The first webcam was put into use for a matter of utmost importance — coffee. Yes, it was the hard-working researchers at Cambridge University who, in 1991, installed a remote camera to monitor their coffee pot thus insuring no fruitless trips to the break room. Priorities, right? Well, our virtual gaze has come a long way. From weather forecasting to wildlife protection to simply chatting with friends and family on FaceTime, the webcam’s applications have become far-ranging. And when it comes to travel, these mini spectators provide an invaluable window into worlds we yearn to explore.
While there is no substitute for feeling the mist from Yosemite Falls kiss your face or watching the moon rise over Half Dome, while there’s no stand-in for scrambling up Lembert Dome or being engulfed by wildflowers while strolling the Hite Cove Trail – the more you can see of Mariposa Yosemite, the more you’ll want to come. So here they are. A compendium of killer views ranging from spartan to sublime with one purpose and one purpose only — to inspire your next unforgettable visit.
Because these webcams are operated by different organizations, the refresh rate may vary. Try clicking refresh to update the webcam view. If the view is black, please note that it may be nighttime.
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
Provided by the Yosemite Conservancy – a non-profit partner of the park that provides grants for important park projects.
Provided by the National Park Service
Provided by Yosemite Hospitality
Provided by the US Geological Survey
Nestled in the woods just two miles from Yosemite’s South Gate, this organically modern all-season resort offers rooms, suites and cabins, not to mention a full bar named for a mythological varmint, the Ascent Spa and a Tesla charging station. The view from this webcam is over the Tenaya’s roof northwest towards the town of Fish Camp (hidden by the pines). Bring the family for a guided nature hike, the nightly Dive-In Movies poolside or just a place to relax in comfort after a full day of exploring Yosemite National Park.
view feed
Provided by Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
Provided by Big Creek Inn
Operated by the Tuolumne Meadows Store, this seasonal webcam (approximately June through September) looks west towards Fairview Dome. John Muir called this prominent bubble of granite “one of the most striking and best-preserved of the domes” in Yosemite. At 9,728 feet (2,965 m), Fairview Dome sits about 4 miles west of the high-country hub Tuolumne Meadows, a popular launching point for numerous hikes of varying distance and difficulty.
view feed (Note: this webcam was inactive during the 2020 season.)
Provided by Yosemite Hospitality
A vital function of webcams today is wildfire prevention, and ALERTWildfire has been building a consortium of universities, counties and public utilities towards this goal. By placing these cameras throughout the western States, the agency has created a team of virtual fire-spotters that have helped provide critical information for over 600 fires since their 2013 inception. The Yosemite West camera is located near the historic town of El Portal in beautiful Mariposa County and gazes eastward toward Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite West:
(operated by P,G & E)
Mariposa County’s mining history infuses the landscape around Mount Bullion where the Princeton Mine once flourished. Discovered in 1852, the Princeton was part of the original Las Mariposas land grant owned by John C. Fremont and at times was the largest gold producer in California. This sweeping view looks out across the rolling foothills to the southeast and beyond towards the town of Mariposa.
Mt. Bullion:
(operated by PG&E)
Perched above Highway 49, this camera sits at the summit of Buckhorn Peak (3,763 feet/1,147 meters) and scans the Sierra foothills southwest not far from where John Muir made his first “ramble” from San Francisco up to Yosemite. Come follow in Muir’s footsteps and explore the wonders of Mariposa Yosemite from its natural beauty to its deep history.
Buckhorn Peak:
http://www.alertwildfire.org/sierra/?camera=Axis-Buckhorn
(operated by P, G & E)