Big Time Hike

Hike Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park

08.15.2019
Yosemite Mariposa Grove hike Wawona Point

Big on the scene these days in Yosemite: about 500 giant sequoias in the park’s newly reopened Mariposa Grove. Tucked in the southern part, this grove is the largest of giant sequoias in Yosemite. It was closed for several years for major restoration to improve habitat and enhance this historic spot that in 1864 President Lincoln protected via legislation.

There are a variety of hikes you can do here to see the behemoth trees. We recommend this grand tour at 7.5 miles (round-trip) which includes Wawona Point, a spectacular overlook that’s ideal for a lunch break.

Start at the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area on the Mariposa Grove Trail. The trail is wide and mostly flat, passing famous sequoias like the Fallen Monarch, Bachelor, Three Graces, and the—whoa—Grizzly Giant, 209 feet of big!

Continue to other popular trees: Faithful Couple and Clothespin (so named for how it is splintered in the middle, resembling a clothespin).

At the Mariposa Tree, take the detour trail to Mariposa Cabin, then cut back to Mariposa Grove Trail and up to Wawona Point. At 6,800 feet, you get a panorama of the valley below.

You can return the way you came on the Mariposa Grove Trail, but to mix things up we recommend taking the Perimeter Trail for a change of scenery. Big adventure indeed.

Mariposa Grove is typically open year round. Park at the new Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza and take the short shuttle to the trailhead. NOTE: In 2021 Mariposa Grove is not running the shuttle service to the grove, adding an extra 4-miles to the hiking distance. No dogs. Map & Info.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View

  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  2. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View
  3. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View