Paralleling the Merced, we now and then are treated to glimpses of ~Bridalveil Fall~ dropping gracefully from its hanging valley and guarded at the left by ~Cathedral Rocks~ and at the right by the ~Leaning Tower~. Where our route traverses a small meadow is the site of another vanished village, We'-tum-taw. A short distance beyond is ~Black Spring~, which is but a few steps to the right of the road. The Yosemites called it Poot-poo-toon, and among the rocks surrounding it was a small community of the same name. Our road now bends gradually southward following the banks of the Merced. Across the stream is ~Bridalveil Meadow~ and an especially fine view of the ~Gates of the Valley~. A short distance further is ~Pohono Bridge~, where our road is joined by the ~Bridalveil Road~ (Road Trips I-A and VI-A) from the south side of the valley. About a quarter of a mile westward is the old Mail Carrier's Cabin, the site of the ancient village of Ah-wah'-ma. Across the canyon the rugged ramparts of the south rim rise imposingly above and ~Meadow Brook~ pours over the edge to leap 1170 feet as ~Widow's Tears Fall~. A small dam in the Merced diverts water for the intake of the two thousand-watt generators of the new government power house just below the road. South of the river is a grotesque promontory which is well named Pulpit Rock. At the two small bridges about one and a half miles further down the canyon we pass the foot of ~Cascade Falls~ which, during the flood waters of early spring, is one of the most attractive scenic features of the El Portal Highway. From these bridges is also the best view of ~Elephant Rock~, down the canyon. Less than a quarter of a mile further, ~Wildcat Falls~ pour over the cliff at the right. A short distance beyond, stage drivers often point out the image of a white Persian cat on the wall above the road. The old ~Coulterville Road~ now branches to the right and steeply ascends the canyon wall. This was the first road into Yosemite and was completed in 1874. Just below Elephant Rock is ~Battleship Harbor~, a placid reach of the Merced in which fancied granite dreadnaughts ride anchor. A little more than a mile further down the canyon ~Grouse Creek~ tumbles over the south wall in a series of cascades. We now pass beneath ~Arch Rock~, a natural tunnel formed by two huge granite talus blocks. The trail bridge across the Merced, a short distance westward, is the crossing of the ~Sunset Trail~, which passes the mid-winter ranger station opposite and ascends past the foot of ~Avalanche Falls~ to the Wawona Road, 2500 feet above. Two miles further down the canyon we pass out of the park and into the ~Stanislaus National Forest~ thru a region of gnarled oaks and silver-gray digger pines. During the early season ~Indian Creek~, across the canyon, forms the picturesque ~Chinquapin Falls~.