Hermit Valley will be the site of a concert Saturday featuringmany area musicians. Photo by Dick James
The Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway Association host the fifth annual Scenic Celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
Music and mountain fans are invited to “Come Play on the Pass.” The centerpiece of the celebration will be a daylong, free live music event in Hermit Valley, but visitors are encouraged to make a weekend of it and check out the entire scenic byway, from Arnold to Markleeville.
Hermit Valley performers will include the Tour Guides, Bill Welles, Grover Anderson and Jens Jarvie. The music begins around noon, powered by a solar generator provided by Sol Sierra, and will officially end at 5 p.m. There will be food and beverages, a few select vendors and raffle tickets available for sale at the event. The raffle features prizes provided by local businesses including Bear Valley Ski Resort, Bear Valley Lodge, Calaveras Big Trees State Park and others. The Forest Service will host activities for children. While dogs are welcome, please bring only well-socialized dogs and keep them on a 6-foot leash.
In addition to the celebration in Hermit Valley, Markleeville will celebrate the day with the traditional live fish plant at the Carson River Resort just outside of town at around 2 p.m. The resort will also host a barbecue, and a party will take place at the Markleeville Art Gallery, 14841 Highway 89, where a variety of activities will take place. Specials will be offered at the nearby Wolf Creek Restaurant.
On the Arnold side, visitors are encouraged to visit the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum, hike a portion of the Rim Trail (no guided hikes will be available) or stop at Calaveras Big Trees State Park to admire the giant redwoods on the way to Hermit Valley. Grover Hot Springs State Park, outside Markleeville, will be closed for maintenance.
Hermit Valley is on Highway 4 in the Stanislaus National Forest about 38 miles east of Arnold and 23 miles west of Markleeville on the North Fork of the Mokelumne River at about the 7,000 foot elevation. The higher elevation portion of Highway 4 between Lake Alpine on the west and Silver Creek on the east is narrow, twisty and steep, but there are mountain views and many opportunities to get out of the car and take a closer look. The route over the top is not recommended for large RVs or trailers.
Ebbetts Pass was honored with National Scenic Byway status in 2005. It is one of only seven nationally designated byways in California. The Ebbetts Pass Byway Association is the nonprofit organization tasked with preserving, enhancing and promoting the unique resources of the byway. The association has developed a guidebook for the area that is available at scenic4.org for those who want to know more about the history, geology, wildlife and recreation available in the area. Sierra Heritage Magazine features the area in its current issue.
This event is made possible by the support our event partners and sponsors: Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, Bear Valley Business Association, Bear Valley Lodge, Bear Valley Ski Resort, Calaveras Big Trees Association, Century 21 Realty, Cedar Creek Realty, Sol Sierra and the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information about the Ebbetts Pass area, this event and what’s happening along the byway all year long, visit scenic4.org or facebook.com/scenic4, email info@scenic4.org or call Michelle Plotnik at 728-8471.
For other events in the area that weekend and lodging information, contact the Calaveras Visitors Bureau at 736-0049 or gocalaveras.com or the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce at (530) 694-2475 or alpinecounty.com.
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