Yosemite West, California

Yosemite West
Unincorporated community

local map
Yosemite West

Location in California

Coordinates: 37°38′51″N 119°43′07″W / 37.64750°N 119.71861°W / 37.64750; -119.71861Coordinates: 37°38′51″N 119°43′07″W / 37.64750°N 119.71861°W / 37.64750; -119.71861
Country United States
State California
County Mariposa County
Elevation[1] 5,866 ft (1,788 m)

Yosemite West (pronounced "Yo-SEM-it-tee") is an unincorporated community of resort homes located just outside the southern area of Yosemite National Park, just off Wawona Road, a continuation of State Route 41 from Fresno. It is situated one mile (1.6 km) south of the Chinquapin intersection of Wawona Road with Glacier Point Road at an altitude of 5,100–6,300 ft (1,550–1,900 m). The elevation reported by the USGS is 5,866 feet (1,788 m).[1] The GPS coordinates are N 37° 38.938’ W 119° 43.310’ . Although it appears to be very near El Portal, this community is part of Henness Ridge, towering nearly 3,000 feet (900 m) above the southern banks of the Merced River and State Route 140 from Mariposa. Therefore, there is no direct access to Yosemite West from Highway 140. To get to Yosemite West from this direction, drivers need to enter the park through the Arch Rock entrance along Highway 140 from Merced and travel south along Wawona Road.

View of El Portal, 3,000 feet (900 m) below Yosemite West.

As part of Mariposa County, Yosemite West is a subdivision of 294 lots on approximately 120 acres (49 ha), complete with underground utilities and paved roads. To date, there are 173 developed lots with houses, including two condominium buildings with a total of 48 units. It is surrounded on three sides by Yosemite National Park and Sierra National Forest.

Some homes are owned by permanent residents of the area while others are resort homes, some of which are rented on a daily and weekly basis by visitors to Yosemite National Park. These vacation rentals provide much needed funds for infrastructure repairs.

Occupation of the Yosemite West area did not begin, however, with the subdivision that opened in 1967. It began many centuries earlier with the North American Indian Tribes of the Sierra. Before the advent of the white man, Indians used Yosemite West as their camp ground and hunting area. Even today, a search for the obsidian chips used as arrowheads can provide an interesting day outing in Yosemite West.

Yosemite Institute (YI) Plans for an Environmental Education Center (EEC) at Henness Ridge (Near Yosemite West). As per the report (page 79), "the total number of students in the park per session would be approximately 490. Under this alternative, 224 students would be housed at the Henness Ridge campus and approximately 266 in Yosemite Valley (approximately 74 fewer students than in historic programming). The new facilities at Henness Ridge would provide indoor and outdoor learning environments that are tailored to teaching and learning. The new dining hall and classroom, as well as the circulation of students during their stay, would significantly improve the students’ indoor educational experience. A diversity of trails around the campus at Henness Ridge would provide the environmental education program

Yosemite West, as seen in winter. In springtime, this area is lush with dogwoods in bloom, and alive with the calls of the jays and squirrels

opportunities for exploration." In April 2010, a record of decision was received in favor of the new center to be built at Henness Ridge. "The new center will provide a permanent home for environmental education in Yosemite National Park and will enable Yosemite Institute to provide improved and expanded educational opportunities for its students."

Distance from Yosemite West
landmark miles
Badger Pass Ski Area 6.5
Tunnel View 8.3
Bridalveil Falls 9.8
Wawona Hotel 12.4
Wawona golf course 12.4
Ahwahnee Hotel 15.9
Glacier Point 16.2
El Portal 21.7

Logging: timber and growth of the Yosemite railroad

Weathered Incense Cedar Tree at Entrance to Yosemite West

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 carry out the lumber harvested from the vast supply of Sugar Pines found along the Merced River canyon. Immortalized in author Hank Johnston’s book, “Whistles Blow No More”, the Yosemite Lumber Company logged in this area. In fact, the remains of the longest Incline rail system ever built are located at what is now Camp One Resort , 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 fully returned with most 80+ feet (24+ m) tall, surrounding most homes on the hill. The old Shay logging train grades have been replaced with paved roads and underground utilities, giving it a pleasant rural atmosphere.

