First Transcontinental Railroad

Greetings, and welcome to the soaring altitudes of the Sierra Nevada. I invite you to take a moment to look at the magnificent, rugged landscape that surrounds us. …

As we step onto the graded path of the old track bed, notice how the natural chaotic terrain of the mountain has been artificially flattened. The crushed gravel crunching beneath your boots is a lasting testament to the sheer…

We have now arrived at a truly awe inspiring feature of the trail, an enormous, hand built stone retaining structure known as the Chinese Wall. Run your hands over the rough face of these massive granite blocks. …

Continuing along the path, you will notice large, decaying concrete and wooden structures rising around us, partially enclosing the trail. These are the remnants of the massive snow sheds, an architectural innovation born out of…

We have now reached the crown jewel of the Central Pacific's engineering efforts in the Sierra Nevada. Looming before us is the gaping, dark mouth of the East Portal of Summit Tunnel, officially designated as Tunnel Number Six. …

Now that we are deep inside Summit Tunnel, let your eyes adjust to the profound darkness. Notice how the ambient noise from the valley outside has been completely swallowed by the thick stone walls. …

As we walk toward the light at the end of the tunnel, you can feel the air begin to warm, and the sound of the wind returns to our ears. Stepping out of the West Portal of Summit Tunnel, the contrast is breathtaking. …

Walking westward along the abandoned trackbed, tracing the gentle curves carved into the cliff side, we can fully analyze the profound impact this railway had once the Central and Union Pacific lines finally met. After breaking…

As the trail opens up to provide a sweeping vista of the Summit Valley, let us pause and survey the landscape. The sheer expanse of the wilderness before us is humbling. …

As our journey along the historic grade of Donner Pass comes to a close, take one last look back toward the dark portal of the Summit Tunnel. We have walked through the physical remnants of an era that fundamentally reshaped the…