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1956 Map of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the surrounding high Sierra wilderness are meticulously documented in this mid-century survey of Yosemite National Park. The map centers on the water-carved granite of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River, tracing the river's path from Muir Gorge through Pate Valley and into the reservoir. This era shows the developed infrastructure of the park before modern expansions, including the footprint of White Wolf and the primitive Old Tioga Road.

Evidence of early tourism and resource management is visible in the network of pack trails and established campsites like Smoky Jack Campground. The landscape is dominated by massive peaks and meadows, such as Rancheria Mountain and McSwain Meadows, with numerous alpine lakes like Tenaya Lake and Harden Lake dotting the high country. The boundary between Tuolumne and Mariposa counties cuts through the rugged southern half of the sheet, leading toward the northern edge of Yosemite Village.