Wawona’s Giant Sequoia Grove is an incredible sight to see! With towering giants only found on the West Coast, this is a must-do for those visiting Yosemite National Park.
Wawona and Mariposa Grove of Yosemite National Park can be seen in ½ to a full day. The highlight is viewing the giant sequoia trees through a variety of hikes ranging from easy to strenuous, with the moderate Giant Grizzly Loop Trail being my favorite. A shuttle service runs seasonally to service the area. For visitors with more time, horseback rides, historic buildings, and fun outside the park activities, including Bass Lake, can be added to fill an entire day.
I’ve explored Wawona and Mariposa Grove countless times with my family, and I will lay out lots of options in this post so you can design your ideal day.
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
This itinerary is perfect for anyone who wants to explore Yosemite’s giant sequoias while the shuttles are running and anyone who is NOT going to Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park as part of their trip. I would highly recommend subbing this day out for a day in those parks if you have the chance, as they have a wider variety of super cool Sequoia groves and other fun activities.
All of these hikes and some of the activities are open year-round, but your experience will vary greatly depending on the time of year you come. Mid-April to mid-October is the best time for this itinerary.
When you enter the South entrance, you will enter the area of the park called Wawona. Within Wawona is Mariposa Grove, which is where Yosemite’s only giant sequoia grove is located. It is also where a majority of the hikes and activities are concentrated in this part of the park.
To access Mariposa Grove, you must first make your way to the Mariposa Grove Visitor Center, which is where shuttles into the grove begin. Take advantage of the water fountains and clean flush bathrooms located here. They are open year-round.
Bathrooms are also available at Mariposa Grove at the trailhead and arrival area, as well as Mariposa Grove Cabin for those hiking to Wawona Point. They are rarely as clean as those at the visitor center. They are flush toilets in the summer and turn into vault toilets in the winter.
If you have a disability, you can apply for a placard with any park ranger to access Mariposa Grove with your own vehicle rather than taking the bus. This is a fantastic system and has access to some of the viewpoints you can only get from hiking for everyone else.
DISCOVER: Driving in Yosemite: 10 Things You Need to Know
The Mariposa Grove Shuttle is incredibly useful to get into the giant sequoia grove. No cars are allowed (unless you have a disability placard) on this road, and the shuttle replaces a 2-mile, uphill hike.
Shuttles begin at the Mariposa Grove Visitor Center and arrive at the Welcome Plaza (the trailhead) every 15 minutes. The ride takes around 5 minutes and is completely free.
Their hours vary greatly during the year and are only operational from April 15th to November 30th. The Grove is still open year-round, but you will have to hike your way there instead.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| April 15th – Mid May | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Last bus @ 5:00) |
| Mid-May – Early September | 8:00 am – 8:00 pm (Last bus @ 5:00) |
| Early September – November 1st | 8:00 am – 5:30 pm (Last bus @ 5:30) |
| November 1st – November 30th | 8:00 am – 3:30 (Last bus @ 3:30) |
| December 1st – April 14th | No Shuttle Service |
Make sure to time your visit to catch the last bus from the Welcome Center back to the Visitor Center.
If you miss the bus, you must hike via the road or a proper hiking trail to get back to your car. The hike back takes around 1 hour, is about 2 miles, and gains 500 feet. It is a bit easier and shorter if you choose to walk on the road rather than the path. It is good to know that there are pretty much no Giant Sequoias on this hike until the very end.
If you visit anytime from December to April, shuttles do not run and you must hike the trail or road to get to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center (the trailhead to the rest of the hikes).
PRO TIP: If you are visiting Sequoia and Kings National Parks on your trip from December 1st to April 14th, I would spend an extra day exploring over there rather than hiking up to Mariposa Grove.
From South Entrance: Mariposa Grove is located immediately after this entrance, and the rest of Wawona is accessible with around a 5-15 minute drive.
From Arch Rock Entrance: It is roughly 32 miles south and takes around 1 hour each way. Continue from the entrance on Highway 140 for about 4 miles in the Valley and turn left onto Southside Drive. Keep going down this road, and about 12 miles after it will turn into Highway 41. Mariposa Grove will be the second exit on the roundabout.
From Tioga Pass: Take Tioga Road (Highway 120) into the Valley and use the same directions as Arch Rock Entrance. This will be around a 2.5-mile drive without stops.
