Caples Lake. While the road uses ridges for the western approach to Carson Pass, the eastern approach rapidly descends into the West Fork Carson River canyon, reaching the river level in Hope Valley. Along this descent, the road features a view area overlooking Red Lake. The highway joins with SR 89 while inside the valley, at a place known as Pickett's Junction. The two routes run concurrent through Woodfords Canyon of the Carson River, which provides the final descent out of the Sierra Nevada. At the mouth of the canyon is the small town of Woodfords, where SR 89 separates from SR 88 and proceeds towards Markleeville. Hope Valley, Woodsfords Canyon and Markleeville are often cited as one of the best areas for autumn foliage viewing in the state of California. Shortly after exiting the mountains the highway reaches the Carson Valley, where it turns due north and becomes one of the main thoroughfares of the valley. SR 88 reaches the Nevada state line where it becomes Nevada State Route 88 which proceeds due north towards U.S. Route 395. SR 88 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System and the National Highway System. The portion over the Sierra Nevada is included in the State Scenic Highway System and is designated a National Forest Scenic Byway. Per Annual Average Daily Traffic data for 2020, the western terminus near Stockton is the most heavily used part of the road, averaging 24,100 vehicles per day. The lightest traffic counts, 1450 vehicles per day, are at the Kirkwood turnoff. However, Caltrans notes that there is significant seasonal variation for traffic at the ski resort, with peak month traffic counts increasing to 3600 vehicles per day at this location. Route 88 is one of three routes to continue with the same route number after crossing into Nevada, the others being Routes 28 and 266. History The portion of Route 88 east of Antelope Springs, near Buckhorn, started as the Amador/Nevada Wagon Route, a toll road with a franchise granted in 1852 and surveyed in 1857. While the route was based on the existing Kit Carson trail and Old Emigrant Road, among the primary reasons for granting the toll road franchise was to fund a realignment of the portion from Tragedy Spring to Caples Lake. In its original form, the road connected these landmarks by looping around the Silver Lake basin, over a high