Alpine County is a county in the eastern part of the U.S. state of California located within the Sierra Nevada on the state border with Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,204, making it California's least populous county. The county seat is Markleeville and the largest community is Alpine Village.
Markleeville (formerly Markleville) is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 191 at the 2020 census, down from 210 at the 2010 census.
Alpine Village (formerly, Alphine Village) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 224 at the 2020 census.
Luther Pass (el. 7,740 ft. / 2,359 m) is a mountain pass in California in the Sierra Nevada, between the Carson River basin to the southeast and Lake Tahoe to the northwest. It is traversed by State Route 89 and lies on the boundary between Alpine County (in the Carson River basin) and El Dorado County (in the Tahoe area). The pass crosses a mountain spur that links the Sierra Crest, the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada to the southwest of the pass, with the Carson Range to the northeast.
Alpine County Airport (FAA LID: M45) is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) north of the central business district of Markleeville, in Alpine County, California, United States.
Mesa Vista (corruption of Vista de la Mesa, Spanish for "View of Table") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Alpine County, California, United States. The population was 217 at the 2020 census, up from 200 at the 2010 census.
Bear Valley is a census-designated place in Alpine County, California, United States, best known as the location of the Bear Valley ski area. The population was 128 at the 2020 census, up from 121 at the 2010 census.
Monitor Pass (el. 8,314 ft / 2,534 m) is a high mountain pass in California in the Sierra Nevada southeast of Lake Tahoe. It is traversed by State Route 89 near that highway's southern terminus at U.S. Route 395 near the community of Topaz. While this section of Route 89 serves to connect the basins of the West Walker River and Carson River, Monitor Pass itself lies on a side ridge between tributaries of the East Fork Carson River. Crossing the pass allows for a more direct route between U.S. 395 and Markleeville, California, at the expense of some additional elevation.
Carson Pass is a mountain pass on the crest of the central Sierra Nevada, in the Eldorado National Forest and Alpine County, eastern California.
Ebbetts Pass (el. 8,736 ft or 2,663 m), named after John Ebbetts, is a high mountain pass through the Sierra Nevada range in Alpine County, California. Ebbetts is the eastern of two passes in the area traversed by State Route 4. The western pass is the Pacific Grade Summit (el 8,050 ft or 2,450 m). The pass is registered as a California Historical Landmark. The Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile (4,260 km) long National Scenic Trail crosses State Route 4 at Ebbetts Pass.
Woodfords (formerly Brannan Springs, Carey's Mill, Cary's Mills, Carys Mill, Carys Mills, Woodford's, Carey's Mills, and Woodford) is an unincorporated community in Alpine County, California, United States, near Markleeville. For census purposes, it is included in Alpine Village. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) north-northwest of Markleeville, at 38°46′40″N 119°49′19″W.
Paynesville is an unincorporated community in Alpine County, California, United States. It is located on the Carson River, one-quarter mile (0.4 km) northeast of Woodfords, at an elevation of 5118 feet (1560 m).
Bear Valley Mountain Resort is a ski area in the western United States, located in the Sierra Nevada of California on Highway 4 between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park—about three hours southeast of Sacramento and one hour from Angels Camp. The alpine ski area and a portion of the real estate in the village of Bear Valley was owned by an investment partnership led by a Canadian company, Dundee Realty, from 2005 to 2014, then by Skyline International acquired Bear Valley through October 31, 2023.
The Carson–Iceberg Wilderness is a federal wilderness area located 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Stockton, California. It encompasses 160,000 acres (650 km2) and was designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. It protects an area of High Sierra landscape with elevations from 4,800 feet (1,500 m) to 11,462 feet (3,494 m) along the Sierra Mountains from Ebbetts Pass to Sonora Pass in the south. The US Forest Service manages the wilderness which is in both the Stanislaus National Forest and the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest.
Dardanelles Cone is a mountain peak in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness on the Stanislaus National Forest. It lies near Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada of California. It is between State Route 4 and State Route 108.
Grover Hot Springs State Park is a state park of California, United States, containing natural hot springs on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Park amenities include a swimming pool fed by the hot springs, a campground, picnic area, and hiking trails. The park was established in 1959. It was named after Alvin Merrill Grover, who owned a share of the land in 1878 and built a bathhouse and a fence around the springs.
Jobs Peak (; Northern Paiute: Wangikudak) located in Alpine County, California, is the most prominent peak visible from the Carson Valley in Douglas County, Nevada. The peak offers hiking and backcountry skiing with the view of Lake Tahoe. It is in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, owned by Vail Resorts, is a ski resort in Kirkwood, California, south of Lake Tahoe. The resort focuses on skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain-biking in the summer.
