Mariposa County

Yosemite Cemetery, also known as Pioneer Cemetery, is a cemetery built in the 1870s and located on the west end of Yosemite Village, in Mariposa County, California. In 2014, the Yosemite Conservancy worked in restoring the cemetery and graves. Many of the graves are from the earliest European-descent pioneers, and a few of the graves were for Native Americans that had lived in the valley.

The Meadow Fire was a wildfire which burned areas near Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California. Park officials believe it was started near Starr King Lake, during a lightning storm, on July 19, 2014. On Sunday, September 7, 2014 the fire forced authorities to order the evacuation by helicopter of dozens of hikers and tourists. On September 16, 2014 the fire burned 4,971 acres (2,012 ha) and was 80% contained. On September 18, the containment of the Meadow Fire increased to 85%, without having expanded further. During the next 4 days, firefighters were able to make significant progress on extinguishing the fire, especially with the 0.25 inches of rainfall during the weekend, and by September 22, the containment of the Meadow Fire had increased to 98%. From September 25 to 26, the containment of the wildfire still remained at 98%, despite some snow and rain falling in the region. On September 27, an additional inch of precipitation helped quench the wildfire, and on September 29, the Meadow Fire was 100% contained. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

The Sierra Nevada ( see-ERR-ə nih-VA(H)D-ə) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is part of the American Cordillera, an almost continuous chain of mountain ranges that forms the western "backbone" of the Americas.

Separate Reality is a 66-foot (20 m) traditional climbing route in Yosemite National Park in California. The route is known for its exposed and dramatic crux that consists of a 20-foot (6.1 m) long crack in its horizontal roof. When it was first free-climbed by Ron Kauk in 1978, it was one of the first climbs in the world to have a grade of 7a+ (5.12a) (it was temporarily downgraded one notch when a hold broke in the mid-1980s). In 1986, German climber Wolfgang Güllich free soloed the route, and the photographs by Austrian Heinz Zak became iconic in rock climbing history.

The Yosemite Firefall was a summertime event in which burning embers were pushed from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park to the valley 3,000 feet (900 m) below. This event has been replaced by viewing Horsetail Fall on El Capitan in February, when the setting sun illuminates the waterfall and casts a warm, fiery glow resembling a cascade of fire.

Camp 4 is a tent-only campground in Yosemite National Park in the United States. It became notable after World War II as "a birthplace of rock climbing’s modern age." It is located at an elevation of 4000 ft (1200 m) on the north side of the Yosemite Valley, close to base of granite cliffs near Yosemite Falls.

Echo Peaks consists of nine peaks, in the Tuolumne Meadows region of Yosemite National Park, California. They are near Echo Ridge.

The January 1997 flood of the Merced River (flooded/flooded from the watershed/floodplain of the Merced River) occurred from December 31, 1996, to January 5, 1997, throughout the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California, US. The flood stands as arguably the park's worst natural disaster to date (some would give this designation to the rockfall of 1996 or the Rim Fire of 2013), and inarguably the worst flood in park history. The Merced River at Happy Isles peaked at 10,100 cubic feet per second during the flood. A book was written on the flood later in 1997 by Mark Goodin titled Yosemite: The 100-Year Flood. It is part of the 1997 California New Years Floods.

The Glacier Point Hotel was a historic chalet-style hotel, located at 7,240 feet (2,207 m) above sea level, the highest elevation for a hotel in the West. Constructed in 1917 in the rustic style, it was an architectural marvel with stunning views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. Notable for its massive fireplace, carved from a single boulder weighing over a million kilograms, the hotel was also the venue for the iconic Yosemite Firefall spectacle where burning embers were pushed off the point to create a visually stunning 'burning waterfall'. Despite its unique location and features, the hotel grappled with numerous challenges such as a short tourist season, a remote location, and water shortages. After severe damage due to heavy snowfall in the winter of 1968–69, the hotel was destroyed by an electrical fire in July 1969. Despite proposals for rebuilding, including the idea of an aerial tramway by MCA, the site eventually became subject to restrictions against commercial development. Today, remnants of the hotel's foundations remain at the site, along with a granite amphitheater and a visitor center.

