The Ottoway Lakes Loop

A nice place to walk out on the massive slabs and sit for a spell. Con you believe it? There is a trail way up there!

Just Above the Two Bridges

The Ottoway Lakes Loop, September 2004

In the shade of a tree there was a large boulder sitting on the bare granite near the river, perfect for leaning my pack against and setting gear on to of it. I was standing on a huge level slab of unjointed granite that the river flowed over and cascaded over a short cliff formed by the slab. There is a spot near where the water spills over where you can sit in a chair formed by the broken granite next to the falls. Above the falls is a large shallow pool filled with the clear waters of the Merced River. Beyond you can see cascades falling into the pool and the whole panorama of the glacier polished canyon. The whole area is a vast bowl of granite, bush and forest.

There are plenty of spots along the river to stop for a quick view below the bridges. My brother continues to work on his burn.

I got out my chair for a rest and lunch and just tried to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Down stream I could clearly see the two bridges over the river, but they could wait till after lunch. Clearly, this was an area where one could take a day or two and explore the many features crowded there.

After a while I was ready to leave the Bunnell Point rest stop and head down the trail. The bridges connect an island, and once again I wished I had time for a bit of exploring. From pictures from others I am fairly certain these bridges had taken damage during the great Yosemite flood a few years back. Now, they had been completely repaired.