Mariposa Grove

Giant sequoias grow only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and the Mariposa Grove is one of the finest places to see them. The trees can top 250 feet in height and live for thousands of years, their thick, fibrous bark helping them survive the fires that are actually part of their life cycle.

Among the grove's celebrated trees are the ancient Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree, which was cut through in the 1890s so stagecoaches could pass and which visitors can still walk through today. Signs and trails help tell the story of these remarkable giants.

Most visits begin at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza near the South Entrance, from which a shuttle (in season) or a walk leads into the grove. A network of trails ranges from easy, partly accessible boardwalks in the lower grove to longer, hillier routes into the upper grove.

Because the sequoias have shallow, spreading roots that are easily damaged, staying on the trails and boardwalks is essential to protecting them. A walk through the grove is a peaceful counterpoint to the granite drama of Yosemite Valley, and a highlight for many visitors.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Mariposa Grove is the largest stand of giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park, California, located in the park's southern end near the South Entrance and Wawona. It is home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias, which are among the largest living things on earth by volume, including the famous Grizzly Giant, thought to be around 2,000 years old, and the walk-through California Tunnel Tree. Protecting this grove was part of the original inspiration for the national park idea. Trails and boardwalks let visitors wander among the towering trees, making it one of the most beloved and significant places in Yosemite.

The Grizzly Giant, the most famous tree in the Mariposa Grove, is estimated to be around 2,000 years old, making it one of the oldest giant sequoias in Yosemite. It is enormous, with a base wider than most trees are tall and huge lower branches that are themselves thicker than the trunks of many other tree species. Giant sequoias like the Grizzly Giant are extraordinarily long-lived, in part because of their thick, fire-resistant bark. Standing at the base of this ancient tree, which was already old when the Roman Empire was at its height, is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in the grove.

The Mariposa Grove is in the southern part of Yosemite National Park, near the South Entrance and the community of Wawona. Most visits start at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, from which a free shuttle operates during the busy season, or you can walk in when the shuttle is not running. From the arrival area, trails and boardwalks lead among the trees. Because access and shuttle service can change with the season, and because the park may require an entrance reservation during peak periods, it is a good idea to check current conditions and requirements before your visit.

Yes. The Mariposa Grove is home to the California Tunnel Tree, a living giant sequoia that had a tunnel cut through its base in the 1890s so that horse-drawn stagecoaches could pass through, and visitors can still walk through it today. It is the last living tunnel tree in Yosemite. (An earlier and more famous tunnel tree, the Wawona Tree, fell in 1969.) Walking through the California Tunnel Tree is a memorable stop on a tour of the grove, though the practice of tunneling trees is no longer done, as it harms the sequoias. Today the grove is managed to protect these ancient giants.