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1947 Map of El Portal

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of El Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Merced River canyon dominates this 1940s landscape, serving as the primary corridor for human activity and infrastructure in Mariposa County. The settlement of El Portal sits at the eastern gateway, where the river meets Yosemite National Park. The topography reveals a dramatic vertical landscape, from the riverside flats of Rancheria Flat to the high peaks of Trumbull Peak and Eagle Peak.

Inland travel is defined by the steep canyon walls, where the Big Oak Flat Road snakes through the northern hills. Local history is etched into the terrain at sites like Incline and Clearing House, while the Merced Grove Big Trees provides a preserved sanctuary in the northwest corner. The map also delineates the administrative boundaries of the Stanislaus National Forest and Sierra National Forest, highlighting how early land management shaped this gateway to the high country.