Hites Cove Road is an approximately seven-mile rural highway corridor located in the Sierra Nevada range of Mariposa County. As presently configured Hites Cove Road begins as a paved roadway at Double Eagle Road in the neighborhood of Mariposa Pines. Hites Cove Road north of Mariposa Pines becomes Sierra National Forest Road 03S002 for approximately two miles and Off Highway Vehicle trail 19E200 for another four miles to the town site of Hites Cove.
Hites Cove Road is named after the ghost town of Hites Cove. This former community was the site of a mining strike by John Hite at the South Fork Merced River in 1861. Hites Cove was a prominent Gold Rush era community in Mariposa County which eventually grew important enough to warrant a twenty-stamp mill. John Hite petitioned the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors for the construction of Hites Cove Road in 1864. Functionally the road to Hites Cove would be complete in 1866 when a footbridge was constructed over the South Fork Merced River. The corridors of Darrah Road, Jerseydale Road and Scott Road were once part of the larger Hites Cove Road corridor.
Hites Cove would remain an active mining community until the first decade of the twentieth century. The town site was eventually abandoned and would later burn in 1924. Despite Hites Cove now being comprised of largely mining wreckage the corridor of Hites Cove Road still remains accessible to vehicles. The Off Highway Vehicle portion carries sustained grades of 10-12% and terminates at the South Fork Merced River where a footbridge to Hites Cove was once located.
Hites Cove Road can be seen terminating at Hite Cove and the South Fork Merced River on the 1870 California Geological Survey map of the Sierra Nevada adjacent to Yosemite Valley.
Hites Cove (alternatively Hite Cove and Hite's Cove) is ghost town located on the South Fork Merced River. The mine was discovered by prospector John Hite in 1861. Hite and his partners would commission construction of a mining tunnel, and a ten-stamp mill in 1863. The mine at Hites Cover quickly grew into a small community with a rising economic profile in Mariposa County.
Hites Cove was initially only accessible via foot trails. On February 8, 1864, John Hite would petition the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors to construct a public roadway to his mining community. Hites Cove Road was commissioned to be constructed north from the Yosemite Road (now California State Route 49) near Bootjack. The roadway followed the general course of Snow Creek north from Bootjack to the community of Darrah. From Darrah the roadway continued northward skirting just east of Portuguese Ridge past Skelton's Ranch (later Jerseydale). From Skelton's Ranch the road to Hites Cove descended rapidly to the Hites Cove town site at the South Fork Merced River.
William J. McCann would purchase the Hites Cove General Store via sheriff's debt sale in 1866. The original footbridge at the South Fork Merced River was destroyed by floods in 1867. McCann would spend $600 to rebuild the structure in 1868 and would toll it with Mariposa County approval. Hites Cove briefly obtained Post Office service in 1868. The original service run was short lived and was shuttered by 1869.
Hites Cove Road can be seen terminating at Hite Cove and the South Fork Merced River on the 1870 California Geological Survey map of the Sierra Nevada adjacent to Yosemite Valley. This map was based off surveys compiled between 1863-1867. Hites Cove Road can be seen branching north from the Yosemite Road at Bootjack. The corridor as originally configured also encompassed what is now Darrah Road, Jerseydale Road and Scott Road.
On December 12, 1871, McCann would petition the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors to recognize the mining trail north of Hites Cove to the Merced River as public right of way (courtesy Ephriam Dickson of the Yosemite History Facebook group). This mining trail is still managed by Sierra National Forest as the Hites Cove Trail south of California State Route 140 at Incline.
The trail connecting Hites Cove to the Merced River would be extended east to Yosemite Valley during 1872-1873. The May 9, 1873, Mariposa Gazette announced toll rates on the trail from Hites Cove to Yosemite Valley were fixed at 50 cents for pack animals, 25 cents for pedestrians and a dollar for horseback riders. A stub article from the Mariposa Gazette describing the Hites Cove-Yosemite Valley trail can be seen below (courtesy Ephriam Dickson of the Yosemite History Facebook group).
The Hites Cove-Yosemite Valley trail can be seen on the 1874 California Geological Survey map of the Sierra Nevada adjacent to Yosemite Valley.
Hites Cove would eventually grow large enough that a twenty-stamp mill was constructed. The community would obtain Post Office for the second time in 1878. The service would last until 1889 until shuttering. The community would obtain Post Office service for the final time circa 1901-1902.
Hite Cove and Hites Cove Road can be seen north of Jerseydale on the 1903 United States Geological Survey map of Yosemite.
