Bloody Canyon, a distinctive geological feature along the Mono Trail, for many years provided the shortest route between Mono Basin and Yosemite Valley. Lieutenant S. Treadwell Moore of Company B, 2nd Infantry-USA, and his detachment are credited as the first white men to traverse Bloody Canyon from west to east in 1852, and his reports later influenced others to explore this region of the Sierra Nevadas. It was reportedly named for the dark red rocks that compose the canyon walls and the surface of its rugged, steep trail, whose jagged, sharp stones mercilessly lacerate the feet, ankles, and legs of unprepared animals and humans. One legend holds that the rocks were stained red by bloodshed during a fierce battle between local Native American tribes many years ago. During its heyday, many explorers, prospectors, and settlers braved the rigors of Bloody Canyon, firmly establishing it as a landmark of Mono County.