Mariposa Grove

By Jacob

The Mariposa Grove is a grove of the Giant Sequoia Trees in Yosemite National Park in California. The grove is part of the original boundaries of Yosemite National Park, as advocated by famous conservationist John Muir. It is home to a walk-through tree, the Grizzly Giant and the Fallen Monarch. The Mariposa Grove is the most popular grove of sequoia trees in the park, with some of the largest most beautiful trees in the world.

To visit the Mariposa Grove you must venture to the southern end of Yosemite along the Wawona Road. At the roundabout exit onto the Mariposa Grove Road. You can stop at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center for information on the area as well as other Yosemite attractions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the shuttle from the welcome center to the grove is not operating. If this is the case during your visit, then you must park at the welcome center. If the shuttle is not operating then you must walk along the Washburn trail 2 miles to the grove, with a 500-foot elevation gain. If the shuttle is operating then you have easy access to the entrance of the grove. At the entrance plaza, there is a sign welcoming visitors to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

The trail begins by moving along the massive Fallen Monarch, it fell over three hundred years ago. At the base is the large root system that fell along with the tree. It brings into scale the size of these massive trees. The next attractions are the Bachelor and Three Graces. A large sequoia with three smaller sequoias behind it. Among all the main attractions of the grove are more beautiful sequoia trees. The next tree is the largest in the park, the Grizzly Giant. This massive tree is a sight to behold, there are few trees that are bigger in the world than this one. Right next door is the California Tunnel Tree, a tree that you can walk through, due to its massive size. Though there are further areas of the Grove these are the most accessible.

Mariposa Grove is a must-see attraction of Yosemite National Park. If you have a couple of days make it a point of visiting this area.