Talk:California State Route 120/Archive 1

History notes
Much of this information comes from and. is a 1929 map of the park.

64 mile toll road built by Great Sierra Wagon Road Company, subsidiary of Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Company, ran from Big Oak Flat-Yosemite Valley road (Forest Route 1S11/Tioga Pass Road) near Crocker's Station (began at Forest Route 1S11 and Tioga Pass Road) east along road (including Evergreen Road) and trail, crossing current Tioga Pass Road at McSwain Meadows, and then roughly paralleling it to Tioga Mine (Great Sierra Mine), just beyond Tioga Pass
 * Tioga Road

Government bought the 53 mi in the park in 1915, and that year the state legislature appropriated money to buy the 7 mi from the Big Oak Flat road to the western park boundary

The state also got the 1 mile east of the park - that was apparently the same law

1915 c. 306, approved May 18, 1915
 * An act to appropriate money to purchase a portion of the Great Sierra Wagon Road and to provide for the acceptance and maintenance of said road as a state road.
 * SECTION 1. There is hereby appropriated out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated the sum of three thousand dollars for the purchase of that portion of the Great Sierra Wagon Road, better known as the "Tioga Road," lying without the boundary of the Yosemite National Park, approximately seven miles in length; provided, that the portion of the said "Tioga Road" lying within the Yosemite National Park is taken over by the national government and the maintenance therefor is provided for.
 * SEC. 2. The state department of engineering through the state engineer is hereby authorized and directed to negotiate and complete the purchase of said portion of said Great Sierra wagon road, and on behalf of the State of California to accept the deed for the same from the owners thereof, and to secure from the boards of supervisors of Tuolumne and Mono counties such orders as may be necessary to vacate any orders previously made by said boards relative to any franchise or grant made for said road. Upon the acceptance of said deed the said department of engineering shall improve and maintain said road as a state road and any expense incurred after the date of the acceptance of said deed shall be a proper charge against any money in the state treasury appropriated for the improvement and maintenance of state roads.
 * SEC. 3. more about money...

Established by state law, ended up being 12.3 miles (just east of Tioga Pass to Route 23) - or 10.5 miles with the rest added in 1917?
 * Mono Lake Basin State Road

1899 c. 26, approved February 23, 1899
 * An act to provide for the construction of a free wagon road from the Mono lake basin to connect with a road called "Tioga Road," at or near the "Tioga Mine," and making an appropriation therefor.
 * nothing important not stated in the title

says this was the first road built by the state.

is the law for the extension. This seems to be a very short extension; Mono Lake Post Office is on US 395 north of Lee Vining.

Big Oak Flat Road was a 32 mile toll road from Jack Bell sawmill (where?) to Cascade Creek (in the park at The Cascades)
 * Big Oak Flat State Highway

A 27 mile county road connected the Tuolomne lateral state highway near Chinese Camp with the Big Oak Flat Road

State acquired both in 1915, giving it, in addition to the main route, a 14 mile branch from Sequoia to Cascade Creek, 8 miles of which is in the park (but state maintained)

1915 c. 396, approved May 19, 1915
 * An act to take title to and thereafter maintain as a state highway, the toll road in Tuolumne and Mariposa counties, known as the Big Oak Flat and Yosemite road, also a section of Tuolumne county road to connect said toll road with the Sonora lateral of the state highway.
 * SECTION 1. That all that certain toll road in Tuolumne and Mariposa counties known as the Big Oak Flat and Yosemite road beginning at a point near the former location of Jack Bell sawmill in Tuolumne county and extending thence in an easterly direction through a portion of Mariposa county at Hamilton station, thence again into Tuolumne county, past the Heardin ranch, Crocker station, Crane Flat and Gin Flat, to the boundary line of the original Yosemite grant near Cascade Creek, about thirty-two miles in length, is hereby declared a state highway, and shall hereafter be maintained by the state under the supervision of the department of engineering.
 * SEC. 2. This act shall not take effect until the county of Tuolumne shall have deposited with the state department of engineering a good and sufficient conveyance, conveying thereby title to said road without cost or charge to the State [?]
 * SEC. 3. Also, the state engineer is hereby authorized to take over from the county of Tuolumne the section of road, approximately twenty-seven miles in length, connecting the western terminus of the Big Oak Flat and Yosemite toll road to the Sonora lateral of the state highway—provided no money consideration shall be given for roadbed or rights of way—and declare the same a state highway and maintain it with the funds available for maintaining state highways. Said connecting section of road beginning at the western terminus of said toll road shall run westerly via the main traveled route through Smith's ranch, Groveland, Big Oak Flat and over the new Priest hill highway to Jacksonville. From this point the state engineer shall select from the routes available, the road he deems the most practicable, direct and easily maintained to make connection with the state highway lateral.

talks about the Coulterville Road; is that this road? I don't think so; Gin Flat is north rather than south of the current road.

