Cameras and chain-control points on SR-89. Click a marker to open the camera.
Check the live feed above before driving SR-89 between Truckee, Tahoe City, and South Lake Tahoe. When controls read R-0, the highway runs free of restrictions. Any higher code requires immediate attention to your tires, your traction devices, and your route options.
Confirm all posted restrictions with Caltrans or Nevada 511 before departure. Caltrans manages SR-89 and holds final legal authority over closures and chain checkpoints.
Chain Control Stages on SR-89
Winter storms bring three distinct restriction tiers to the West Shore corridor.
- R-1: Chains or snow tires required on all vehicles.
- R-2: Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel or all-wheel drive with snow tires on all four wheels.
- R-3: Chains required on every vehicle, no exceptions.
Caltrans implements R-2 far more often than R-1 during active Sierra snow events. R-3 remains rare and serves as the final step before Caltrans shuts the road entirely.
Elevation Profile and Camera Checkpoints
The corridor runs along the lake before climbing steep granite shoulders. Track visual conditions across these eight Caltrans highway cameras:
- SR-89 at South Lake Tahoe / US-50 webcam sits at 6,286 ft.
- SR-89 at Tahoe City / Fairway Dr webcam sits at 6,286 ft.
- SR-89 at Tahoe City / Granlibakken webcam sits at 6,256 ft.
- SR-89 at Olympic Valley / Rampart sits at 6,250 ft.
- SR-89 at Tahoe City / SR-28 sits at 6,246 ft.
- SR-89 at Tahoe City / Alpine Meadows sits at 6,220 ft.
- SR-89 at Olympic Valley sits at 6,122 ft.
- SR-89 at Truckee / West River sits at 5,885 ft.
Compare the views at 5,885 ft in Truckee against 6,286 ft at Tahoe City. Slush at lower river crossings often turns to packed ice as elevation climbs toward the lake basin. Review all camera feeds on the SR-89 webcams page.
Emerald Bay Closures and West Shore Travel
The section around Emerald Bay sits along exposed cliffs with severe avalanche paths. Caltrans closes the gates around Emerald Bay when heavy snowfall or slide risks threaten traffic.
These closures cut off through-travel between South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City. Local traffic can still access Meeks Bay and Homewood from Tahoe City, or Camp Richardson from South Lake Tahoe. Through traffic must divert around the lake.
Bypass Routes When Emerald Bay Shuts
When Emerald Bay closes, no direct west-side route connects North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe. Drivers must use the eastern side of Lake Tahoe instead.
Divert around the East Shore using SR-28 through Kings Beach and Incline Village to US-50. US-50 then carries traffic back down into South Lake Tahoe. This detour stays open more reliably than the Emerald Bay bluffs, though it also faces winter chain restrictions during major storms.
Check the SR-89 road conditions page for localized updates, or view regional passes on the all road conditions tracker. Always carry fitted chains, verify tire tread, and inspect Caltrans QuickMap or 511 feeds before entering the canyon.