Crossing two small bridges we obtain the best view of Elephant Rock down the canyon. At the left are the ~Cascade Falls~, during the flood waters of early spring one of Yosemite's most beautiful cataracts. The top of the cascade is 594 feet above the road. About a half mile further is ~Pulpit Rock~, on the south side of the river. It is best viewed by driving beyond and then looking back down the canyon. Below the road and at the right is the government power plant, where the water from the Merced drives two thousand-kilowatt electric generators. The intake and dam are passed further up the canyon. Three thousand feet above, the ephemeral ~Widow's Tears Fall~ drops 1170 feet from the rugged ramparts of the south wall. Another mile takes us past the site of the old Indian village Ah-wah-ma to ~Pohono Bridge~. From this point two roads ascend the valley, one on either side of the river. The more picturesque Pohono Road runs up the south side of the canyon. This is described in Road Trip I-A. The ~El Capitan Road~, following up the north side of the valley will first be traced. A short distance from the bridge we are treated to a most impressive view of the ~Gates of the Valley~. At the left the sheer 3300-foot precipice of ~El Capitan~ dominates the entire landscape. Its majesty is matched by the beauty of the ~Bridalveil Fall~ and ~Cathedral Rocks~ opposite. Between them is Nature's threshold, the brilliantly verdant ~Bridalveil Meadows~, dotted with dark green pines and oaks. Beyond, ~Half Dome~ is partly hidden by the projecting cliff of ~Glacier Point~ at the right. The summit of the lofty bare granite ridge in the distance is ~Clouds Rest~, the highest point on the Yosemite walls. If the winter snows be still melting above the rim we will see at the left the ~Ribbon Fall~ dropping delicately over its 1612-foot precipice into a recess just west of El Capitan. Its Indian name was Lung-oo-too-koo-ya, or "pigeon fall." Near its base the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ branches to the left and ascends thru the piles of shattered granite talus of the north wall. At this point was the Indian village, Hep-hep´-oo-ma. The road to the right leads past the El Capitan Checking Station and across ~El Capitan Bridge~ to the Bridalveil Road (Road Trip ~I-A~) south of the river.