Overview

Mariposa Grove CA is a popular and awe-inspiring spot to visit when coming to Yosemite National Park. This stand of Giant Sequoias dwarfs the people wandering the trails below. Although there are other groves in the park (Merced and Tuolumne), this is the largest, boasting over 500 trees, and creating a magical forest that is a must-see for all.

Location & Information

Mariposa Grove California is easily accessed. From Yosemite’s southern entrance, take Highway 41 north to Mariposa Grove Road, not far from the entrance. There is also a shuttle from Wawona.

The Mariposa Grove is open all year, but in winter the Mariposa Grove Road is closed and you can only access by skis or snowshoes.

Contact Information:
Yosemite National Park
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
209-372-0200

Activities

Mariposa Grove Yosemite activities consist almost exclusively of hiking and viewing these magnificent trees. In spring, summer and fall (May to October) you can also take a one-hour tram tour.

Hiking and Highlights

See both the lower and upper groves on a moderate 5 to 6-mile hike or just the lower grove on an easy 2.2-mile roundtrip hike. There are certain trees you must be sure to see!

• Grizzly Giant
  This tree is estimated as being 2,700 years old, the oldest tree in the grove. Simply wondrous in its beauty, the Grizzly Giant is the star of the grove, measuring 30 feet in diameter at its base and over 90 feet in circumference.
• California Tunnel Tree
  Just past the Grizzly Giant is the only living tree in Yosemite with a tunnel drilled through it. You can walk through this marvelous Sequoia while marveling at how small it makes you feel in comparison.
• Wawona Tree
  In 1881 a tunnel was carved into the trunk of this Sequoia. It was renamed “The Fallen Tunnel Tree” as it was toppled by a storm in 1969. You can still view its awesome size, even though it now lies on the ground.
• Washington Tree
  This tree has the distinction of being the largest tree in the grove.
• The Fallen Monarch
  Since Giant Sequoias don’t decay rapidly, you can still view this Giant Sequoia that fell over three hundred years ago.
• The Telescope Tree
  Repeated fires created a tree with a completely hollow trunk. You can walk inside and look up at the sky.
• The Columbia Tree
  At 285 feet high, this is the tallest tree in Mariposa Grove.

Fun Facts

Yosemite Mariposa Grove was first discovered by Galen Clark, a homesteader in Wawona, when he happened upon these Giant Sequoias. He named the grove after the California county where the grove is located.