(Lake Tenaya 57.7 miles. Tuolumne Meadows 65.2 miles. Mono Lake 88.2 miles)
Most charmingly scenic of all trans-Sierran routes is the historic old Tioga Road. Built by Chinese labor in 1881 to transport ore from the Tioga Mine (near Mono Lake) across the Sierra to the San Joaquin Valley, it soon fell into decay when the venture was abandoned. In 1915 the road was purchased by a group of public-spirited citizens and presented to the government. Since being well repaired it makes Yosemite accessible from the east and opens up the wonderfully fine camping country of the High Sierra to the automobile tourist. Hundreds of motorists take this exceptionally scenic short-cut to Lake Tahoe. In normal years the road opens July 15th and closes September 30th. Detailed information may be obtained from the "Circular of General Information regarding Yosemite National Park," or at the Motorists' Information Bureau in Yosemite Village. The first twenty-three miles of the following trip describes the Big Oak Flat Road as far as Carl Inn, and should be of use to auto parties leaving the park by that route.
From Yosemite we may follow either the Bridalveil or the El Capitan Road westward. At El Capitan Bridge, four miles west of the village, the Big Oak Flat road turns abruptly northward. All machines should be registered at the nearby checking station. For safety, the park regulations permit the ascent on even hours only and at a speed of not more than twelve miles per hour.
Gradually mounting the talus slope of the rough canyon side, we emerge 1200 feet above the valley floor at New Inspiration Point from which is our last comprehensive view of the Gates of the Valley. The outlook, although scenically not as perfect as that from the Wawona Road, is nevertheless quite attractive, for the depths below when viewed from this point seem almost always to be permeated by a transparent blue haze.
Near the top of the steady four-mile climb is Gentry Checking Station, where motorists should again register. This is a possible camp for motorists but rather a poor location. One-half mile further is the "Gentry Townsite," laid out about 1914, and beyond, the site of the old Gentry Sawmill. There are here a few good places for auto camps. Water will be found at a spring above the road.
Cascade Creek is crossed a short distance northward. The crossing offers no good camp sites. Fishing is fair. The short steep grade beyond the bridge is known locally as "Fords' Rest." We now ascend Lilly Creek to the crossing about half a mile above. Here the blazes of the old Mono Trail may be seen at the left leading down to a point on the rim of the canyon about three miles distant, where was once the terminus of the Coulterville Road. In the early days this was one of the chief routes used by the Indians and cattlemen.
Two miles beyond Cascade Creek is Tamarack Flat (Alt. 6390), named from the "tamarack" or lodgepole pine here so abundant. This is a splendid camping place, but somewhat cold. Fishing is fair and horse feed may be found upstream. A trail branching to the right leads to Aspen Valley, six miles distant. It is extremely brushy, poorly marked and almost impassable.
Three miles westward is Gin Flat, the summit of the Big Oak Flat Road. The meadow, bordered by red and white fir and Jeffrey and lodgepole pine, offers an attractive but cold campsite. There is a tradition that a barrel of gin was once buried here by one of the old-time whiskey peddlers, who was shortly afterwards killed. A more or less desultory search on the part of not a few "old-timers" failed to discover the prize, so after a few decades the matter became almost legendary. But in 1909, as a battalion of negro cavalry were marching to Yosemite for patrol duty, the tradition was in some way "picked up" in Groveland by one of the troopers. The commanding officer could hardly understand why his troops pushed on so readily the next day until, when camp was pitched at Gin Flat, they started to dig. Not a stone in the vicinity was left unturned—but the gin was never found.
At Crane Flat (Alt. 6311) two miles further west are many excellent camp sites. This camping ground is the one nearest to the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees. Water is conveniently piped from a spring to the vicinity of the ranger cabin. It is a good plan, if camp is to be made at Crane Flat, to gather firewood en route, for it is scarce in the immediate region. Motorists should register at the log cabin of the Park Ranger, and all east-bound cars should take water. A road branching southwestward leads to Hazel Green, about five miles distant on the Coulterville Road, and to the Merced Grove of Big Trees, seven and a half miles away. It is narrow and steep, but in fair condition. About a quarter of a mile from Crane Flat the Davis (private) Road turns to the left from the Hazel Green cut-off and leads to Big Meadows (4.5 miles) and El Portal (11.5 miles).
The main road bears to the north a short distance after leaving Crane Flat and, after one mile of steep descent, enters the Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias. Most of the thirty trees in the small grove are advantageously seen from the road, but a short side trip to the tunnelled Dead Giant (above and to the right) is well worth while. This subsidiary road is steep and narrow and most people prefer to walk to the giant.