The traveller generally pursues his route, by Central Pacific Railroad, to San Francisco, and thence, after seeing all the interesting scenes and enjoying the generous hospitality of the Golden Gate of the Pacific, as the great new city has been happily called, he returns to Stockton, —92 miles.

From Stockton the three principal routes are:—

1. The Mariposa.—The stages leave in the m for Mariposa, 100 miles; passing French Camp; Snelling’s, on the Merced River; Hornitas, where the traveller can obtain a night’s rest. From Hornitas there are two sub-routes—one, viâ Bear Valley; the other direct to Mariposa (population, nearly 2000); thence to Hatch’s Saw Mill, 12 miles; and Clark’s Ranch, 25 miles (a trail diverges from this paint to the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees). From Clark’s Ranch (where saddle-horses are generally taken) to Inspiration Point, 15 miles (famous for its magnificent view of the Yosemite Valley); Bridal Veil Fall, 4 miles, Hutchings’ Hotel, in the valley, 152 1/2 miles from Stockton.

2. The Coulterville, daily, on Sissons’ stage line: by way of Farmington, 10 miles; Knight’s Ferry, on the Stanislaus River, 37 miles; Crimea House, 48 miles; Mount Pleasant, 50 miles; Chinese Camp, 51 miles. On Shoop’s line: Jacksonville, 3 miles; Rattlesnake, 12 miles; Coulterville, 23 miles. Thence, with horses and guides, Marble Springs and Bower Cave, 10 miles; Black’s House, 6 miles; Crane Flat, 18 miles (a trail here leads if to the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees). At 12 miles from Hutchings’ Hotel we reach Valley View, so called because here we obtain the first view of the Yosemite.

3. Hardin’s Route follows up Route 2 to Rattlesnake, and thence by Shoop’s stage to Hodgeden’s, 20 miles from Yosemite, by way of Big Oak Flat, Garrote, and the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees. The traveller will take one route out, and another back.

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