Meet Yosemite's giant sequoias at Mariposa Grove
Yosemite Valley gets the waterfalls and the granite, but the park's most jaw-dropping living things are in its southern corner. Mariposa Grove, near the South Entrance off Highway 41, is home to roughly 500 mature giant sequoias, the largest trees on Earth by volume. After a major restoration that removed old parking lots and roads from the grove itself, the experience now feels like walking into a quiet cathedral of red trunks. It is one of the easiest places in California to stand beside a 2,000-year-old tree, which makes it a highlight for families. This grove is a centerpiece stop on our California National Parks Family Loop itinerary, usually paired with a night near Wawona.
How the Mariposa Grove shuttle works
You cannot drive into the grove during the busy season. Instead, you park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza just inside the South Entrance and ride a free shuttle the two miles up to the trailhead. In spring, summer, and fall the shuttle typically runs about every 10 to 15 minutes, but it can pause when the lot is full, so arrive early. If the shuttle is not running, you can walk or bike the access road, but with kids the shuttle is the way to go. Always check the current operating status on the park website before you leave, since dates shift with snow.
- Park at: Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza near the South Entrance
- Shuttle: free, roughly every 10 to 15 minutes in season
- Arrive: before 9 a.m. to beat parking closures
The Big Trees Loop: the easy walk for everyone
From the upper trailhead, the Big Trees Loop is a flat, accessible 0.3-mile path that passes the fallen Fallen Monarch and several towering sequoias. It is the right choice for strollers, toddlers, and anyone who wants the wow factor without a climb. Interpretive signs explain how sequoias actually need fire to reproduce, a fact that fascinates kids once they spot the black scorch marks at the base of the giants.
Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree
If your family can manage a gentle two miles round trip, continue on the Grizzly Giant Loop. It leads to the Grizzly Giant, an ancient sequoia estimated at around 3,000 years old with a single branch thicker than most other trees in the forest. A short detour reaches the California Tunnel Tree, carved in 1895, which you can still walk through for a classic family photo. The trail is mostly packed dirt with a moderate grade, well within reach of grade-school hikers.
- Big Trees Loop: 0.3 miles, flat and accessible
- Grizzly Giant Loop: about 2 miles round trip, moderate
- Photo stop: walk through the California Tunnel Tree
Best season and what to pack
The grove sits around 5,600 feet, so the access road and trails can hold snow well into spring. Late spring through fall is the reliable window, with summer mornings being the most comfortable. Sequoias create deep shade, so bring a light layer even on warm days, plus water and sturdy shoes for the dirt trails. There are restrooms at the Welcome Plaza and near the trailhead, but no food, so pack snacks. The nearby village of Wawona has lodging, a store, and the historic Wawona Hotel, making it an easy base for a sequoia morning before driving north into Yosemite Valley.