Lake Alpine is a reservoir in Alpine County, California, formed by Alpine Dam on Silver Creek. It is located east of Bear Valley in the Sierra Nevada range. It sits at 7,303 feet (2,227 m) above mean sea level and is a popular spot for outdoor activities, such as boating and hiking in the summer, and snowmobiling and skiing in the winter, although it may be inaccessible at times due to snow. California State Route 4 passes to the north of Lake Alpine between Bear Valley and the Pacific Grade Summit, through the unincorporated community of the same name.
Red Lake Peak (elevation 10,068 feet or 3,069 metres) is believed to be the vantage point from which John C. Fremont and Charles Preuss made the first recorded sighting of Lake Tahoe by Europeans in February 1844 as Fremont's exploratory expedition made a desperate crossing of the Sierra Nevada through what is now Carson Pass on their way to obtain provisions at Sutter's Fort. The peak lies just north of the pass and generally northwest of the small lake east of the pass for which the peak is named. Lake Tahoe and Stevens Peak are visible to the north from the peak. Elephants Back and Round Top can be seen to the south.
The Mokelumne Wilderness is a 105,165-acre (164 sq mi; 426 km2) federally designated wilderness area located 70 miles (110 km) east of Sacramento, California. It is within the boundaries of three national forests: Stanislaus, Eldorado and Toiyabe. First protected under the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Mokelumne's borders were expanded under the California Wilderness Act of 1984 with the addition of 55,000 acres. The wilderness takes its name from the Mokelumne River, which was named after a Mi-wok Indian village located on the riverbank in California's Central Valley.
Caples Lake is a reservoir that is located near Kirkwood, California along California State Route 88 (also known as the Carson Pass Highway). The lake was used as a halting place for wagon travelers who were trekking the historic Mormon Trail during the California Gold Rush. The lake has been used by many different groups of people including Native Americans, 49ers, and resort owners, so it has been known by different names. The variant names are Clear Lake, Summit Lake, and Twin Lakes. Currently, Caples Lake is a reservoir used for water and recreation. Woods Creek and Emigrant Creek both flow into Caples Lake, which drains into Caples Creek. Caples Creek meets up with the South Fork of the American River. It is operated by the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID), who is using it as part of the Hydroelectric Project 184 system.
Deadwood Peak is a 9,846-foot-elevation (3,001-meter) mountain summit in Alpine County, California, United States.
Elephants Back is a 9,585-foot-elevation (2,922-meter) mountain summit located in Alpine County, California, United States.
Hawkins Peak is a 10,024-foot-elevation (3,055-meter) mountain summit located in Alpine County, California, United States.
Highland Peak is a prominent 10,936-foot-elevation (3,333-meter) mountain summit located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Alpine County of northern California, United States. It is situated 3.5 miles east of Ebbetts Pass in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, on land managed by Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest. Although it ranks as the 680th-highest summit in California, it ranks 36th-highest of those with at least 500 meters of topographic prominence. Also, there is no higher peak than Highland Peak to the north within the Sierra Nevada. Highland Peak has a subsidiary South Peak (10,824 ft; 3,299 m), with one-half mile separation between summits. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western foot of this mountain, providing an approach option. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the East Fork Carson River. . Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 2,900 feet (884 meters) above Noble Canyon in 1.6 mile (2.6 km).
Raymond Peak is a 10,014-foot-elevation (3,052-meter) mountain summit located in Alpine County, California, United States.
Reynolds Peak is a 9,690-foot-elevation (2,950-meter) mountain summit located in Alpine County, California, United States.
Round Top is a 10,381-foot (3,164 m) mountain located on the Sierra crest in Alpine County, California, United States. Its summit is the highest point in Eldorado National Forest and the Mokelumne Wilderness. The mountain lies just south of Carson Pass. With 2,541 feet (774 m) of prominence, Round Top is the 16th most prominent mountain in the Sierra Nevada.
Silver Peak is a 10,820-foot-elevation (3,298-meter) mountain summit in Alpine County, California, United States.
Stanislaus Peak is a prominent peak near Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada range in California, United States. It is located in the Carson–Iceberg Wilderness in the federally-managed Stanislaus National Forest.
Stevens Peak is a 10,059-foot-elevation (3,066-meter) mountain summit located in Alpine County, California, United States.
The Nipple is a 9,342-foot-elevation (2,847-meter) mountain summit in Alpine County, California, United States.
Sorensen's Resort is a mountain resort located just east of Hope Valley in Alpine County, California. Situated on a wide meadow in the upper reaches of Woodfords Canyon alongside the West Fork of the Carson River, the resort consists of a cluster of more than 30 wooden cabins of various sizes and configurations. Founded in 1916, the resort is open year-round.