Pass Conditions

Freshness warning: some road or weather updates are delayed. Treat any clear status as unverified and use the official DOT link on the page before departure.

Carson PassStatus needs confirmation5 min ago

SR-88 · CA · 8,574 ft

Carson Pass

Official agency wording and exceptions

West · Chain control levelR-0

West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.

Caltrans · agency update 254 days ago

Our readingStatus needs confirmation

We retrieved the report recently, but the agency's own timestamp is old. Do not treat this as a current all-clear.

Our successful checkchecked 5 min agoAgencyagency update 254 days ago

Confirm on the official CA road report ↗

Matched control points

8
RED LAKE CREEK - CARSON PASSSR-88 · WestWest · Chain control levelR-0West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 254 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
EAST OF CAPLES LAKE - CARSON PASSSR-88 · EastEast · Chain control levelR-0East · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 201 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
KIRKWOOD - CARSON SPURSR-88 · WestWest · Chain control levelR-0West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 199 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
2 MILES WO KIRKWOOD - CARSON SPURSR-88 · EastEast · Chain control levelR-0East · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 69 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
RED LAKE CREEKSR-88 · WestWest · Chain control levelR-0West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 17 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
KIRKWOOD (ALP)SR-88 · EastEast · Chain control levelR-0East · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 17 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
KIRKWOODSR-88 · East / WestEast · Chain control levelR-0East · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.West · Chain control levelR-0West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 34 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago
PICKETT'S JUNCTIONSR-88 · WestWest · Chain control levelR-0West · Caltrans reportNo chain controls are in effect at this time.Status needs confirmationagency update 190 days agoOur observation: checked 5 min ago

Cameras near Carson Pass

Official DOT views

Camera road does not match this crossing. Check the official camera view.

Hwy 50 at Echo SummitCaltrans · 8.5 mi from pass Listing retrieved Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT. Frame time not verified; check the image stamp. Official camera owner ↗

Camera road does not match this crossing. Check the official camera view.

Hwy 50 at Sierra EBCaltrans · 9.8 mi from pass Listing retrieved Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT. Frame time not verified; check the image stamp. Official camera owner ↗

Camera road does not match this crossing. Check the official camera view.

Hwy 50 at Twin BridgesCaltrans · 10.8 mi from pass Listing retrieved Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT. Frame time not verified; check the image stamp. Official camera owner ↗

Camera road does not match this crossing. Check the official camera view.

Hwy 50 at MeyersCaltrans · 11.0 mi from pass Listing retrieved Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT. Frame time not verified; check the image stamp. Official camera owner ↗

Images may lag, fail, or point away from the road. A recent listing check does not verify the frame's age. We display current agency image URLs with attribution and do not retain or archive frames.

Weather near Carson Pass

8,574 ft

Road restrictions, station measurements and forecasts describe different things. Times below use Pacific time.

24h gridded snowfall estimate

0.0 in · old or expired

NOHRSC analysis near the pass, roughly 4 km grid. Not a road-surface measurement.

Observation / analysis time: Oct 27, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
Last retrieved: Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

Official snow source ↗

72h gridded snowfall estimate

Not available

NOHRSC analysis near the pass, roughly 4 km grid. Not a road-surface measurement.

Observation / analysis time: Oct 27, 2026, 5:00 PM PDT
Last retrieved: Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

Official snow source ↗

season gridded snowfall estimate

1.8 in · old or expired

NOHRSC analysis near the pass, roughly 4 km grid. Not a road-surface measurement.

Observation / analysis time: Oct 27, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT
Last retrieved: Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

Official snow source ↗

Measured station snow depth

0.0 in · old or expired

Carson Pass · 0.6 mi from pass · 8360 ft elevation. Not a measurement at the pass.

Observation / analysis time: 2026-10-28 (daily value; time not supplied)
Last retrieved: Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

Official snow source ↗

Forecast snowfall

6.0 in

NWS grid near the pass. Expected snow over the forecast window, not observed snowfall.

Issued: Oct 29, 2026, 2:01 AM PDT
Last retrieved: Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

Forecast window: Oct 29, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT to Nov 1, 2026, 4:00 AM PST

Official NWS forecast ↗
NWS outlook and forecast details

Overnight: Mostly Cloudy, low 33°F, SSW wind 3 mph, 0% precipitation; Thursday: Mostly Cloudy, high 43°F, SSW wind 2 to 6 mph, 3% precipitation. 6.0 inches of NWS-grid snowfall forecast in the next 72 hours

Check the current NWS point forecast ↗

Snow history near Carson Pass

56 seasons
SeasonGHCN snowfallSNOTEL max depthStation context
2026-20270.0 in0.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2025-20260.0 in78.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2024-20250.0 in80.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2023-20240.0 in102.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2022-20230.0 in164.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2021-20220.0 in80.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2020-20210.0 in78.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2019-20200.0 in84.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2018-20190.0 in131.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2017-20180.0 in89.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2016-20170.0 in149.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2015-20160.0 in93.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2014-20150.0 in41.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2013-20140.0 in65.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2012-20130.0 in81.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2011-20120.0 in64.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2010-20110.0 in163.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2009-20100.0 in98.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2008-20090.0 in119.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2007-20080.0 in95.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2006-20070.0 in88.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2005-20060.0 in150.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2004-20050.0 in128.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2003-20040.0 in0.0 inS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2002-20030.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2001-20020.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
2000-20010.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1999-20000.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1998-19990.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1997-19980.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1996-19970.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1995-19960.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1994-19950.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1993-19940.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft
1992-19930.0 inNot availableS LAKE TAHOE AP
6.2 mi away · 6,257 ft

Recent status transitions

8
chains → openNo chain controls are in effect at this time.
chains → openNo chain controls are in effect at this time.
open → chainsChains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. Four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.
open → chainsChains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. Four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.
chains → openNo chain controls are in effect at this time.
chains → openNo chain controls are in effect at this time.
open → chainsChains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. Four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.
open → chainsChains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. Four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.

Coverage and roadside context

Road informationCaltrans CWWP2 chain-control points statewide, polled every 10 minutes.

LimitA clear R-0 point is not a guarantee that every road segment is clear. Check the linked Caltrans route report before departure.

Chain rulesCalifornia R-1, R-2 and R-3 chain controls. See chain controls in effect now across the West.

Cameras Live Caltrans and WSDOT stills are displayed above with agency attribution; Pass Conditions does not archive them.

RWIS Roadside weather readings are not republished yet. Use the official DOT link above for that view.

Watch Carson Pass for your trip dates

Updates for the matched road reports on this page, in every reported direction.

Choose up to 14 inclusive calendar days. Season alerts end on April 30. Every request requires email confirmation.

Alert window

2026-10-29 through 2026-10-31, inclusive, Pacific time. Season option ends 2027-04-30.

Confirm the email to activate alerts. When confirmed in time, we prepare one briefing on the day before your start, changes after a 20-minute stability check, and a final-day closeout. Updates continue until the end of your final calendar day. Manage individual requests or unsubscribe from all alerts using the links in any alert email. No newsletters or unrelated marketing.

Alerts are advisory. No email does not mean conditions are unchanged or safe. Check official road reports before departure.

NOHRSC snowfall is a roughly 4 km analysis, not a road-surface observation. SNOTEL and GHCN stations can differ materially in distance and elevation. Always use the DOT link for the travel decision.