Coulterville Visitors Center

01/05/2025

Yosemite makes winters absolutely beautiful! Put it on your want list and make it happen! You won’t be disappointed!

01/04/2025

El Capitan is beautiful all year long! Seeing it during all seasons is a special treat!

El Capitan shrouded in a winter coat of mist and snow.

📰 | https://bit.ly/3pc7KV4 (Yosemite special offers)

Standing 2.5 times taller than the Empire State Building, this granite giant is one of Yosemite's most well-known icons for a reason!

Photo by Instagram user

- Visit Gold Country - Visit California

01/03/2025

Welcoming the New Year with Heart and Purpose
🥳♥️🥳❤️🥳❤️🥳❤️🥳❤️

As we step into a fresh chapter with the New Year, let’s take a moment to reflect on what it truly means to be part of a small-town community like ours. In a place as special as Coulterville, where the stars shine bright and neighbors know each other by name, we have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to lead with heart and purpose.

This year, let’s commit to being the best version of ourselves. Let’s give back, not for recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do. Smile big and often, even when life gets hard. Put out good vibes wherever you go—whether it’s waving to someone on the street, holding the door for a stranger, or lending a hand to a neighbor in need.

Be the light that others are drawn to. Lead by example in kindness and generosity. Be the reason someone loves coming to Coulterville—just to feel the warmth of our community, to share a laugh, to say hello, or to experience the goodness that radiates from a town with a big heart.

Look people in the eyes, let them know they matter, and show through your actions and deeds that small towns are built on the foundation of good people doing great things. Together, we can make Coulterville a beacon of hope, love, and connection for anyone who crosses our path.

Here’s to a New Year filled with compassion, purpose, and community spirit.

Image courtesy of Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau

12/29/2024

Gathering around a burn pile in the countryside offers a unique blend of natural beauty and comforting warmth. The crackling flames under an open sky create an inviting atmosphere, perfect for reflection or sharing stories with loved ones. However, it’s essential to approach this activity with safety and adherence to local regulations, especially in Mariposa County, California.

Understanding Local Regulations

In Mariposa County, burn permits are typically required during certain times of the year. However, as of December 2024, CAL FIRE burn permits are not required until May 1st. Residents must still verify that it is a permissible burn day by calling the Mariposa County Burn Day Information Line at (209) 966-1200 or (888) 440-2876.

Preparing Your Burn Pile
1. Location: Choose a site at least 10 feet away from trees, structures, and other flammable materials. Ensure there’s a clearing of mineral soil around your pile to prevent the fire from spreading.
2. Pile Size: Keep individual piles no larger than 4 feet in diameter. This size is manageable and reduces the risk of uncontrolled fires.
3. Weather Conditions: Avoid burning on windy days or when wind gusts exceed 5 mph. Calm days are ideal to maintain control over the fire and minimize the spread of embers.

Safety Measures
• Clear the Area: Remove any flammable materials within a 10-foot radius of the burn pile. This precaution helps contain the fire.
• Tools and Water: Have a shovel and at least 5 gallons of water or a charged hose nearby to manage the fire and quickly address any unexpected spread.
• Supervision: An adult should remain in attendance with a shovel until the fire is completely extinguished. Never leave a burn pile unattended.
• Proper Attire: Wear cotton clothing, leather boots, and gloves to protect yourself from heat and potential sparks.

Environmental Considerations

Burn only dry, natural vegetation to minimize smoke and environmental impact. Avoid burning wet or green materials, as they produce more smoke and can cause air quality issues.

Final Thoughts

While the allure of a burn pile’s warmth and ambiance is undeniable, safety and compliance with local regulations are paramount. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the experience responsibly, ensuring the safety of yourself, your property, and the surrounding environment.

