YOSEMITE TO HETCH HETCHY _via_ YOSEMITE CREEK, HARDEN LAKE AND SMITH
MEADOW
(31 miles--12 hours)
From Yosemite to Hetch Hetchy is a long one-day trail trip. The
following route is not especially scenic, traversing as it does the
rather flat forested plateau west of Yosemite Creek. The country north
of the Tioga Road is heavily grazed. Feed is sometimes scarce on this
account, and the numerous cattle trails are often confusing. Near
Hetch Hetchy the railroad has obliterated about three miles of trail,
making it necessary to follow the railroad grade. Further changes may
be expected as the work in Hetch Hetchy advances.
From ~Yosemite~ we follow Trail Trip 3 to the trail junction near the
top of ~Yosemite Falls~ zigzags. Here we continue straight ahead up
the west bank of Yosemite Creek, passing beneath a beautiful forest of
Jeffrey pine, white and red fir, lodgepole pine and scattered western
white pine. At about a quarter mile (four miles from Yosemite) a trail
branches left to ~Eagle Peak~ (Trail Trip 9). In tracing the following
few miles up ~Yosemite Creek~ we often cross pavements of glaciated
granite where will be found some magnificent specimens of mountain
juniper. Note also the potholes in the creek bed. At three and
three-quarters miles from the Eagle Peak Trail Junction the ~Ten Lakes
Trail~ (Trail Trip 10) turns northeast, following up the main stream.
Our trail turns left and parallels the west branch of ~Yosemite
Creek~, two and a half miles to the ~Tioga Road~, which we now follow
northwestward for five miles, passing several meadows in which are
good horse-feed and camp sites. One of the largest of these meadows is
~White Wolf~. The small stream south of the road is the headwaters of
the ~Middle Fork~ of the ~Tuolumne River~. There is here fair fishing
but the trout are small.
At a point where the road curves to the southwest, the ~Harden Lake
Trail~ branches to the right. About one mile northward is a trail
junction where the ~Hetch Hetchy Trail~ turns westward and the ~Harden
Lake and Pate Valley Trail~ turns eastward. ~Harden Lake~ (Alt. 7575)
is but a few steps distant but invisible from the Hetch Hetchy Trail.
It is small and contains no trout, but offers an attractive campsite
among the meadows and park-like forests.
From Harden Lake we turn westward and for six miles ride thru unbroken
forest to ~Smith Meadow~ on ~Cottonwood Creek~. Here the ~Smith Peak
Trail~ turns northeast. The 1200 foot climb in two miles to ~Smith
Peak~ (Alt. 7835) is well worth a side trip, as it offers a superb
panorama. The north slope drops precipitously 4200 feet to the Grand
Canyon of the Tuolumne.
At Smith Meadow another trail follows down Cottonwood Creek and leads
to ~Hog Ranch~, seven miles distant. Our trail turns northeast and in
five miles descends to the ~San Francisco Railroad~ grade, which it
intersects about halfway between Hog Ranch and Hetch Hetchy. Since the
trail has here been obliterated it is necessary to follow the railroad
grade which, with pack animals, is rather dangerous on account of the
possible meeting with a train. Two miles northward at the end of the
railroad is the city camp and offices, and a short distance beyond,
the dam-site. From here a good road descends to the floor of ~Hetch
Hetchy~, about one mile distant.