Jacob J. Marklee founded a toll bridge crossing the Carson River in 1861.

On June 23, 1862, he recorded a land claim of 160 acres in Douglas County, Nevada.

A boundary survey took place, and the property ended up being in California.

When the Comstock Lode discovery took place, the town of Markleeville was founded on the Marklee property.

[7] Today, the Alpine County Courthouse sits on the former property, which is listed as a California Historical Landmark.

[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.5 square miles (17 km2), all land.

The region comprising Markleeville is Alpine in appearance, with lush grassy valley areas.

Markleeville has warm to hot summers with only occasional rainfall, mostly from afternoon and evening thunderstorms; nights are usually well below 50 °F (10 °C).

There are an average of 15.7 afternoons with highs of 90 °F or 32.2 °C or higher and an average of 221.7 mornings with lows of 32 °F or 0 °C or lower, including 5.4 mornings falling to or below 0 °F or −17.8 °C, and 8.1 afternoons that do not top freezing.

The racial makeup of the CDP was 98% White, 2% Native American, 1% from other races.

About 7% of families and 15% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25% of those under the age of eighteen and 13% of those 65 or over.

[13] The route goes over five passes for a total distance of 129 miles and over 15,000 feet of elevation gain.

In 2010 3,500 riders participated and 2,417 completed the full course of 5 mountain passes.