I recently stumbled on some old maps of Yosemite on David Rumsey that show the old alignment of the Wawona Road before the Wawona Tunnel was opened in 1933. With that being the case I noticed that the Pohono Trail actually crossed over the original alignment above the tunnel. Despite almost a century going by the grade can still be clearly seen through the trees.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4626/39598384284_27f5af2c26_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23kb54w)IMG_2639 (https://flic.kr/p/23kb54w) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
The old alignment of the Wawona Road can be seen about half a mile from Bridalveil Falls. Again the cut is obvious if you are looking closely at the northbound lane.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4674/39412500685_701c795990_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/233KnkT)IMG_2657 (https://flic.kr/p/233KnkT) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
The 1923 map shows the original Wawona Road alignment which cuts north from the modern road somewhere near Grouse Creek:
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~231646~5508982:Yosemite,-Calif-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:yosemite;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=153&trs=183
When I inspected Grouse Creek I couldn't find anything. I suspect the Grouse Creek side of the Old Wawona Road is heavily washed out at this point. I'll have a blog post up this weekend but my photos of the Wawona Road (and Vernal Falls since I wanted to do more hiking) are already up on Flickr.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsktf1z72
Nice! Is the old Tioga Pass road still findable too?
Quote from: kkt on February 17, 2018, 12:06:55 AM
Nice! Is the old Tioga Pass road still findable too?
Sure is, it actually is a hiking trail from Evergreen Road and the White Wolf Lodge. I talked about it last year on the Tioga Pass Road thread. Interestingly the 1923 map I posted above shows a difference in the Big Oak Flat Road which I'm assuming was due to the lack of tunnels.
Found a map from 1938 showing the new Wawona Road using the Wawona Tunnel and Old Wawona Road apparently was still in use to some degree. Fort Monroe is still displayed which was a stage station during the wagon era in Yosemite.
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~231648~5508983:Yosemite,-Calif-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:yosemite;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=154&trs=183
The 1948 CSAA map of Yosemite shows only part the Old Wawona Road from Grouse Creek to Inspiration Point as a trail.
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~262102~5523588:Roads-in-Yosemite-Valley--Routes-to?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:yosemite;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=158&trs=183
The 1951 USGS map no longer shows the Old Wawona road but rather the Pohono Trail which used some of the alignment.
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~231650~5508984:Yosemite,-Calif-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:yosemite;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=155&trs=183
Regarding the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company I found the following.
1885 Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company Map
https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/25908/Yosemite_Stage_and_Turnpike_Company_Map_of_Yosemite_National_Park/Henkenius-Sunset%20Press.html
Some items of interest...
- The Yosemite Road is shown starting at the end of the rail line that used to terminate in Raymond. It appears the Yosemite Road had two branches to Wawona with one going past the Miami Saw Mill. Oakhurst is still referred to as Fresno Flats.
Two articles on the stage route from the Wawona Hotel to Yosemite Valley.
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/wawonas_yesterdays/stages.html
http://www.undiscovered-yosemite.com/history-of-wawona.html
- The second article states the the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company was founded in 1882.
This 1883 Topo Map shows the early Wawona Road which apparently was once called "Madera or Merced Big Trees & Yosemite Road." Can't say that name rolls off the tongue.
https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~405~40014:Topographical-Map-Of-The-Yosemite-V?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:yosemite;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=183
Finished the blog post on the Wawona Road. Usually I don't lead with the history but there was a ton to cover that needed context before the photos.
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/history-of-wawona-road-yosemite.html
I made some substantial updates to the History of the Wawona Road Blog. New materials include photos/historical context regarding the Wawona Covered Bridge. I also took some new photos of Grouse Creek, still no luck at spotting the former road grade through the thick overgrowth:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/02/history-of-wawona-road-yosemite.html
I made a substantial update to the History of the Wawona blog after I visited the Mariposa Grove last month. I went back and included the history of the Mariposa Grove in addition to history of stage/automotive travel via the Mariposa Grove Road. I included numerous vintage photos of the Wawona Tunnel Tree, map scans of the Mariposa Grove Road and a hike on the recently opened Mariposa Grove Trail which lies atop mostly former roadbed. Regarding the Wawona Road I did snip images of the map scans I cited and cleaned up the historic portion to give it better continuity with the Mariposa Grove.
https://www.gribblenation.org/2018/02/history-of-wawona-road-yosemite.html