6.09 where Kit Carson carved his name into a tree.