Smalley Road and the San Joaquin River footbridge

Smalley Road is an approximately five-mile mountain highway located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County. Smalley Road connects Powerhouse Road north of Auberry to the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation area. Smalley Road was completed in 1920 as a means to access the site of Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1. Pictured as the blog cover is the San Joaquin River Gorge footbridge which is accessible from Smalley Road via the Ya-Gub-Weh-Tuh Trail.

Part 1; the history of Smalley Road

Smalley Road was completed in 1920 as part of the construction of Kerckhoff Dam and Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1. The Kerckhoff Hydroelectric Project was constructed by Pacific Gas & Electricity (PG&E) on an otherwise Southern California Edison dominated San Joaquin River watershed. The dam and reservoir were named after William George Kerckhoff a figure in the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project.

Smalley Road can be seen connecting Powerhouse Road to Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1 on the 1942 United States Geological Survey map of Millerton Lake.

In modern times the Bureau of Land Management created the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation Area near Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1. The recreation area serves an extension of the San Joaquin River Trail from Millerton Lake and provides hiking access to Madera County side via a footbridge.

Part 2; a drive on Smalley Road

As Powerhouse Road approaches Smalley Road, a large sign denoting the presence of the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation area can be observed.

Smalley Road descends west from Powerhouse Road into the San Joaquin River Gorge. Signage notes that a usage fee is required ahead.

Fresno County maintenance of Smalley Road terminates at the boundary of the San Joaquin River Gorge Special Recreation Area.

Smalley Road continues west to the Ya-Gub-Weh-Tuh Trail where the San Joaquin River footbridge can be accessed. Traffic can also access the San Joaquin River Trail which leads to Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, Pincushion Peak and Sky Harbor Road.

Part 3; a hike on the Ya-Gub-Weh-Tuh Trail to the San Joaquin River footbridge

From Smalley Road the Ya-Gub-Weh-Tuh Trail descends into the San Joaquin River Gorge. The trail crosses the San Joaquin River footbridge into Madera County within sight of Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1. It isn't clear when the footbridge was constructed.

From the Madera County side of the footbridge the six-mile Pa'san Ridge Trail loop begins. Kerckhoff Powerhouse #1 is easily observed from the eastern leg of the trail loop.

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