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1949 Map of El Portal

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of El Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The Merced River canyon serves as the central artery for this late 1940s survey, marking the primary gateway into Yosemite National Park. The settlement of El Portal sits at the river's bend, flanked by Rancheria Flat and the Indian Flat Guard Sta. This era captures the transition of access via the Yosemite All-Year Highway, which follows the steep canyon floor below peaks such as Trumbull Peak and Eagle Peak.

Up on the surrounding plateaus and ridges, the landscape is divided between the Stanislaus National Forest and Sierra National Forest. Notable landmarks include the Merced Grove Big Trees in the north and the historic mining area near Hite Cove along the South Fork Merced River. The map also preserves the locations of early 20th-century infrastructure like the Incline and Clearing House, alongside the winding paths of the Coulterville Road and Oak Flat Road.