Greeley Hill is located on Highway 132, the back way into Yosemite National Park. This is a very small town. When you first enter the outskirts of this town you will see a sign that says “Greeley Hill: Population friendly, elevation just right”. Sounds good!
This town is located about 8 miles from Coulterville up a winding grade that climbs from the dry chaparral of Coulterville to the pines of Greeley Hill. This town is not a true mining town but rather a small town that developed partially for other reasons. With that said, historically there were several mines in this area.
The most notable of these mines was the Red Cloud mine. There is now a small park named after this mine. You will see the turnoff for this mine if you continue north on Smith Station Road. Bear Valley Meadow, in Greely Hill, was once the site of an Indian camp. The town of Greeley Hill was settled in the 1850’s. Besides mining, logging, ranching, and cattle raising were some of the profitable enterprises in this small town. In Greeley Hill the once open/closed market building is now open, and also a True Value hardware store, a few small restaurants, and a small video store.
If you were driving through and didn’t know what to look for, you might miss seeing this small town.
Course when you have spent part of your summer and winter here for over 20 years, the area has much more meaning than to a normal tourist passing through driving the “scenic” shortcut way to Yosemite. Summers can be dry and hot – fire danger is always a concern especially after low rainfall winters. Winters can see very cold temperatures (the coldest we experienced here one winter was 5 degrees Fahrenheit). Some years have seen quite a bit of snow to the point where you would need an all wheel drive to travel on the non county maintained/plowed roads.
Little old Greeley Hill has even served as a home for the Dave Matthews Band to write some of their music. Who would have thought?!
Are you an artist? Check out Dawn and Jim’s Art Farm – they even offer accommodation for artists and other creatives: www.greeleyhillartfarm.com
Looking for Greeley Hill current weather information? Visit: www.accuweather.com/en/us/greeley-hill/95311/weather-forecast/2274574
The lake above is on private property – one year, many years ago, it froze so thick that a truck was driven out onto the ice! We have walked out onto its edges during more recent cold winters.
I lived in Greeley Hill from about 1962 until 1965 or so.
My parents were the two teachers at Greeley Hill School which was I believe at that time a two room/building school.
We lived across the street from the school in a wonderful little house.
Even there for only a short while there are beautiful memories that I still carry close.
Absolutely wonderful people, I clearly remember the Community Center Building that was also the Library?
I have visited about ten years ago, school was closed, our house was gone, the market was closed but besides that the beauty and utter charm was still there!
Jon – thanks for stopping by and for the memories – well before my time – but I don’t think the town has grown in population to much over the decades.
Do you know if the Greely Hill Market has been reopened after the fire?
As of yesterday the Greeley Hill store is still completely closed and boarded up. However the nearby true value and gas Station are open. Click my name above my comment to see the photo as of yesterday.
My Grandparents (Booth) had a vacation cabin right on the south edge of Bean Creek. Very rustic, but for a kid, it was magnificent. No indoor plumbing, but they did have power. I remember many great trout fishing days on Bean Creek. Probably 1961-1969. I believe the property was 22 acres they leased from the government for a few bucks a year on the condition they maintained a mine, which they did …sort of. The property was northwest of the Bob McKee mine, I believe on the “other side of the hill”, right on the creek. If I had to guess it was probably at about 37.741255, -120.118775. They were friends with a husband and wife by the name of Webster who I believe my Grandfather worked with in the SF bay area. I believe the Websters were permanent residents. They lived on the north side of the creek, closer to the Greely Hill store. He and Mr Webster built at least two bridges across the creek between the cabin and the Webster’s home and between the Websters home and their mine. One was still standing but very rickety by the time I was old enough to go there. The other, farther to the west had washed out.
I have been trying for years to find the location of the cabin on satellite views with no luck. I’m sure the structure is long gone. Maybe before I’m too old, I’d actually like to go find the site. Is the creek still open to hikers and if so, how would I get to it? I’m sure it has changed a great deal in 50+ years. The aerials I have seen look as if the creek is dry. That would be awful.
Any info you have would be very much appreciated.
I lived in Greeley Hill for 25 years, and recently moved to the Midwest to be with family. When you first enter Greeley Hill, the population sign reads “population friendly” . When Mel put that sign there , he sure hit it right on the nose! The people there are very friendly, and always do their best to help you, no matter what the situation happens to be. I’ve only been gone for a month, but I sure miss my wonderful neighbors, local churches, and the local businesses. I think of Greeley Hill as the “friendliest place on earth “, and I miss living there very much! So, the next time you drive to Yosemite take highway 132, instead of highway 120. It keeps you away from the traffic, a very peaceful drive.
I grow up in Greeley Hill. My grandmother owned several large pieces of property. I grow up on Ernest road. If you know the Hill you know my family. I was a very sick girl, but grow wild and free. On the back of my horse if you had a quick eye you could see me running through the pines. Like a ghost if I did not want you to see me YOU WOULD NOT. I road everyone’s horses. Theys magical animals where my true escape. During Highschool I proudly served on Surch and Rescue. Matt and Chris trained us very well to be ready-made for savings lifes. My 3 year of Highschool I ran away with the love of my young life. I have had to move away from my small town where i want to be buried under the trees where my school friends familly and grate grandparents are. My body to run free in the trees with my horse Dustin. My best friend a samll Arab who could fly faster then the very wind. In the moonlight you still may see Dustin runing waiting for me to join him forever and ever. I still dream of that day when Dustin and I meet !! Now i am 50 and have had 2 kidneys transplant. My heath is bad. But i still ride wild and free. But The Hill the teachers of Grelly Hill s hool. And my life long friends whom i still chat with from time to time. I will always be part of the Hill. Greely Hill has so so so much hidden in the Hills that I promise NO ONE will ever find. I would love to go back and show someone all the secrets that the Hill holds. I miss my childhood on the Hill. My sprite will return when i am done with it here in Washington.
you should of been a writer your story captured me and your words well you should of been a writer. I would love to hear thoez secrets of yours and go on a real treasure hunt. with metal detector on hand. it’s my dream to find my fist real old silver coin or that first real rock that has a speck of shiny ..I have aquierd my sluice box n pans and detectors and maps for days… you would think I’d be out their but no… my husband is not an outdoors man and we’ll that says it all …iv been sitting waiting for that 1 time trip a year that’s only about 3 or 4 hours in distance ..cuz that’s about as far as he’s willing to go. my name is luisa santarosa and I’m 45.
I grew up in Greeley Hill. I graduated.
From Greeley school in 1961, and Mariposa high school in 1965. Tom Westmoreland and and Paul Chapin were our bus drivers. My dad worked for the Forest Service out of Groveland. My dad built us a home and my grandparents a home on ,I believe they call it Hotzel Rd. We were very much involved in 4H. Life was simpler. My sister and I would take our horse and explore the old mine roads. All the old timers from the original families were still living. What a wonderful childhood ❤️ 😍