While the house and property offers 5 acres of 100% privacy, it still just 5 min from charming downtown Mariposa, 45 minutes from Yosemite National Park, 25 minutes from Lake McClure, and 15 min from the Briceburg Merced River location. The town of Mariposa, first settled in 1849, is the southernmost in the Gold Rush chain of towns. The streets follow the original street grid laid out by John C. Fremont in 1850. Several disastrous early fires convinced settlers to rebuild with stone, brick, and adobe. Consequently, many of today’s existing structures in the historic downtown area of Mariposa had been built by the late 1850s, with most of the remaining ones completed by 1900. Because they have always been in use, the old buildings haven’t had to be restored or recreated. In your travels through the town of Mariposa, you might hear it referred to as the “Mother of Counties.” That’s not meant as a boast. When California was granted statehood in 1850, Mariposa County was by far the largest county, comprising about one-fifth of the state. (It was later subdivided into eleven additional counties.) Soon after, the discovery of gold lured prospectors by the thousands, all with dreams of striking it rich. The easy gold only lasted for a couple of decades, but it lasted long enough for roads and railroads to be built. Communities evolved even as the local economy was shifting to quartz mining, ranching, farming, and logging. Today’s visitors to Mariposa will find many remnants from those early days, from preserved landmarks to obscure ruins—all of them a testament to the county’s fascinating past. Change has come gracefully to Mariposa. Mariposa has retained the small town charm of a bygone era, so you won’t see strip malls or chain stores, and Mariposa remains one of a handful of California towns without a stop light. Feel the Old West as you stroll up the historic main street or take a tour of the 1854 courthouse, the oldest courthouse west of the Rockies still in continuous operation. Experience pioneer history in the exhibits at the Mariposa Museum and History Center named one of the best small museums in America by the Smithsonian Institute. Completed in 1854, the Mariposa County Courthouse is the oldest superior courthouse west of the Mississippi and the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Rockies. Feel free to take a peek inside during normal business hours. Free to the public. Get a fascinating glimpse of California’s mineral wealth, colorful history and geologic diversity at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum. The State’s official collection contains over 13,000 gems, minerals, and mining artifacts, including the “Fricot Nugget,” a rare and beautiful 13.8-pound piece of crystalline gold found in the American River in 1864. Here is the list of Sightseeing and Top Rated Attractions in the area • California State Mining & Mineral Museum (5.5 miles) 10-minute drive • Mariposa Museum & History Center (3.2 miles) 6-minute drive • Prospect Yosemite (3.2 miles) 6-minute drive • Yosemite Climbing Museum (2.9 miles) 5-minute drive • Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch (4.7 miles) 8-minute drive • Lewis Creek Trail South Trailhead (36.4 miles) 49-minute drive • Bass Lake (37.2 miles) 49-minute drive • Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino (41.6 miles) 54-minute drive • Chilnualna Falls Trailhead (52.5 miles) 1-hour 19-minute drive • Yosemite National Park (34.3 miles) 50-minute drive • Glacier Point (46.6 miles) 1 hour 16-minute drive • Horsetail Falls (48.2 miles) 1 hour 15-minute drive Here are some additional hiking and outdoor attractions that you might want to consider adding to your list: • Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias (50.8 miles, 1-hour 17-minute drive): This grove is home to a number of impressive sequoias, including the massive Boole Tree. • Nelder Grove of Giant Sequoias (43.7 miles, 1-hour 12-minute drive): This grove is home to a number of old-growth sequoias, including the massive Bull Buck Tree. • Mono Lake (267.1 miles, 5 hours 30-minute drive): This saline lake is home to a number of unique geological features and is a popular destination for birdwatching and photography.

As our guest, you will have full access to the entire property, including the living areas, bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, and outdoor spaces. Feel free to make yourself at home and enjoy all that The Great Yosemite Retreat at Bear Trap has to offer.