Quartzburg (Mariposa County)

California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.

Quartzburg (earlier Burns' Creek, Burns' Camp, Burns' Ranch, and Burns' Diggings) is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California, United States. It was located on Burns Creek, 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream from Hornitos. John and Robert Burns settled at the site in 1847. A mining camp grew up. A post office operated at Quartzburg from 1851 to 1861. The name "Quartzburg" was bestowed by Thomas Thorn due to the quartz outcroppings at the place. As the placer gold ran out in the early 1860s the population left, many to settle in nearby Hornitos.

The on-the-ground condition of Quartzburg (Mariposa County) is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Quartzburg (Mariposa County) is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Quartzburg (Mariposa County) is roughly 37.5394, -120.2044 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.