That and The Terrain
To get to the Sonora Pass riding area from the east, take U.S. Highway 395 from the north (Reno-Tahoe area) or south (southern California) to Highway 108 and head east. About five miles up Highway 108 from Sonora Junction, the state stops plowing the road and that's where you park. You'll pass the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, which sits at the northeast 
edge of Pickel Meadow. Parking is along Highway 108 on the other end of the meadow.
Unload and head up the ungroomed road (those looking for groomed trails need to access Sonora Pass from the west side) toward the rugged peaks and spectacular backcountry riding that off-trail sledders seek. It's a quick ride up (you start out at about 6,700 feet at Pickel Meadow) to where the big horsepower boys like to play-along the ridges and mountains that mark the boundary of the Emigrant Wilderness. It's barely nine miles from the parking area near Pickel Meadow to Sonora Pass (elevation 9,624 feet), which has the distinction of being the second highest highway pass in California.