Ben Hur Ghost Town
Mariposa County, California37.3517, -119.9578
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 9.7 miMariposa, CA
- Mild months
- Feb–Nov8 of 12
- Elevation
- 1,750 ft534 m
Ben Hur is a former settlement in Mariposa County, California, listed among the ghost towns of California. It lies at about 1,750 feet above sea level.
On the map
- BLM
- National Forest
- National Park Service
- City, county
- Private or unlisted
Star: Ben Hur. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Mariposa, CA, about 9.7 miles north in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Madera, CA, 28 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- Agua Fria9.8 mi north
- Grub Gulch10 mi east
- Mount Ophir13 mi northwest
- Indian Gulch14 mi northwest
- Briceburg18 mi north
- Quartzburg19 mi northwest
- Ridleys Ferry20 mi northwest
- Bagby20 mi northwest
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run February to June, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Auberry 2 Nw. June to September bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Auberry 2 Nw station (USC00040379), 30 miles away. About 25.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Mariposa County, California |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37.35167, -119.95778 |
| Elevation | 1,750 ft (534 m) |
| Also known as | Ben Hur, CA |
| Sources | Wikidata Q4885886 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Ben Hur ghost town?
In Mariposa County, California, at 37.3517, -119.9578. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Mariposa, CA, about 9.7 miles north in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Madera, CA, 28 miles away.
Can you visit Ben Hur?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Ben Hur?
Mild months here run February to June, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Auberry 2 Nw. June to September bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up.
Are there other ghost towns near Ben Hur?
Yes. Agua Fria (9.8 mi), Grub Gulch (10 mi), Mount Ophir (13 mi), Indian Gulch (14 mi).