By 1918 the park service maintained the Big Oak Flat Road within the park: When did the park boundary change? By 1947



From the maps at you can see that Mono Lake to Benton was an existing road.

To the west, those maps and these use the following names:
 * French Camp Road, French Camp to at least Escalon
 * Oakdale and Sonora Road (actually further south via Warnerville Road and Rock River Road)

shows a route via Farmington and Sonora Road. also shows it, while the auto trails use SR 132, as they do on - or is it SR 108 from Modesto? The 1924 map on shows Stockton-Escalon-Oakdale via Mariposa Road, and so does. says that the route via Farmington "was the road from Stockton to the gold country".

The extension legislated in 1917 was not built unless it was present SR 120 from US 395 east to Mono Mills. You can see on that the east end of the road was just south of the existing intersection, and the county road to Mono Mills was Picnic Grounds Road/Test Station Road.

--NE2 17:28, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Legislative and other definitions

 * 1919
 * Route 13, Salida to Junction
 * Route 18, Merced to Sequoia
 * Route 40, Montezuma over the Sierras to Route 23

Apparently Mossdale to Manteca was Route 120 by 1939, and definitely by 1942. Also see Talk:U.S. Route 99W (central California).
 * 1934
 * 120. Jct. U.S. 99 at Manteca to Jct. Rte. 168 at Benton, via Groveland and through Yosemite National Park.
 * 140. Merced to Jct. Rte. 120 through Yosemite National Park, via Mariposa.


 * 1937
 * Route 13 is from Route 4 at Salida to Route 23 via Sonora and Long Barn.
 * Route 18 is from:
 * (a) Merced to Yosemite National Park near El Portal via Mariposa.
 * (b) Route 40 to the Yosemite National Park boundary at Crane Flat.
 * Route 40 is from:
 * (a) Route 13 to Route 23 near Mono Lake via Big Oak Flat and Buck Meadows. That portion of Route 40 lying within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park is not a state highway.
 * (b) Route 23 near Mono Lake to Route 76 near Benton Station.
 * Route 66 is from:
 * (a) Route 5 near Mossdale School to Route 4 at Manteca.
 * (b) Route 4 near Manteca to Route 13 near Oakdale.


 * 1963
 * Route 13 is from Route 4 at Salida to Route 23 via the vicinity of Sonora and Long Barn.
 * Route 18 is from Merced to Yosemite National Park near El Portal via Mariposa.
 * Route 40 is from:
 * (a) Route 13 to Route 23 near Mono Lake via Big Oak Flat and Buck Meadows. That portion of Route 40 lying within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park is not a state highway.
 * (b) Route 23 near Mono Lake to Route 76 near Benton Station.
 * (c) Route 23 north of Mono Lake to the Nevada state line, in the vicinity of the Pole Line Road.
 * Route 66 is from Route 238 near Mossdale to Route 13 near Oakdale via the vicinity of Manteca.


 * 1964
 * Route 120 is from:
 * (a) Route 5 near Mossdale to the west boundary of Yosemite National Park.
 * (b) The east boundary of Yosemite National Park to Route 395 near Mono Lake.
 * (c) Route 395 near Mono Lake to Route 6 near Benton Station.


 * Current
 * Route 120 is from:
 * (a) Route 5 near Mossdale to the west boundary of Yosemite National Park via the vicinity of Manteca and Oakdale, and via Big Oak Flat and Buck Meadows.
 * (b) The east boundary of Yosemite National Park to Route 395 near Mono Lake.
 * (c) Route 395 near Mono Lake to Route 6 near Benton Station.

Apparently Route 66 was added from US 50 to US 99 in 1921 (state law confirming that) and US 99 to SR 108 in 1933. Route 40 was extended to US 6 in 1933, and the branch to Nevada (SR 167) was added in 1953.
 * Notes


 * Route 40
 * 1899 c. 26 s. 1-2 p. 26: Mono Lake Basin State Road; also 1903 p. 523?
 * 1915 c. 306 s. 1 p. 488: Tioga Road
 * 1915 c. 396 s. 1 p. 635, amended by 1929 c. 537 s. 1 p. 946: Big Oak Flat Road
 * 1917 c. 704 s. 1 p. 1326: Mono Lake Basin State Road extension
 * 1933 c. 767 s. 5 p. 2034: extended to Benton
 * 1937 c. 841 s. 3: nothing substantial
 * 1953 c. 1786 s. 1: added branch to Nevada


 * Route 66
 * 1921 c. 845 s. 1 p. 1627: Manteca to Mossdale
 * 1933 c. 767 s. 5 p. 2034: extended to Oakdale

