(5 miles--20 minutes by stage)
The ~Bridalveil Road~ parallels the south bank of the Merced from
Yosemite to Pohono Bridge, five miles westward. This route is more
attractive and more scenic than the northern, or El Capitan Road,
which is often taken by the stages.
From Yosemite Village we bear westward across the meadows. The
~Sentinel~ towers above at the left and in the distance are the
portals of the valley. About one mile takes us past a Park Ranger's
cabin near the spot where Galen Clarke's house stood until 1919. Just
northward, at the edge of a big meadow, was once the Indian village of
Hoo'-koo-me'-ko-tah.
A little further and directly under the Sentinel stand the remaining
buildings of old Camp Awahnee, occupying the site of the large and
important Indian community of Loi'-ah. The name, which means "a long
water basket," was also the Yosemites' appellation for the great rock
tower above. The ~Short Trail to Glacier Point~ here turns to the left
and begins its zigzag course up the canyon wall. The ~Ford Road~, a
subsidiary route branching to the right, leads to ~The Big Pine~,
which is the largest known specimen of western yellow pine in the
park. During the flood waters of early spring, ~Sentinel Falls~
descend in a picturesque cascade at the western flank of the great
obelisk.
Again continuing westward, we are treated to charming vistas across
the Merced. Especially effective from this angle is the great triple
pyramid of ~Three Brothers~ buttressing the north wall. Just opposite
them on the banks of the river was Kis´-se, the westernmost of the
large Indian villages on the south or "coyote" side of the valley. To
the west a splendid profile of ~El Capitan~ is revealed and suddenly
at the left of the road the ~Cathedral Spires~, each rising 500 feet
from its base, seem to tower above the south rim. The Yosemites called
the latter Po-see´-na Chuck´-ah, or "mouse-proof rocks," from a
fancied resemblance to their acorn caches. A village just below them
in a small meadow near the river was called We´-sum-meh.
We now skirt the powerfully outlined ~Cathedral Rocks~. At ~El Capitan
Bridge~ one may cross to the north side of the river. Directly
opposite is a ranger station at the foot of the ~Big Oak Flat Road~
(Road Trip IV). From that point the ~El Capitan Road~ (Road Trips I
and VI) leads both up and down the valley.
Continuing along the shaded highway, we veer to the south, passing
close to the foot of ~Bridalveil Fall~, charming glimpses of which are
here and there revealed between the trees. Just below a very large
rock at the east margin of ~Bridalveil Creek~ is the site of the
ancient village of Lem-me´-hitch´-ke. Perhaps the unspeakable awe with
which the Yosemites were supposed to look upon Pohono, "the spirit of
the evil wind," has been somewhat exaggerated in the past. A short
subsidiary road turns to the left to the foot of the fall, a brief
side trip which should be taken by all visitors.
A short drive now takes us to the junction with the ~Wawona Road~
(Road Trip III) which bears to the left at ~Bridalveil Checking
Station~ and climbs thru the forests of the canyon-side. Turning to
the right, we soon enter ~Bridalveil Meadow~. Near the river was once
the Indian village of Sap-pah´-sam-mah. At the edge of the meadow,
about 100 feet north of the road, a dense grove of oaks and pines
shelters the graves of two pioneers, Rose and Shurban, who were
massacred here by the Indians in 1852. The view back across the
meadows towards the ~Gates of the Valley~ is one of the best from this
elevation. At the left is the great shoulder of ~El Capitan~, with the
~Ribbon Fall~ almost hidden in a deep recess at its west. At the right
of the portal the beautiful ~Bridalveil~ leaps gracefully from its
hanging valley between ~Cathedral Rocks~ and the ~Leaning Tower~.
Plunging again into the deep woods, we stop for a draught of ice-cold
water at ~Fern Spring~, and a short distance beyond emerge at the
beautiful border of the Merced. Crossing ~Pohono Bridge~ we join the
~El Portal Road~. El Portal is ten miles westward via Road Trip VI,
and Yosemite five miles eastward via Road Trip I.