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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 carved canyons and the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada define this region, where the boundaries of three major federal lands meet. The map documents the convergence of the Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, and Sierra National Forest, revealing a landscape shaped by early tourism, forestry, and water management. The All-Year Highway traces the river's path through El Portal, passing the Indian Flat Guard Sta and the settlement of Rancheria Flat.

Upward from the river valley, the terrain rises toward Trumbull Peak and the ancient giants of the Merced Grove Big Trees. Researchers can locate specialized infrastructure like the Aerial Cableway and an Incline near Clearing House, reflecting the complex transportation needs of these steep mountain grades. From the isolated Hite Cove on the South Fork Merced River to high-elevation points like Eagle Peak, the map preserves the mid-century footprint of California’s gateway to the high Sierra.