Hiking trails starting at or near Yosemite West

Deer Camp trailhead at the Yosemite West entrance from Hwy41

Several trails begin at the border of Yosemite West, a private community. Some of them follow the old railroad beds left by the Yosemite Lumber Company. One such trail is across Hwy 41 near the Henness Ridge Road turn off to Yosemite West. Here you can find a parking area and the trailhead for Deer Camp Trail. This trailhead is just south of Chinquapin and Glacier Point Road. As you hike along the trail above Hwy 41, it passes over Rail Creek and Strawberry Creek on its way to Deer Camp on Empire Meadow.

Henness Ridge Fire Lookout, historic structure #5300

Alder Creek Trail branches off from Deer Camp Trail. Along Alder Creek Trail you will come to Alder Creek Fall and the remnants of the old Yosemite Lumber Company railroad. You will see old railroad ties and pieces of track. In spring, Alder Creek Fall, which cascades down about 100 ft., can be a lovely sight. Some of the areas along the trail were at one time almost completely clear-cut by the lumber company. But now the area has dense stands of conifers and a few oaks and is well populated with birds in its full canopy. The trail is moderate in difficulty but the terrain is smooth. Towards the last mile or so it is steep as you hike down toward the end of the trail at Wawona.

Map of hiking trails from Yosemite West

Another hiking experience is the Henness Ridge Fire Lookout Trail. This unmarked trailhead starts at the end of Azalea Lane in Yosemite West. Using the asphalt access road to the right, hike past the water towers and continue 0.7 miles to the Henness Ridge fire lookout tower. This historic site is one of two remaining four rustic-style lookouts in the state. Built in 1939 by CCC, it was used by US Park Service for fire detection during the 60's and 70's,[2] and is now historic structure number 5300.[3] 360 degree panoramic views of Yosemite can be seen from this vantage point.

11 mile trail - approaching meadow

Another branch of the trail starting at Azalea Road. Take the path to the left and proceed a quarter mile northeast distance, the trail turns south. You are now on the Eleven-mile Trail also known as the Old Wawona Road, which parallels the current Wawona Road. Follow this old road bed south. The trail branches at the Eleven-mile Creek. Follow the trail, which parallels the creek bed, to the right to arrive at Eleven- mile Meadow.

Eleven-mile meadow has had many different uses through the years. The Meadow had been used for cattle grazing operations until the early 1930s, as a logging camp and as a CCC camp which was established in 1933.[4] Earlier on, Stage coaches brought travelers to the area with a stop at the Eleven Mile Change Station which was near Chinquapin.[5] As the 20th century approached, the roadbed was converted to a rail bed. The Yosemite Lumber Company used it transport logs to the incline at Henness Ridge. The incline lowered logs to the Merced River far below.

Using the old railroad bed, the hike to the 11 mile trail meadow is an easy walk from Yosemite West and is about 2.8 miles in length, each way.

The community: a look at the homes of Yosemite West

Yosemite West is a community of more than 151 private residences and resort homes which can be accessed from HWY41 via Henness Ridge Road, approximately seventeen miles (27 km) inside the South Entrance of the Park. In addition, located high on top of Yosemite West at an elevation of 6,200 feet, there is a 48 unit condominium complex. Most condos are available for daily rental to guests of Yosemite National Park, while others are private vacation residences.

The land for this community was purchased and developed in the 1960s by Yosemite Highlands, Inc., a group of business and professional men from the San Jose area. They envisioned a unique Mountain Resort area accessible year round for leisure time recreation. A complete economic feasibility study was made by the Economic Research Association. Six development schemes produced by Victor Gruen Associates of Los Angeles, were analyzed before settling on the one now in effect.

With an approximate altitude of 5,500 feet (1,700 m), Yosemite West is higher than accommodations in the valley. During the summer, this affords a cooler environment by 10 to 20 °F (5 to 10 °C) than in the Valley.

Photos of the Yosemite West homes

See also

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Yosemite West, California
  2. ↑ http://wikimapia.org/6320916/Henness-Ridge-Fire-Lookout photo and map of Henness Ridge Fire Lookout
  3. ↑ http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/yosemite_resources/properties.html Yosemite: the Park and its Resources (1987)
  4. ↑ http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/one_hundred_years_in_yosemite/chronology.html One Hundred Years in Yosemite (1947) by Carl P. Russell
  5. ↑ http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/yosemite_resources/recent_years.html Yosemite: the Park and its Resources (1987) by Linda W. Greene
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Yosemite West.
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