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Old Wawona Road
The 1879 stagecoach road hikers still cross near Inspiration Point
About
Old Wawona Road is what's left of the original stagecoach route into Yosemite Valley — completed in 1879 by the Washburn brothers and used to carry the park's earliest visitors past what's now called Inspiration Point. When the Wawona Tunnel opened in 1933 with an easier automobile grade, the old road fell out of use almost immediately. By 1948 it showed up on maps only as a trail, and today it's folded into the Pohono Trail network above Tunnel View.
Where to Find It
There's no separate trailhead for Old Wawona Road — you reach it by parking at Tunnel View on Highway 41, just south of the Wawona Tunnel, and climbing the switchbacks toward Inspiration Point. About a mile up, the trail crosses the old, unpaved roadbed directly. From there it continues west, roughly 1.9 miles with about 880 feet of elevation change (per Trailforks), linking Inspiration Point to Artist Point.
Worth Knowing
- Artist Point, at the far end of the old road, carries a USGS benchmark placed in 1906 and opens onto Cloud's Rest, Royal Arch, North Dome, and the Merced River — quieter than the Tunnel View pullout below.
- Tunnel View parking fills fast; arrive early morning or in the evening for an easier space.
- Leashed dogs aren't allowed on this stretch — like nearly all Yosemite Valley trails, the only nearby exceptions are the Wawona Meadow Loop and a segment of Old Big Oak Flat Road near Hodgdon Meadow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Wawona Road an official hiking trail?
It doesn't have its own trailhead. It's the surviving roadbed of the 1879 Wawona stagecoach route, encountered about a mile up the Pohono Trail toward Inspiration Point from the Tunnel View parking area, and it continues on to Artist Point.
Why did the road fall out of use?
The Wawona Tunnel opened in 1933 with a smoother automobile grade, and the older, steeper stagecoach road was abandoned almost immediately. By 1948 it appeared on maps only as a trail.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Leashed dogs aren't permitted on this trail, same as almost every trail in Yosemite Valley — the closest exceptions are the Wawona Meadow Loop and a segment of Old Big Oak Flat Road near Hodgdon Meadow.
How do I get to the crossing point?
Park at Tunnel View on Highway 41 just south of the Wawona Tunnel, then follow the Pohono Trail switchbacks uphill toward Inspiration Point. The old road crosses the trail about a mile into the climb.
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