The 1996 Yosemite Valley landslide occurred on July 10, 1996, near the Happy Isles trailhead in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California. 162,000 tons of rocks and other debris fell to the ground at over 160 miles per hour. Of the 12 campers/hikers involved in the incident, one was killed. The landslide competes with the 1997 Merced River flood and the 2013 Rim wildfire for the designation of the worst natural disaster in Yosemite to date. The earthquake caused by the rock slide was followed almost immediately by a sonic boom. Soon afterward a granite dust mushroom cloud formed over Happy Isles. The immense pressure created at the base of the rock slide blew down giant pine trees. Afterwards the nearby campground tables and trees were covered with a thick coat of granite dust.

The Cathedral Lakes are two lakes located In Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California. The lakes are situated 1.6 km (1 mi) southwest of Cathedral Peak and 3.2 km (2 mi) east-northeast of Tenaya Lake. The lower lake is located at elevation 9,288 feet (2,831 m), while the upper lake is located at elevation 9,585 feet (2,922 m). Tresidder Peak is also nearby, as well as the John Muir Trail with a 7 miles (11 km) round trip hike from the trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows.

Happy Isles is a group of small isles in the Merced River in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. They are located at the easternmost end of the Yosemite Valley floor. This scenic spot is the starting point for the Mist Trail, and is also the northern trailhead for the John Muir Trail. Happy Isles is also the trailhead for popular hiking destinations along the Mist Trail (including Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls) and Half Dome.

The Royal Arches Route is a big wall climbing route in California's Yosemite Valley on the Royal Arches wall. The route is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. The route was first climbed Oct. 1936 by Ken Adam, Morgan Harris, K. Kenneth Davis. The route is moderate in difficulty and is frequently climbed. The first 4 pitches are along a west-facing dihedral. At Pitch 5, the route turns north and ascends the main face along crack systems. Pitch 10 can be free climbed at 5.10b however, most climbers use a fixed rope to pendulum to a long ledge. At the end of Pitch 15, begins the bolted rappel route. It is 18 rappels to the Valley floor. Some climbers prefer to continue to "The Jungle" at the end of Pitch 16. Beyond The Jungle is a 5.4 slab and 4th Class scrambling to the Valley Rim. The descent is usually accomplished by traversing northeast to Washington Column and descending the exposed North Dome Gully.

The Salathé Wall is one of the original big wall climbing routes up El Capitan, a 3,000-foot (900 m) high granite monolith in Yosemite National Park. The Salathé Wall was named by Yvon Chouinard in honor of John Salathé, a pioneer of rock climbing in Yosemite. The route is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and is considered a classic around the world.

Housekeeping Camp, located in the Yosemite Valley, is one of the more inexpensive lodging options for visitors to Yosemite National Park. The camp is open from April through October and is one of the most popular places to stay in the valley. Reservations typically fill up on the first day they become available. The original design of the camp was intended to provide a camping-like experience for visitors who did not want to have to provide their own equipment.

The Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome was the first Grade VI big wall climbing route in the United States. It was first climbed in 1957 by a team consisting of Royal Robbins, Mike Sherrick, and Jerry Gallwas. Its current aid climbing rating is VI 5.9 A1 or 5.12 for the free climbing variation. It is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and considered a classic around the world.

The Steck-Salathé Route is a big wall traditional climbing route up Sentinel Rock.

The Yosemite Valley Bridges are eight bridges in the Yosemite Valley of Yosemite National Park, most of them spanning the Merced River. Five of them were built in 1928, with the remainder built between 1921 and 1933. The bridges feature a concrete structure faced with local stone, in an elliptical or three-centred arch configuration. They are notable for their uniform character and for their conformance to tenets of the National Park Service rustic style. Design work for the seven newer bridges was by George D. Whittle of the San Francisco District Office of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads for the National Park Service. Concrete bridges were chosen at the urging of Thomas Chalmers Vint of the Park Service, in lieu of alternative designs for steel truss bridges, or suspension bridges suggested by the park superintendent.

