Clark Range (California)
{{Short description|Subrange of California's Sierra Nevada, in Yosemite National Park}}
{{For|mountains of the same name in the Mojave Desert|Clark Mountain Range}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Clark Range
| map_image = Clark Range.JPG
| map_size = 272
| photo = Clark Range west side winter.jpg
| photo_caption = The range from the west, January 2008. Prominent peaks, from left to right, are Mount Clark, Gray Peak, and Red Peak; the bump on Clark's left side is Quartzite Peak.
| country = United States
| subdivision2_type = State
| subdivision2 = California
| parent = Sierra Nevada
| geology = {{hlist|Metamorphic|Igneous}}
| orogeny =
| range_coordinates = {{coord|37|40.5|N|119|24|W|type:mountain_scale:300000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| highest = Merced Peak
| elevation_ft = 11726
| coordinates = {{coord|37|43|0|N|119|22|12|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline}}
}}
The Clark Range is a subrange of California's Sierra Nevada in Yosemite National Park.{{cite gnis |id=1658284 |name=Clark Range |accessdate=2009-05-03}} Initially, the range was known as the "Merced Group" in early writings of Yosemite from Josiah Whitney and John Muir.{{Cite web |title=Merced Peak : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost |url=https://www.summitpost.org/merced-peak/151768 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=www.summitpost.org}}{{Cite journal |last=Muir |first=John |date=1873-01-01 |title=January-May 1873, Yosemite Fall, Ice Cone, etc. Image 38 |url=https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/493/ |journal=All John Muir Journals}}
Geography
The range extends in a north–south direction from Quartzite Peak ({{coord|37|43.0|N|119|25.5|W|}}) to Triple Divide Peak ({{coord|37|38.0|N|119|22.2|W|}}) and separates the drainage basins of the Illilouette Creek from the uppermost portions of the Merced River. The range is named after Mount Clark, which was named after Galen Clark.
The highest peak in the range is Merced Peak at {{Convert|11726|ft|m|0}}.{{cite peakbagger |pid=2640 |name=Merced Peak, California |accessdate=2008-01-27}} Second-highest is Red Peak, {{Convert|11699|ft|m|0}}.
Geology
Metamorphic rock composes most of the Clark Range, with the granite of Mount Clark's summit being the main exception.{{cite book |last=Secor |first=R.J. |title= The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes and Trails |year=1999 |edition=2nd |publisher=The Mountaineers Books |location=Seattle |isbn=0-89886-625-1 |page=378}}
{{wide image|The Clark Range. Yosemite National Park, California, USA.jpg|x160px|A panoramic view of nearly the entire Clark Range, as shot from the summit of Vogelsang Peak just after 9 am in late June}}