Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park California

Yosemite National Park includes nearly 1,200 square miles of scenery, including high cliffs, deep valleys, tall waterfalls, and among the ancient giant sequoias — Mariposa Grove.

Yosemite National Park

Free shuttle provides service into the Mariposa Grove from the Welcome Plaza, near South Entrance, which contains only 300 parking spaces
Limited shuttle service from Big Trees Lodge (formerly Wawona Hotel) for hotel guests

Expect delays of an hour or more at entrance stations and up to two to three hours in Yosemite Valley at peak seasons.  Delays and difficulty finding parking from spring through fall, especially on weekends and around holidays are common.

Mariposa Grove Facts

• Mariposa Grove is largest sequoia grove in Yosemite
• Mariposa Grove encompasses 250 acres
• Home to over 500 mature giant sequoias
• Tallest tree is nearly 300 feet
• Grizzly Giant old-growth tree in the grove is 100 feet in circumference and 2,700 years old.
• The tallest tree is 290 feet
• Sequoia tree roots are only 5 or 6 feet under the soil but can extend out 200 feet
• California Tunnel Tree hole was carved through the trunk in 1895
• Wawona Tunnel Tree -- renamed the Fallen Tunnel Tree -- was carved out in 1881 so carriages and early automobiles could drive through it. In 1969 the giant toppled. It is dead, but remains visible, lying in Mariposa Grove.
• A walking trail extends from entrance to the grove for those who prefer walking
• Bicycles not allowed on the access road because of the danger posed by shuttle buses
   

Restoration Project

• Largest protection, restoration and improvement project in Yosemite history
• Closed July 2015-June 13, 2018 for a large-scale restoration project
• Four acres of sequoia habitat was restored 
• $40-million project cost including $20-million donations by the non-profit Yosemite Conservancy
• Primary goals were to 1. improve giant sequoia habitat and 2. improve visitor experience
• Project designed to accommodate 1 million people per year
• Admission limited to protect natural and cultural resources, and provide a quality visitor experience
• Restoration realigned roads and trails that were located in sensitive sequoia habitat
• New Welcome Plaza near South Entrance built
• Parking relocated 2 miles away from Mariposa Grove
• Shuttle service added between the Mariposa Grove and Welcome Plaza
• Nearly 1.5 acres, or 20,500 feet, of asphalt was removed
• 4 acres of sequoia habitat was restored
• 600 feet of boardwalk and bridges installed
• Built accessible trails to allow for improved access without impacting sequoias and other sensitive areas
• New trails made of natural surfaces instead of pavement, and wooden boardwalks hover over sensitive wetland to protect habitat and sequoia roots.
• Restored natural hydrology
• Improved orientation and wayfinding
• Removed commercial activities from the Grove such as the gift shop and tram tours
• Rattlesnake Creek is flowing again after culverts blocking waterflows were replaced by one of the elevated boardwalks.
• New trail invites mobility-disabled to experience the famous Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree

5 million people visited Yosemite in 2016, the most ever. The number dropped to 4.3 million in 2017.

The Mariposa Grove was preserved in 1864 by the Yosemite Grant, signed by President Abraham Lincoln.