12/28/2024

Did You know? This rare animal was saved from extinction in Yosemite National Park. The Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog. This frog lives in lakes above 6,000 feet. Yosemite National Park’s Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs were so abundant in the mid-1800s that “it would be difficult to avoid stepping on them,” according to researcher Roland Knapp of the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, or SNARL, in Mammoth Lakes. But the introduction of invasive trout, combined with a lethal fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, decimated their populations. Now, they’re the rarest amphibian in the Sierra Nevada mountains. While studying them in the early 2000's they discovered some had a resistance to Bd. Researchers inserted a small tracking chip into the backs of frogs with Bd resistance and then relocated them to one of 12 lakes elsewhere in the park where their populations had been wiped out. By capturing the resistant frogs and introducing them to existing populations in the 12 high mountain lakes of Yosemite the populations were able to pass on the gene to their offspring, who had an entirely different genetic makeup. “In a single generation, you can have evolution,” Knapp said with a clear passion. Populations are now regenerating in Yosemite National Park.

12/21/2024

See you there! Today, 2:30, Gazzolo building! This is a free event and a fabulous opportunity to share a tradition with your family!

12/13/2024

Plan a great vacation in Yosemite! Make reservations now.

12/08/2024

At nearly 3600 ft from base to summit, El Capitan ranks as one of the world’s largest granite monoliths.

When the Merced River is still enough, you might find yourself seeing double. Towering more than three times the height of the Eiffel Tower, El Capitan is one of Yosemite's most iconic views.

📰 | https://bit.ly/3pc7KV4 (Yosemite special offers)

Photo by Instagram user

- Visit Gold Country - Visit California - California High Sierra

12/07/2024

“The great rocks of Yosemite, expressing qualities of timeless, yet intimate grandeur, are the most compelling formations of their kind. We should not casually pass them by for they are the very heart of the earth speaking to us.” —A.A.

📷: Eagle Peak and Middle Brother, Winter, Yosemite National Park, California, c. 1968. (c) The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Exquisitely reproduced as the January image in our 2025 Ansel Adams “Authorized Edition” Wall Calendar from —a yearlong reflection on art, exploration, and nature’s power to stir the soul.

www.anseladamsbooks.com

11/30/2024

We can't wait for you to come see us at the History Center! Our history is rich and melodic! We honor our native Americans, our ranchers, our loggers, our merchants as well as our miners.We are rich and diverse. Come check out our many displays, including our parlor and whistling Billie!

11/30/2024

Hello everyone! Come celebrate with us! Learn to make ornaments and make your own history, December 8th at The History Center! A fun and free Family event!

Our next class/workshop, and it's free! Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 3pm. Drop-ins welcome, all supplies provided.

11/29/2024

Exciting events in Yosemite Mariposa County during the holidays! Don’t miss them!

11/29/2024

February 2025 Reservation Requirement

Horsetail Fall can glow orange when it's backlit by sunset, which can make it appear to be on fire. This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing and when the sun is at the right angle in mid– to late February. This event attracts many visitors to a small area, causing traffic congestion, parking issues, safety concerns, and impacts to natural and cultural resources. In order to manage this event, a reservation will be required to enter Yosemite National Park on the weekends of February 8–9, February 15–17, and February 22–23, 2025, even for those not visiting Horsetail Fall. Visitors who arrive Mondays through Fridays (except Monday, February 17) won't need a reservation. The $35/car entrance fee is valid for entry for seven days, regardless of day of arrival.

Call to make your reservations soon! It’s absolutely beautiful!

11/28/2024

Today it’s with heartfelt gratitude we wish you ~ our friends, family and all of you traveling our way a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
🦃🥧🍁

11/25/2024

It is truly beautiful! Check road closures and always carry chains! This time of year could be treacherous! Be careful and definitely enjoy!

11/23/2024

Love the rains! Everything is fresh and clean. Come to town, here in Historic Coulterville, experience fall in the foothills! Come on in and say Hi!

11/22/2024

Firefall is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the setting Sun illuminates Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park making it to appear on fire🔥
photos courtesy of Framework Films/ Yosemite archives

11/22/2024

🚧 Horsetail Fall 🔥