Gribblenation

Reds Hill Road is a short four-mile rural corridor located in the namesake hills of Tuolumne County.  This particular highway was plotted during the California Gold Rush as part of a stage road between La Grange and Chinese Camp.  The Red Hills are mostly known as backdrop which has frequently been used in western movies and came under Bureau of Land Management protection in 1985.  Red Hills Road serves as a cutoff between Chinese Camp and La Grange Road (County Route J59).  The highway has numerous low water bridges which often overflow during the winter months.   Part 1; the history of Red Hills Road The Red Hills of Tuolumne County are located in the region around Chinese Camp in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  The area is comprised of serpentine soils which is unique for the western Sierra Nevada.  The Red Hills have several rare species of flora and fauna which are not found elsewhere.  In popular culture the Red Hills have been used as a ...

Murphys is one of the oldest communities in Calaveras County and historically tied to the history of the Big Trees Road to Ebbetts Pass.  When California State Route 4 was commissioned in 1934 it followed the existing Alpine State Highway corridor through the community via Main Street and Big Trees Road.  Murphys would be bypassed in 1961 when the current highway alignment east of downtown was constructed.  The same project corridor would also bypass nearby Douglas Flat and Vallecito.   The 1948 United States Geological Survey map of Columbia displays California State Route 4 passing through Murphys in detail.  The highway corridor is shown passing through via Main Street and Big Trees Road.   Part 1; the history of California State Route 4 in Murphys The history of Vallecito and Murphys are strongly tied together.  Both were founded by John and Daniel Murphy during the California Gold Rush.  What became Vallecito was plotted first as Mu...