Let us assume that the motorist is now in Yosemite. Besides the routes to the low country, the following scenic trips may be taken within the park: 1. A Tour of the Valley. 2. El Portal and return. 3. Glacier Point. 4. The Mariposa Big Trees. 5. Tuolumne Big Trees. 6. Hetch Hetchy. 7. Lake Tenaya and the High Sierra route to Mono Lake and Tahoe. Each of these (except number four) is described in the following road trips. ROAD TRIP I EL PORTAL TO YOSEMITE _via_ EL CAPITAN ROAD (15 miles--1-1/4 hours by stage) Most charming because of the climax of ever-increasing scenic beauty and grandeur, is the fifteen-mile ride from El Portal up the gorge of the Merced to Yosemite. It is rather to be regretted that modern auto-busses hurry us over the new highway in less than an hour and a half, giving us scarce time to appreciate the majesty and beauty of the ever-changing panorama. Leaving ~El Portal~, the road parallels the north bank of the Merced, passing beneath gnarled oaks and silver-gray digger pines. In the high water of early spring, Indian Creek, across the canyon, descends over the picturesque ~Chinquapin Falls~. Entering the gateway of Yosemite National Park, we follow up the riotous Merced River, noting here and there a hardy yellow pine or an incense cedar venturing down to the canyon bottom. About two miles inside the park is ~Avalanche Falls~ across the river. The trail bridge below is the crossing of the Sunset Trail, which ascends past the foot of the fall and climbs 2500 feet to the Wawona Road. A short distance up the canyon the road passes beneath ~Arch Rock~, a natural tunnel formed by huge blocks of granite. Just beyond, Grouse Creek descends the south canyon wall by a series of cascades. We have now entered the true mountain forest, and ride beneath yellow pines, incense cedars, Douglas firs and now and then a true fir. ~Elephant Rock~ towers above and to the right. Just below it is ~Battleship Harbor~, a placid stretch of the Merced in which fancied granite dreadnaughts ride anchor. At the left the old ~Coulterville Road~ steeply descends the canyon wall and joins the main highway. This first road to Yosemite was opened in 1874 and was for years the main stage route from Merced. For the benefit of those who require entertainment the chauffeur often points out the image of a white Persian cat on the rock wall to the left. A short distance beyond and on the same side of the road are ~Wildcat Falls~.