A visit to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Hi, I’m Ellie, one of the founders of The Wildernest Collection. My husband and I were married in Sequoia National Park, and since then, we have always come back to nature whenever we need to unwind and reconnect with each other. In 2025 we purchased a 70 year old cabin in Wawona, nestled deep within Yosemite National Park. We spent the following 8 months renovating it, and now enjoying the beauty of Yosemite, literally in our backyard.
After eloping under these giants, we have always felt a strong connection with trees, and in particular sequoias. Did you know that sequoia trees are connected through their shallow but extensive root systems? They intertwine with neighboring trees to provide mutual support, and this "community" of roots gives the trees stability against high winds and floods, allowing them to thrive in dense groves. They also share nutrients, and we’re pretty sure they communicate with one another as well. Even though Sequoia National Park and Yosemite are over 100 miles apart, we can’t help but feel like the trees are somehow connected, and they remember us from our special day :-)
Sequoia National Park / Parker Trees
Now that we have our dream home in Yosemite National Park, we had to come pay our respects to our new neighbors - the Giant Sequoias of Mariposa Grove. My parents were in town from New York, so it was a perfect easy Sunday morning activity with my mom, dad, and our kids.
Wildernest Tip: The Welcome Center for the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is right by the South Gate entrance, and about 10 min away from The Wildernest cabin in Wawona. This is a great place to visit right after check out, as the last activity you do before you leave Yosemite.
The Welcome Center has a gift shop, friendly staff, dedicated parking lot, well maintained bathrooms, and a large parking lot. But depending on the season, it can get busy. As with any of the sites in Yosemite, parking is the only stressful moment you’ll encounter during your nature getaway. Fortunately, we found parking right away, and hopped on the shuttle.
The free shuttle runs seasonally through the fall, and is the best way to experience the Mariposa Grove. A quick 5 min bus ride takes you right to the trailhead, followed by a short and easy hike through the Grove to see the Grizzly Giant and Tunnel Tree. If you are visiting during the winter, the shuttle won’t be running, but you can still visit the Grove on foot.
Check out the latest shuttle schedule here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/mg.htm
Shuttle Hours for 2025
Buses arrive about every 15 minutes
May 10 through September 24: 8 am to 7 pm (last bus leaves Mariposa Grove at 8:00 pm).
September 25 through November 1: Weather permitting, 8 am to 5:00 pm (last bus leaves Mariposa Grove at 5:30 pm).
November 2 through November 30: Weather permitting, 8 am to 3:30 pm (last bus leaves Mariposa Grove at 5:00 pm).
December 1 through (at least) April 15: No shuttle service available.
Free shuttle at Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Welcome Center (runs seasonally from Spring to Fall)
With my parents (in their 70s) and our kids (9 and 12) with us, we chose to hike the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail, but only partially. It’s a gradual uphill climb, about 300ft (91m) of elevation gain to go from the trailhead (where the shuttle drops you off), to the Grizzly Giant Tree and the Tunnel Tree which is about 40% of the loop.
Here is some info on the trails here from NPS:
Big Trees Loop Trail (easy)
0.3 mile (0.5 km) loop from trailhead, 30 to 45 minutes (wheelchair accessible)
Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Winding through a forest with many giant sequoias, this trail features the Fallen Monarch and interpretive panels on the life and ecology of giant sequoias. This loop is relatively flat and is wheelchair accessible.
Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate)
2 miles (3.2 km) loop from trailhead, 1.5 to 2 hours
Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. Start along the Mariposa Grove Trail at the Big Trees Loop and hike past notable trees such as the Bachelor and Three Graces, the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant, and California Tunnel Tree. Allow two hours to enjoy the full loop that winds along the edge of the grove and includes 300 feet (91 m) of elevation gain. Visitors with a valid disabled placard can drive as far as the Grizzly Giant parking area and enjoy this area of the grove via a section of trail that is wheelchair accessible.
Guardians Loop Trail (strenuous)
6.5 miles (10.5 km) round trip from trailhead, 4 to 6 hours
Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. After hiking to the tranquil upper portion of the grove, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) loop takes hikers past many famous features including the fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, the Telescope Tree, and the Mariposa Grove Cabin.
Mariposa Grove Trail (strenuous)
7 miles (11.3 km) round trip from trailhead to Wawona Point, 4 to 6 hours
Begin at Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. This wide and relatively smooth trail follows a route that people have used to access the grove for generations. See famous sequoias such as the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Faithful Couple, and the Clothespin Tree along this somewhat strenuous route to the upper reaches of the grove. Continue to historic Wawona Point, an overlook with panoramic views. Total elevation gain is 1,200 feet (366 m). A number of alternative trails may be used to access the upper portion of the grove. These trails are generally steeper and more primitive than the Mariposa Grove Trail.
Instead of completing the loop, we chose to turn around and come back the way we came, which made the overall hike about 1.5 hours for us (we walked leisurely). The Grizzly Giant is the most well known sequoia in Yosemite National Park, and at 209ft (63m) tall, it ranks the 26th largest tree in the world. Researchers estimate it to be about 2000-3000 years old!
The Grizzly Giant Sequoia, Yosemite National Park
Right next to the Grizzly Giant, you’ll see the Tunnel Tree. This was super fun for the kids and a great picture moment. The Tunnel Tree was carved in 1895 to accommodate horse-drawn carriages, and is still a living tree today.
After admiring these giants, we took a break at one of the comfy benches made of tree stumps, and then headed back toward the shuttle.
Tunnel Tree in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park
My husband and I love visiting the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It’s quiet, fairly easy, and there’s nothing like sitting and admiring the Grizzly Giant and appreciating its size and presence. Our kids preferred some of the more “active” areas of the park and did not care as much for looking at trees :-) But, they had a great time counting birds and chipmunks along the way!
3 generations: my mom, my daughter, and me!