Yosemite West

Signpost at entrance to Yosemite West of Hwy 41

Yosemite West is in Mariposa County in California accessed by roads in Yosemite National Park.

Understand

Yosemite West is a small community which is located in the southern area of Yosemite National Park just off Wawona Road, a continuation of California from Fresno. It is situated one mile (1.6 km) south of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road with the Glacier Point Road at an altitude of 5,100–6,300 ft (1,550–1,900 m). Just outside of the western boundary line of the National Park, Yosemite West is not subject to strict Park limitations on development. There are permanent residents in Yosemite West that live here year round. The community also has a number of homes, apartments, condos and Bed & Breakfast establishments that are available as rentals for National Park visitors.

Yosemite Valley is a 20-25 minute drive from Yosemite West. Similarly, it is a 20 minute drive to great attractions like Glacier Point and Wawona golf course. Visitors and residents have easy access to all the Park's roads.

History

Old railroad grades converted to paved roads

As early as 1912 the cutting of timber in the Chinquapin area was started and logs were hauled to Merced Falls. The Yosemite Valley Railroad was built to remove the lumber harvested from the vast supply of Sugar Pines found along the Merced River canyon. Author Hank Johnston’s book, “Whistles Blow No More”[4], describes the activities of the Yosemite Lumber Company in this area. In fact, the remains of the longest Incline rail system ever built are located at what is known as Camp One, just a short distance away from the Yosemite West development. The incline rose to a height of 3,100 feet (950 m) above the Merced River. The Camp One incline was used to lower logs to the Merced River at El Portal from the logging area. One of the stops on the Yosemite Valley Railroad line was the lumber mill built by the Yosemite Lumber Company where the wood was planed, finished, dried and stored. The lumber company is gone now and trees have reforested the area and surround most homes. The old train grades were redeveloped creating paved roads and underground utilities which give Yosemite West a pleasant rural atmosphere unfettered by power lines.

Deer are common in the area

Flora and fauna

Yosemite West has species of pine, cedar, dogwood, manzanita and elderberry. You can find mule deer, grey squirrels, coyote and the occasional black bear passing through the area. Bird life includes Stellar Jays, orioles, and crows.

Get in

By car

From Mariposa, Merced, and other points west, take State Route 140 east. From San Francisco or Reno and points north, take State Route 120. From the south, you can take State Route 41 from Fresnoand enter the south gate entrance to the Park.

Fees/Permits

To get to Yosemite West you need to enter at one of the Yosemite National Park gates. Park entrance fees are $20 for private vehicles and $10 for individuals on foot, bike and motorcycle. All entrance fees are valid for seven days. The Yosemite Annual Pass is available for $40, allowing park entry for one year. Alternatively, The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass can be purchased for $80, allowing free entry to all park and recreation lands controlled by the US Department of the Interior for one year.

Get around

By Car

A car can take you to most major attractions in Yosemite National Park. However some roads are seasonal with closures occurring in winter and early spring.

See

Deer Birds Pines Cedar

Do

Hiking

Several hiking trails start in Yosemite West. Some of the trails follow old railroad beds from the days of the Yosemite Lumber Company which logged this area in the early 20th Century. The trail head on the east side of Hwy 41 near the turnoff to Yosemite West has a parking area and the trails lead to Deer Camp and Empire Meadow. The Alder Creek Trail branches off from the Deer Camp Trail and leads to the Alder Creek Falls.

On Azalea Road, in Yosemite West, you can follow the trail to the Henness Ridge Fire Lookout which was built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lower branch of the trail is the Eleven Mile Trail and can be followed down to Eleven Mile Meadow, a former way-station for the stage coach lines that brought travelers to Yosemite in the past.

There are many more hiking trails nearby. Off Hwy 41 just east of the Henness Road junction is the trail head for Deer Camp Road with connections to the Alder Creek trail and Wawona. It also connects to northern trails to Glacier Point and beyond.

Skiing

With the close proximity of Badger Pass Ski Area (5 mi.), Yosemite West is in an unique position to access down hill skiing, x-Country Skiing, snowboarding and tubing during the winter months. Equipment rentals are available at Badger Pass.

Eat

Yosemite West has a service that delivers pizza, calzones, ribs, salads and sodas to residences in the area. In addition, you have easy access to other Park restaurants and grocery stores in the Valley and Wawona.

One of many rental cabins in Yosemite West

Sleep

• Yosemite's Four Seasons, ☎ +1-800-669-9300, [1]. Yosemite's Four Seasons offers 55+ homes, cabins, apartments and condos for nightly rent in the Yosemite West area. Yosemite West is inside the gates of Yosemite National Park and only 10 miles from Yosemite Valley. Prices vary by unit and range from $119 to $782 per night.

• Scenic Wonders, ☎ +1-888-YOSEMITE ([email protected]), [2]. Scenic Wonders offers 55+ homes, cabins, apartments and condos for nightly rent in the Yosemite West area. Yosemite West is inside the gates of Yosemite National Park and only 10 miles from Yosemite Valley. Prices vary by unit and range from $100 to $725 per night.

• Cozy Bear Cottages, ☎ +1-877-479-2327 ([email protected]), [3]. Cozy Bear offers four units for nightly rent in the Yosemite West area. Yosemite West is inside the gates of Yosemite National Park and only 10 miles from Yosemite Valley. Prices vary by unit and range from $185 to $300 per night.

Get out

• Oakhurst. As you exit Yosemite National Park to the south, Oakhurst is the closest city of any size. It is 12 miles south on SR 41, about 25 minutes.

Routes through Yosemite West

Fresno ← Oakhurst ←	S  N	→ END
Manteca ← Groveland ←	W  E	→ Lee Vining → Benton
Merced ← Mariposa ←	W  E	→ END

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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