There is plenty of signage within the Valley to get where you need to go. If you make a mistake, the Valley is a loop, so it will add on a bit of time, but you will make your way back to where you started.
CHECK OUT: What is the Best Entrance to Yosemite? Yosemite’s 5 Entrances
Unfortunately, there really aren’t any sufficient breakfast options in the area. It is best to have breakfast near your hotel or in Yosemite Valley.
Curry Village Dining Pavilion is one of a few options located in the Valley, and it will have the most variety for the most affordable prices. This is about 27 miles north of Wawona.
If you are staying near the South Entrance, you can check out Jackalope’s Bar & Grill in Tenaya Lodge for breakfast. They offer a wide variety of sweet and savory breakfast options as well as burgers and sandwiches all day.
I would not recommend breakfast at Jackalope’s if you are staying anywhere else because it adds roughly 30 minutes on top of the long drive into Wawona. This is outside of the park, so if you wish to re-enter the park, entrance lines may become an issue.
The Historic Wawona Hotel used to have a restaurant with a good breakfast menu, but it is currently closed indefinitely for major renovations.
You cannot visit Wawona without doing a light stroll or hike through Mariposa Grove. The landscape is incredibly different from anything else in the park and is definitely worth a stop.
All hikes in Mariposa Grove begin at the same trailhead and branch off from each other. Feel free to start one hike, venture a bit onto another, and head back to complete your original hike if you want to see a bit more without completing a longer/more strenuous hike.
Big Trees Loop is completely flat and ADA accessible. A majority of this hike is boardwalk and is 0.3 miles in total. You can complete this in 15-30 minutes, depending on how long you stop to admire the sequoias. This is a great hike for those who don’t have a lot of time or if the buses don’t happen to be running during your visit (to complete after the 2-mile hike into the Grove).
I highly recommend the Grizzly Giant Loop for the majority of people. It is a brisk 2 mile loop with a bit of elevation gain that takes around 1.5-2 hours.
It is the hike my family takes every time we visit. Beginning from the Big Trees Loop Trail, this moderate hike takes you further through the grove, with highlights of the Bachelor and Three Graces Sequoias, the Grizzly Giant, and Tunnel Tree.
FUN FACT: The Grizzly Giant is the second-largest tree in Yosemite National Park and is a sight to behold.
If you do not want to complete the entire hike, make your way to Grizzly Giant and head back. This shaves off about half a mile.
Although this trail is not accessible, with a disability pass, you can drive up to Grizzly Giant. You will be about 600 feet away, with a very short, flat trail from the parking lot to the Grizzly Giant.
Breaking off from Giant Grizzly Loop, this beautiful trail spans the length of Mariposa Grove and ends at Wawona Point. Pass by countless sequoias and check out some of the popular landmarks of Faithful Couple, Clothespin Tree, and Mariposa Grove Cabin.
This gorgeous trail is roughly 7 miles with 1200 feet of elevation gain. It takes most people between 4-6 hours.
If you are debating between doing a longer trail in Mariposa Grove or in the Valley, I would recommend the latter. There are a lot of amazing and rewarding hikes in the Valley, each of which has a lot of variety and viewpoints.
Mariposa Grove Trail is more of a continuation of what you will see in the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail or in the nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
DON’T MISS: 7 CAN’T-MISS Hikes in Yosemite National Park
Exhibits showcasing Yosemite’s historic buildings and history from the mid-1880s to the late 1900s are available here. The Chinese Laundry and Acting Superintendent’s Office exhibits are some of the most popular, with horse-drawn carriages and blacksmithing techniques of the time also highlighted.
This is a great stop for history buffs and young kids alike, as well as a nice picnic area that transports you back a few centuries.
As the only stable within the park, check out Wawona Stables if you want to ride in Yosemite National Park. Two-hour and all-day rides are available here. Riders must be at least 7 years old, 52 inches tall, and cannot weigh more than 225 lbs.
Two-hour rides occur at 8:30, 12:00, and 2:30 and go around the Meadow Loop Trail in Wawona, with sights of lush forest, the Wawona Hotel, Wawona Dome, and a former Miwok encampment. These are $85 per person and are perfect for all ages and abilities.
These are the only horseback rides in Yosemite National Park. No other companies ride inside the park, although they advertise as such.
Challenging golfers since 1918, this golf course is the only one available within the park. Golfing is available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm from May 1st to October 27th, weather permitting.
