2015 Map of Bear Valley

About this map

Bear Valley and Mount Bullion anchor this topographic study of the foothills in Mariposa County, where the gold-bearing landscape rises from the San Joaquin Valley toward the higher Sierras. The northern reaches are dominated by the Merced River and its North Fork as they feed into Lake McClure, cutting through steep terrain marked by family-named gulches and flats. Local heights such as Fremont Peak, Bullion Mtn, and Telegraph Hill define the ridge-and-canyon topography, while historical routes like Old Toll Rd and Mt Ophir Rd trace the paths of early travel and mining activity. The map provides clear evidence of the area's development around the Mariposa-Yosemite Airport and the settlement at Central Valley, showcasing a region defined by its narrow gulches like Drunken Gulch and Cow and Calf Gulch.