Terrain notes
Starts getting a bit less flat east of Oakdale Stays at about 1000 for a while Climbs quickly with hairpins Slow climb
 * 15: I-5 crosses between the San Joaquin Delta and Middle San Joaquin River-Lower Merced River-Lower Stanislaus River (remaining in the San Joaquin-Stanislaus part) watersheds just to the east
 * 115: Escalon
 * 155: Oakdale
 * 328: leaves the Stanislaus River valley near Knights Ferry crosses between the Middle San Joaquin River-Lower Merced River-Lower Stanislaus River and Upper Stanislaus River watersheds just to the east
 * 1047: summit south of the Tulloch Reservoir
 * 1166: Yosemite Junction crosses between the Upper Stanislaus River and Upper Tuolumne River watersheds several times around here
 * 1261: Chinese Camp
 * 1000: along the Don Pedro Reservoir
 * 2457: Priest
 * 2846: Groveland
 * 3273: summit at the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct crossing
 * 3006: Buck Meadows crosses between the Upper Tuolumne River and Upper Merced River watersheds a number of times around and beyond here
 * 2755: South Fork Tuolumne River crossing near Colfax Spring
 * 6300: summit just southwest of Crane Flat
 * 7000: summit near Gin Flat
 * 8265: summit at county line near McSwain Meadows
 * 7481: crossing of Yosemite Creek
 * 8533: summit near Snow Flat
 * 8161: along Tenaya Lake final crossing into the Upper Tuolumne River watershed just beyond
 * 9943: Tioga Pass crosses between the Upper Tuolumne River and Mono Lake watersheds here
 * 6816: US 395 north
 * 6894: US 395 south
 * 6591: curve south of Mono Lake
 * 8140: summit at Sage Hen Meadows Road
 * 6573: summit on the Benton Range crosses between the Mono Lake and Crowley Lake watersheds here
 * 5380: US 6

Library of Congress links
Searching for "Big Oak Flat Road" also gives three bridges and three tunnels on the new alignment (1936-38) within the park. --NE2 09:08, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Tuolumne Meadows Ranger Station, Tioga Pass Road, Tuolumne Meadows, Tuolumne County, CA
 * South Fork Tuolumne River Bridge, Spanning South Fork Tuolumne River on Tioga Road, Mather vicinity, Tuolumne County, CA
 * Tuolumne Meadows Bridge, Spanning Tuolumne River on Tioga Road, Tuolumne Meadows, Tuolumne County, CA
 * Big Oak Flat Road, Between Big Oak Flat Entrance & Merced River, Yosemite Village, Mariposa County, CA
 * Tioga Road, Between Crane Flat & Tioga Pass, Yosemite Village, Mariposa County, CA

There are a lot of photos on Flickr, probably all within the park though:  may be good. --NE2 09:21, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

New Exit Table
Even though I'm still sore about that last exchange, I WILL say this; THAT looks good! What happens when you bump the font size up on the postmile numbers? (I'm squinting slightly to read them. not MUCH, but slightly...)Edit Centric (talk) 02:36, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

NE2 - You know, something that I've noticed through the years is that exit numbers normally approximate the miles from the start of the route, ie: Exit 152 on SR 99 would be about 152 miles north of the beginning of the route, south of Bakersfield. As long as we list the exit number(s), that should (in theory) take care of the state postmile. Remaining to be listed are the county numbers, which you're working on. Just a thought.

Also, there's a few others noting the font "smallness". Can it be bumped up just a bit? Where is it now? Edit Centric (talk) 04:13, 5 December 2007 (UTC)
 * The exit numbers can be up to .99 miles off, according to the Caltrans standards (since CA does not use an Exit 0). --Rschen7754 (T C) 04:55, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

AL2TB - This is the format that NE2 is currently working, if I'm not mistaken. In the future, I would suggest positing the question in talk BEFORE going in and making blanket changes to an article. Even better, try going onto the IRC channel and inquiring there, there are quite a few knowledgeable WP:USRD editors there that know what's going on with exit list templates, style guidelines and such... Edit Centric (talk) 21:07, 24 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, how is the small font for the postmiles supposed to be working out? Almost all of the fonts for postmiles are still big. What's the point for small fonts for postmiles anyway? You might as well say, um... reduce the font for (I don't know...) destinations, notes, exit numbers, etc. AL2TB   Gab  or  Tab  22:23, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
 * My best suggestion is that you check with NE2, as he was the one that worked out the particulars on the exit lists... Edit Centric (talk) 22:27, 24 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Okay, I just checked in to mIRC, and that was a consensus change to the exit tables, and there is currently a plan to incorporate this change across all WP:CASH articles... Edit Centric (talk) 22:37, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

History notes
--NE2 01:46, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
 * 1918 routing (Route 9)
 * Weber, Pilgrim, Charter, Mariposa, Farmington, SR 4, Sonora, SR 120 (roughly), Green Springs, SR 108, SR 49 to Chinese Camp, SR 120 (very roughly)