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Coarsegold is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, set in the Sierra Nevada foothills along Highway 41 on the historic route to Yosemite National Park. With a population of 4,144 at the 2020 census, it is a spread-out foothill community that blends rural homes, ranches, and small businesses with a deep sense of the region's past. Coarsegold is regarded as Madera County's last surviving "gold town," a distinction rooted in the placer-mining rush of 1849 and the 1850s that drew thousands of miners to the area's diggings before the accessible gold played out. The community's heritage also runs through its Native American history. Coarsegold is the headquarters of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, a federally recognized tribe whose presence underscores the area's long indigenous roots. Although a post office was not established at Coarsegold until 1899, the town's name and identity have been tied to the gold era for more than a century and a half, and that history remains a point of local pride. Today Coarsegold serves both as a rural residential community and as a gateway to some of the Sierra's best-known recreation. Bass Lake, a popular boating and fishing destination, lies a short drive away, and the south entrance of Yosemite National Park is reached by continuing up Highway 41. The community's schools are part of the Yosemite Unified School District, with Coarsegold Elementary located in town, and the nearby town of Oakhurst provides shopping and services. Coarsegold appeals to those seeking foothill acreage, proximity to the mountains, and a quieter alternative to the San Joaquin Valley below, as well as to visitors using the area as a base for the national park.

Population 4,144

County Madera

Active Listings 334

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Coarsegold in?

Coarsegold is in Madera County, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills along Highway 41. It is an unincorporated, census-designated place on the route toward Yosemite National Park's south entrance, set in the southern Sierra.

Is Coarsegold a city?

Coarsegold is a census-designated place, not an incorporated city. It is a rural foothill community in Madera County whose schools and services are provided by the county and the Yosemite Unified School District.

How far is Coarsegold from Yosemite?

Coarsegold is close to Yosemite National Park, reached by continuing up Highway 41 toward the park's south entrance. The community also sits a short drive from Bass Lake and the town of Oakhurst.

What school district serves Coarsegold?

Coarsegold is served by the Yosemite Unified School District, which operates schools across the foothill communities of the area. Coarsegold Elementary is located in town, and older students attend the district's secondary schools.

What is Coarsegold known for?

Coarsegold is known as Madera County's last surviving gold town, settled during the Gold Rush of 1849 and the 1850s. It is also the headquarters of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and a gateway to Bass Lake and Yosemite.

City Guide

About Coarsegold

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Coarsegold is characterized by rural foothill properties: single-family homes on larger lots, ranch-style residences, and acreage parcels scattered across the hillsides, along with planned communities such as Yosemite Lakes Park, which offers its own amenities and a more neighborhood-oriented setting. Because the area is unincorporated and spread out, the housing stock emphasizes space, privacy, and mountain views rather than dense subdivision development. Buyers drawn to Coarsegold typically seek foothill acreage, a second-home retreat near the mountains, or a full-time rural lifestyle within reach of Yosemite and Bass Lake.

Neighborhoods

Coarsegold is not a conventional town with defined neighborhoods; it is a collection of rural communities and developments along the Highway 41 foothills. Yosemite Lakes Park is the best-known residential community in the area, a large planned neighborhood with its own recreation amenities and a strong community identity. Around it, homes and ranches are spread across the surrounding hillsides on larger parcels, and small commercial clusters serve the corridor. The nearby town of Oakhurst, a few miles up the highway, functions as the area's commercial center, giving Coarsegold residents access to shopping and services without leaving the foothills.

Lifestyle in Coarsegold

Coarsegold offers a distinctly rural foothill lifestyle. The community is spread across oak-dotted hillsides and ranchland, with daily life oriented toward the outdoors and the mountain towns of the Sierra. Its Gold Rush heritage and Chukchansi Native American roots give it a strong sense of place, reflected in local events and historical sites. Residents make the short drive to Oakhurst for shopping and services, and to Bass Lake or Yosemite for recreation, while the San Joaquin Valley below provides access to Fresno and its amenities. The result is a quiet, outdoors-focused way of life in the gateway country of the southern Sierra.

Schools & Education

Coarsegold is served by the Yosemite Unified School District, which operates schools across the foothill communities of eastern Madera County. Coarsegold Elementary is located in town, serving the community's younger students, while the district's secondary schools draw from Coarsegold and the surrounding area, including nearby Oakhurst. The district's mountain setting and small-school scale are part of the community's appeal for families seeking a foothill environment. The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians and other local institutions also contribute to the educational and cultural life of the area.

Getting Around

Coarsegold is reached by Highway 41, the principal corridor connecting Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley to Yosemite National Park's south entrance. The highway carries both residents and the steady stream of park-bound visitors that shape the local economy, and it links Coarsegold to Oakhurst, Bass Lake, and the valley below. Beyond the highway, the area's winding foothill roads serve its rural homes and ranches. The community's position on the Yosemite corridor gives it convenient access to Fresno's airport, shopping, and medical facilities while keeping the mountains and national park immediately at hand.

Parks & Recreation

Coarsegold sits at the doorstep of some of the Sierra Nevada's most popular recreation. Bass Lake, a short drive up the highway, offers boating, fishing, waterskiing, and lakeside dining, while Yosemite National Park's south entrance is within easy reach via Highway 41 for hiking, climbing, and sightseeing. Closer to home, Hensley Lake and the surrounding foothill country provide fishing, boating, and trails, and the community's campgrounds and RV resorts serve visitors exploring the region. The combination of lake access, national-park proximity, and open foothill terrain defines the area's outdoor lifestyle.

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