Taft Point is a viewpoint in Yosemite National Park west of Glacier Point. It offers wide views of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. The main attraction of Taft Point is the giant fissures in the mile-high granite rock. The fissures are breaks and cracks in the mountain that drop directly down to the valley floor at some points.

The Pika Fire was a wildfire near North Dome in Yosemite National Park. It began at about 3:00 pm PT on June 28, 2023. The fire burned 841 acres (340 ha). Yosemite Fire crews used a strategy to allow the fire to move naturally across the landscape while also minimizing the risk to people and infrastructure.

The Sentinel Hotel, originally known as the Yosemite Falls Hotel, was a hotel located in Yosemite Valley, California in the United States. Built in 1876, it was open until the early 1900s. Situated on the banks of the Merced River and across the Sentinel Bridge, the hotel had views of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. The hotel, originally established during the stagecoach era, subsequently grew into a favored destination for tourists journeying to Yosemite via railway and stagecoach. Despite multiple renovations and changes in ownership, the Sentinel Hotel's relevance declined with the advent of modern hospitality services. The entire complex was eventually dismantled between 1938 and 1941.

West Quarter Dome is a granodiorite dome, in the Tenaya Canyon area of Yosemite National Park. It is composed of Half Dome Granodiorite.

The Bagby Stationhouse, Water Tanks and Turntable are associated with the Yosemite Valley Railroad (YVRR), which ran from Merced, California to El Portal at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The railroad operated from 1907 to 1945.

Merced Grove is a giant sequoia grove located about 3.6 km (2.2 mi) west of Crane Flat in the Merced River watershed of Yosemite National Park, California. The grove occupies a small valley at an elevation of 5,469 feet (1,667 m) and is accessible by a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) dirt trail.

The McCauley and Meyer Barns in Yosemite National Park are the last barns in the park that retain their original characteristics as structures built by homesteaders. The McCauley barn and the two Meyer barns represent different construction techniques and styles of design.

Hotel Del Portal was one of the early first-class hotels established by the Yosemite Valley Railroad to take passengers from Merced to the terminus at El Portal, California, just outside of Yosemite National Park. The hotel set the standard for elegance in the Yosemite area. When automobiles replaced horses and wagons for transportation to Yosemite, business at the Del Portal Hotel started to slow. A fire destroyed the hotel in 1917.

Crane Creek is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mariposa County, California, United States, within Yosemite National Park. It encompasses the community known as Foresta, 11 miles (18 km) west of Yosemite Valley. Crane Creek was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 29.

Fort Monroe is a historic site in Yosemite National Park. There are no longer remnants; it is a location only. The fort was not a military fort, but started as a stage station. As various buildings were added or demolished, the general location acquired and kept the name well into the automobile age. Prior to the building of the Wawona Tunnel in 1933, the Wawona Road passed next to it, at the point where the start of Pohono Trail was located. (The Pohono Trail includes part of what was the old Wawona Road.)

Greeley Hill is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. Greeley Hill sits at an elevation of 3,153 feet (961 m) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The 2020 United States census reported Greeley Hill's population as 927.

Coulterville (formerly Maxwell's Creek) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is located on Maxwell Creek 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Mariposa, at an elevation of 1,699 feet (518 m). Coulterville had a population of 115 at the 2020 census, down from 201 at the 2010 census, when the CDP covered a much greater area. It is a mining town located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The ZIP Code is 95311. The community is in area code 209.

Horseshoe Bend is a mining ghost town of the California Gold Rush, formerly on the Merced River in Mariposa County, California

Newtown is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It lay at an elevation of 1821 feet (555 m).

Washington is a giant sequoia located within Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, California. The tree was named after George Washington, the 1st president of the United States. It is the 18th largest giant sequoia in the world, and could be considered the 17th largest depending on how badly Ishi Giant atrophied during the Rough Fire in 2015. It is also the largest giant sequoia north of Boole.