Following the final decline in mining activity in Hites Cove the community would quickly dwindle to an abandoned ghost town. The community was far too remote and hard to access to remain viable after the economic engine ceased. Much of the Hites Cove-Yosemite Valley trail would be functionally replaced in 1907 with the commissioning of the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
The abandoned community of Hites Cove can be seen below in a 1911 era photo (courtesy California Gold Explorers). The town site and South Fork Merced River footbridge would be consumed by a forest fire in 1924. All that is left of the community is Hites Cove Road and numerous mining ruins.
The 1947 United States Geological Survey map displays the designation of Hites Cove Road as being truncated to just existing north of Jerseydale.
During the late 20th century, the neighborhood of Mariposa Pines would be constructed along Hites Cove Road. Currently the Mariposa County maintained portion of Hites Cove Road begins at Double Eagle Road in Mariposa Pines. Mariposa County maintenance extends to the northern neighborhood boundary and enters Sierra National Forest.
Within Sierra National Forest the initial two miles north of Mariposa Pines is maintained as Forest Road 03S002. Hites Cove Road north of Caroline Mine Road (Forest Road 03S002C) is maintained as an Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) road designated as trail 19E200. The OHV segment of Hites Cove Road is approximately four miles long and terminates at the South Fork Merced River across from the Hites Cove town site. The Forest Service Interactive Map indicates the OHV segment to have sustained grades of 10-12%. The OHV segment is open to cyclists and hikers all year, motorized traffic has access from March 1st through January 15th.
Part 2; a drive on Hites Cove Road
Modern northbound Hites Cove Road begins in Mariposa Pines as Scott Road gives way at Double Eagle Road.
The paved portion of Hites Cove Road gives way to dirt at the northern outskirts of Mariposa Pines.
As northbound Hites Cove Road departs Mariposa Pines traffic is advised the OHV portion along with the Savage Lundy Trailhead are both two miles ahead.
Hites Cove Road becomes Sierra National Forest Road 03S002.
Hites Cove Road passes a helicopter pad facility which has an open vista of the South Fork Merced River.
Hites Cove Road descends to a road fork. The left fork has a gate which accesses the OHV portion (trail 19E200) whereas the right fork transitions to Caroline Mine Road (Forest Road 03S002C). A map details the Hites Cove area and accessible trails. The gate is located at 3,901 feet above sea level according to the latest United States Geological Survey maps.
As the OHV segment of Hites Cove Road begins traffic is greeted with a sign indicating it is not a through road. A shield indicates the roadway ahead is intended for OHV use only. Normal high clearance vehicles area not capable of descending the slope ahead safely. Vehicles with low range four-wheel drive and lockers have been known to make the descent.
Hites Cove Road loses approximately 2,100 feet of elevation between the OHV gates and the bend at Marble Point. The initial descent to the first switchback is extremely steep and has numerous grades in excess of 20%. The sharp descent offers a clear view of the South Fork Merced River Canyon and the rock formation on the opposite bank known as Casa Diablo.
From the first switchback the tailing ponds of Hites Cove can be seen facing northward.
Hites Cove Road descends to the second switchback which overlooks Casa Diablo.
Hites Cove Road continues to rapidly descend to Marble Point. Marble Point is easily observed due to the contrasting white rocks stranding out.
The roadway retaining wall at Marble Point has been recently replaced with rocks sourced from the formation.
Hites Cove Road makes one final steep descent and begins to level out approaching the Savage Lundy Trail junction.
Hites Cove Road approaches a relatively deep ford at Nutmeg Gulch
As Hites Cove Road emerges from Nutmeg Gulch there is an increasing number of indications of a settlement. Roadway retaining walls can be seen on both sides of the South Fork Merced River. An open mine shaft can be found on Hites Cove Road.
Hites Cove Road enters a clearing at the town site of Hites Cove. A wire span for a former bridge over the South Fork Merced River can be found entangled in Cedar Trees. Hites Cove is located at 1,578 feet above sea level.
A portion of cobblestone paving can be found near the northern terminus of Hites Cove Road.
Hites Cove Road ends at a second clearing at the Hites Cove town site. A piece of iron piping can be found at the dispersed campground.
The wheel and foundation for the sawmill seen in Part 1 can be seen facing across the South Fork Merced River. When the river level is low hikers can be cross to the opposite bank onto the Hites Cove Trail. The Hites Cove Trail has two branches which terminate at California State Route 140.
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