Mi-Wuk Village

Five minutes east of Twain Harte is a community called Mi-Wuk Village. The town neighbors the community of Sugarpine and includes Sierra Village. The area has two larger churches that host events; Mt Calvary Lutheran and Word of Life Fellowship. Labor Day Weekend Mike Lawrence organizes “Chief Fuller Day” as detailed here. There are a few small markets in Mi-Wuk, a gas station, one restaurant and a coffee house. Mi-Wuk is beyond the big curve of the area of Confidence and Lakewood Highlands and Lakewood Park off Middle Camp/Sugarpine Road, our Map of Mi-Wuk Village. Long Barn is further up Highway 108 as detailed here. 

The higher elevation means cooler weather all summer, in the winter chains are often required at Confidence or down in Twain Harte as the roads are icy and the area gets several inches of snow a few times per year that lasts a week or longer. The very wooded area has some wonderfully rustic cabins, local homes for sale are listed below. Many homes have generators to deal with seasonal storm power outages. Internet and cell service and providers are limited.

The village was established and promoted in the 50’s as a please to enjoy recreation in the wilderness. The name derives from the natives who lived in the area, it is their word signifying “people.” The Tuolumne band of Me-Wuk Indians community is centered in the Tuolumne (city) area by Black Oak Casino and Resort. Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians is a tribe that manages a casino in the Jamestown area. Historic records and books about the Mi-Wuk and other native tribes are online at the Yosemite Library. You can also visit Black Oak Casino’s tribal information page.

Tuolumne County is a retirement location with many veterans, notably Alan Leeman of Mi-Wuk Village received the Humanitarian Service Medal in 2018 as detailed here from Mother Lode lawmaker U.S. Congressman Tom McClintock for participating in the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup of 43 atomic tests that occurred within the Marshall Islands.

The Mi-Wuk Village and Pinecrest branches of the Tuolumne County Library closed but community members were able to get the county to lease half of what was previously the Mi-Wuk Fire Station to the Mi-Wuk Area Homeowners Association for a community library supported by the Mi-Wuk Area Home Owners Association and High Country Friends of the Library.

The first documented immigrant traverse of Sonora Pass appears to have been in the late summer of 1852 by a wagon train known as the Clark-Skidmore Company. Sonora and Columbia merchants promoted the route to California-bound immigrants, who quickly found out how difficult a route it was.

With the discovery of deposits and development of silver and gold mines beginning in the 1860s, both sides of the pass pushed for development of the road. Surveying for a road through Sonora Pass began in 1863 and the road was in use by 1865. For more about other gold finds see the rock hounding section in the recreation guide.

Mi-Wuk Village Zip Code – 95346

US Post Office – Mi-Wuk Village 20755 Chief Fuller Road
209-586-4500

Library – 24411 Sierra Park Road in Mi-Wuk Village
209 586-6251

Schools – Mi-Wuk Village is in the Twain Harte Elementary Public School District which extends all the way to the northern Tuolumne County line at the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. The district includes Twain Harte, Mi-Wuk Village, Long Barn, Strawberry, Pinecrest and Dardanelle. Although the area is huge it has fewer students than most of the other districts. Students in the Twain Harte District are in the Summerville High School District.

• Beardsley and Donnell Lakes
• Long Barn Ice Skating
• Pinecrest Lake
• Community Events
• Stanislaus National Forest
• Rock Climbing
• Backpacking
• Off Highway Vehicles

If you are having difficulty viewing this frame, please click here.