The Red Fire was a wildfire that burned in Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, during California's wildfire season in 2022. Lightning started the fire, which was then discovered on August 4. The fire burned 8,364 acres (3,385 ha) before it was declared completely contained on September 20. The Red Fire burned within the footprint of the 2001 Hoover Fire.

The Empire Fire was a wildfire that burned in Yosemite National Park in California in the United States. The fire was reported on August 1, 2017 and was caused by lightning. It burned 8,094 acres (33 km²), before it was fully contained on November 27. The fire affected recreational activities in the national park.

The Chowchilla Mountains are a mountain range in Mariposa County, California.

KUBB (96.3 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Mariposa, California, the station serves the Merced area of California's Central Valley. The station is owned by the Stephens Media Group, through licensee SMG-Merced, LLC. The station carries the syndicated morning drive time show Big D and Bubba.

KMPO (88.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language public radio format. It serves the Modesto area of the northern San Joaquin Valley. The station is licensed to Modesto, in Stanislaus County, California and is owned by Radio Bilingüe, Inc.

The Mariposa War (December 1850 – June 1851), also known as the Yosemite Indian War, was a conflict between the United States and the indigenous people of California's Sierra Nevada in the 1850s. The war was fought primarily in Mariposa County and surrounding areas, and was sparked by the discovery of gold in the region. As a result of the military expedition, the Mariposa Battalion became the first non-indigenous group to enter Yosemite Valley and the Nelder Grove.

KHTN (104.7 FM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic Top 40 radio format. Licensed to Planada, California, the station serves the Merced-Madera area of Central California. The station is owned by Stephens Media Group, through licensee SMG-Merced, LLC. Its studios are on West 19th Street in Merced. KHTN has been a monitored Rhythmic reporter in both Mediabase and Nielsen BDS since the format was launched on KHTN in 1992.

Chinquapin (also, Chincapin and Chinkapin) is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It was located 8.5 miles (14 km) north-northwest of Wawona. It is located within Yosemite National Park, adjacent to the community of Yosemite West. Chinquapin is the midway point between Yosemite Valley and Wawona, a community inside the park.

KCIV (99.9 MHz) is an FM radio station licensed to Mount Bullion, California, and serving the Central Valley around Merced, California, with some coverage of Fresno. The station airs a Christian talk and teaching radio format as an affiliate of the Bott Radio Network (based at KCCV-FM in Kansas City).

Rancho Las Mariposas was a 44,387-acre (179.63 km²) Mexican land grant in Alta California, located in present-day Mariposa County, California.

The Ferguson Fire was a major wildfire in the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in California in the United States. The fire was reported on July 13, 2018, burning 96,901 acres (392 km²), before it was 100% contained on August 19, 2018. Interior areas of the fire continued to smolder and burn until September 19, 2018, when InciWeb declared the fire to be inactive. The Ferguson Fire was caused by the superheated fragments of a faulty vehicle catalytic converter igniting vegetation. The fire, which burned mostly in inaccessible wildland areas of the national forest, impacted recreational activities in the area, including in Yosemite National Park, where Yosemite Valley and Wawona were closed. The Ferguson Fire caused at least $171.2 million (2018 USD) in damages, with a suppression cost of $118.5 million and economic losses measuring $52.7 million. Two firefighters were killed and nineteen others were injured in the fire.

The Oak Fire was a destructive wildfire in Mariposa County and the Sierra National Forest in Central California during the 2022 California wildfire season. The fire was reported on July 22, 2022, and burned 19,244 acres (7,788 ha) before being fully contained on September 2, 2022. On June 16, 2023, a 71-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson for starting the fire.

The Superior Court of California, County of Mariposa, also known as the Mariposa County Superior Court or Mariposa Superior Court, is the California superior court with jurisdiction over Mariposa County.