This nine-hole, par-35 course measures 3,050 yards and also offers two par-5 holes as well as three par-3 holes. Disc Golf is available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Check out their website for current rates and amenities.
There are some other fantastic activities located within a 45-minute drive south of Wawona. This is a great time to explore anything beyond the South Entrance if you are staying closer to the Valley. You can also drive outside the park back to El Portal if you don’t want to face the windy Wawona road (highway 41) in the dark.
Rent boats at Miller’s Landing and spend the afternoon cruising around the warm water lake. Take a break near the dam to do some swimming and admire the views. Tubes, banana boats, water skis, and a lot more can be rented here. I have done this three separate times, and I feel it is 100% worth it.
Bringing your own paddleboard, kayak, or floatie is also a fantastic option to have a great day at the lake.
Avoid Bass Lake on major holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, as it is even worse than the busiest days within Yosemite. Boats can be rented on their website in advance, but it is not mandatory.
Take a scenic train ride to where lumberjacks used to cut down trees for the nearby town of Madera. Tickets range from $19 to $80 on their most popular Logger Steam Train ride and are open from late March to early November. Times vary each day, but their 11:00 am ride is consistent all season.
Boxed lunches are also available from $10-$16 each, with a few different sandwich and child-friendly options. This is perfect for kids of all ages, although it may not be incredibly interesting for teenagers and above. For more information and to book your spot, check out their website.
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
Tenaya Lodge has their own massage spa that is open for everyone. Treat yourself after a long day of hiking to facials, deep tissue massages, relaxation massages, stretch therapies, hand/foot/scalp treatments, and private yoga classes. Reservations can be made on their website.
–When to Start Your Day: Start your day by 8:30 am. Lines into the park at every entrance increase drastically as the day goes on.
–What to Wear: Layers are your friend here. It can go from warm to cold to warm again quickly under these giant trees. Bringing a light jacket is always helpful.
–What to Bring: A full water bottle, camera, and good walking shoes
are some great things to bring along.
–For Your Safety: Pack out whatever you bring in while on trails. There is a lot of wildlife in the area, and it is important that they don’t get to your Cheetos before you do!
–Road Conditions: Wawona Road is paved, although it is windy with very few guardrails. All cars and RVs can pass through here, but it can be a bit nerve-racking at times
if you are not used to driving tight mountain roads.
–Cell Phone Service: Cell phone service is very hit or miss here. There will be virtually none all along Wawona Road, including the line to get into the park.
Download anything you may need in advance.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo: Dogs are not allowed in Yosemite National Park. Of course, service animals are always allowed everywhere humans are.
–Services Within the Park: Wawona is home to one of the few gas stations in and around the park. Be aware that the prices are very high, as with any gas station in Yosemite. Bathrooms are available at Mariposa Grove Trailhead, and I believe there are a few more scattered throughout the area. Food is relatively scarce as well.
This area of the park has virtually no restaurants or places to eat. There is the Wawona General Store, which serves as a small grocery store and gift shop. This is a great place to grab some ice cream on a hot day and is my favorite place to grab some snacks in the park.
If you are willing to venture outside the park, there is Jackalope’s Bar and Grill, which is Tenaya Lodge’s in-house restaurant.
I would recommend having a picnic lunch at the Mariposa Grove Visitor Center or the Pioneer Yosemite Visitor Center. There are plenty of picnic tables available at both.
For dinner, possibly grab something to eat in the Valley or closer to your accommodation.
If you venture down to Bass Lake for an afternoon/evening on the lake, check out Miller’s Landing. They have fantastic burgers and shakes with a rustic, small-town feel. Either take a seat overlooking the lake or rent a boat and have dinner on the lake.
It is best to have one home base while traveling in Yosemite National Park. Stay near Fish Camp if you want to be closest to Wawona and Mariposa Grove, although you will be about 45 minutes south of the action in Yosemite Valley. Tenaya Lodge (book here) is one of my favorite hotels in this area, and camping is abundant here as well. Read more about where to stay in our article Where to Stay When Visiting Yosemite: The Complete Guide (Inside and Outside the Park).
YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Yosemite National Park, check out our Yosemite Homepage.
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Yosemite has to offer, including hiking, things to do in Yosemite Valley, and floating the Merced River.
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Yosemite National Park
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all you need to know about where to stay inside and outside the park
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out how to get there, the best time to visit, which is the best entrance, and all about driving around Yosemite.
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