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1947 Map of El Portal

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of El Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Merced River canyon serves as the central artery for this 1947 study, where the narrow valley floor accommodates the All-Year Highway and small settlements like El Portal and Rancheria Flat. The map documents a rugged landscape at the western gates of Yosemite National Park, defined by steep canyon walls and isolated outposts. The northern reaches show the protected Merced Grove Big Trees within the park boundary, while the surrounding Stanislaus National Forest and Sierra National Forest are marked by named peaks such as Trumbull Peak and Eagle Peak.

Historically significant transport routes are visible, including the Old Coulterville Road and the namesake settlement of Incline. Smaller residential or administrative clusters like Foresta and the Indian Flat Guard Sta are mapped alongside natural features such as Little Nellie Falls and Foresta Falls. The topography illustrates the dramatic elevation changes that historically dictated the placement of early Mariposa County camps and logging roads.