Savage Trading Post is California Historical Landmark No. 527 in El Portal, California on California State Route 140 in Mariposa County. James D. Savage was 49er California Gold Rush miner and trader, in 1849 he built a Log cabin. In the Log cabin, he started a general store and trading post along the Merced River. After just one year the Mariposa War started. In the spring of 1850 James (Jim) Savage started trading at Mariposa Creek in the San Joaquin Valley and he had employees run his Trading Post. In December 1850 the war came to Savage Trading Post and it was set on fire. James Savage was the leader of the California Militia's Mariposa Battalion that traveled to the Yosemite Valley in 1851 to hunt down the Ahwaneechees and their leader Chief Tenaya. The Mariposa Battalion won the battle and thus ended the war. The Mariposa Battalion also became the first non-Native American to see the beauty of Yosemite Valley. Lafayette Bunnell wrote about his visit to the Yosemite Valley. A copy of Savage Trading Post was built at the site of the original and is California Historical Landmark No. 527.

The Telegraph Fire was a destructive wildfire in Mariposa County, Central California, in the summer of 2008. After it was unintentionally ignited by a target shooter on July 25, the fire burned 34,091 acres (13,796 hectares) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada west of Yosemite National Park before it was declared fully contained on August 6. The Telegraph Fire destroyed 20–30 homes and dozens of outbuildings and impacted tourism in the Yosemite Valley and adjacent areas. No fatalities occurred; dozens of firefighters sustained minor injuries during the fire suppression effort.

The Ferguson landslide, also commonly called the Ferguson Slide, is an active landslide in the Merced River canyon in Mariposa County, California, United States. In 2006, rocks and debris slid off Ferguson Ridge, blocking California State Route 140, a primary access road to Yosemite National Park. The slide still blocked the original road as of June 2024, although temporary bridges allow one-way traffic around the slide and into the park. The slide is a natural phenomenon, and resulted from the erosion dynamics of the river valley.

Bear Valley (formerly Haydenville, Biddle's Camp, Biddleville, Simpsonville, and Johnsonville) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It is located 10.5 miles (16.9 km) south-southeast of Coulterville, at an elevation of 2,054 feet (626 m). Bear Valley has been designated California Historical Landmark #331. The population was 156 at the 2020 census.

Drunken Gulch is a valley in Mariposa County, California, in the United States.

Catheys Valley (formerly, Cathay and Cathey's Valley) is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California, United States. It lies in Catheys Valley 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Merced and 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Mariposa, at an elevation of 1,325 feet (404 m). As of the 2020 census, Catheys Valley had a population of 829. Catheys Valley was named after Andrew Cathey, a native of North Carolina, who settled in the valley around 1850.

KBKY (94.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish religious format to the Merced, California, United States, area. The station is owned by Amador García through licensee Radio Alfa y Omega LLC.

The Hornitos Masonic Hall No. 98 is a historic Masonic Hall building in Hornitos, Mariposa County, California.

KABX-FM (97.5 MHz, "K97.5") is a commercial radio station in Merced, California. It is owned by Stephens Media Group, through licensee SMG-Merced, LLC. KABX-FM airs an adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for part of November and December. Its studios are on West 19th Street in Merced.

Phillips' Ferry was a historical ferry crossing of the Merced River, located in present-day Merced County, California.

Ridleys Ferry, later Benton Mills, is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California.

Quartzburg (earlier, Burns' Creek, Burns' Camp, Burns' Ranch, and Burns' Diggings) is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California. It was located on Burns Creek 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream from Hornitos.

Mount Ophir is a ghost town in Mariposa County, California. It was a mining town founded in 1850 during the California Gold Rush, and was the site of the Mount Ophir Mint, the first authorized mint in California.

The Detwiler Fire was a wildfire that burned across Highway 49, east and south of Lake McClure, in Mariposa County, California. Ignited shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017, the fire consumed up to 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) within its first day of burning. By Thursday morning, on July 20, the fire was over 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) in size with only 7 percent containment.