About Yosemite West

Yosemite West (pronounced "Yo-SEM-it-tee") is an unincorporated private community of resort homes located just outside of 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 the Glacier Point Road at an altitude of 5,100–6,300 ft (1,550–1,900 m). The elevation reported by the USGS is 5866 feet (1788 m). The GPS coordinates are N 37° 38.938’ W 119° 43.310’. Although appearing to be very near to the community of 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 the State Route 140 from Mariposa. Therefore, there is no direct access to Yosemite West from HWY 140. To get to Yosemite West from this direction, you need to enter the park through the Arch Rock entrance along Hwy 140 from Merced. This stretch of HWY 140, also known as El Portal Road, connects with the Wawona Road in the Yosemite Valley ( Bridalveil Falls) where you continue south to the entrance to 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.

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 days outing in 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.