The Murphy Creek connector - a forgotten trail

On old topo maps (and the topo maps iphone app) there is a one mile long trail connecting the Murphy Creek trail with the Sunrise TH at Tenaya Lake. When I was in Yosemite a couple of weeks ago I set out to find it. Sorry, you have to be a bit of a trail nerd to find this even a little bit interesting.


Topo map of the trail connecting Murphy Creek trail with the Sunrise TH at Tenaya Lake. I'm on a mission to see if it is still there.


37.83827N 119.46368W is what my iphone GPS says. There is no sign on the Murphy Creek trail, but this is where the junction is supposed to be. You can see the faint trail going down into the creek. I'm going to follow it to see what I can find.


There isn't much water in the creek, so crossing is easy.


Well, this could be a trail, maybe.


These stones look like they've been placed with a purpose.


Yes, I think this is it.


The log has been cut, so amazingly this unmarked trail appears to be maintained.


Rock work from a long time ago.


A view of Tenaya Lake.


And suddenly here we are at Tioga Road. The Murphy Creek connector trail is unmarked and unnoticed.


Directly across the street is the shuttle stop for Sunrise TH.

Nice work. And this would allow you to keep hiking on a single wilderness permit....

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balzaccom
this would allow you to keep hiking on a single wilderness permit....

So would walking along the road (which we have done). The claim that you can't walk a short distance along a road between two trailheads as part of a single trip is a myth. Just don't ride the bus.

Quote
KatyAnderson


Topo map of the trail connecting Murphy Creek trail with the Sunrise TH at Tenaya Lake. I'm on a mission to see if it is still there.

I LOVE the Topo Maps app for the iPhone!

Such a freaking cool app! For anyone that has an iPhone, it's $8 well spent. Highly recommended!

iTunes App Store: Topo Maps by Phil Endecott


(And thanks for confirming that trail. I just had assumed it was signed by the Park Service. I'm surprised that it no longer is.)

.

Hooray for trail nerds! Thanks!

Kewl. I half sum of doz same faux toes



Eye boat Trail Nerd, Overall Nerd, Off Trail Nurd, Map Nurd, and Bird

Real Questions for ewe are:
- Done Indian Canyon trail?

and
Wutts up witt dis?
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,27002,27002#msg-27002
(haven't gotten back and taken trail down from Mono TH yet)

btw... Z Log Cutters take that trail... so there was probably freshly cut logs if
needed and fresh horse dookie

Have fun

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Hopefully ur out looking for more trails...

Just wanted to mention that you may want to look at some old maps of
Polly area... it may prod you to take a closer look around that area
for more trails.... (it's on my list... but haven't looked there yet)

Have fun

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Thanks for the kudos and the encouragement to go out and check out some other abandoned trails. It's now on my list.
And sorry for the late reply. I have indeed been out hiking and will post something shortly.