Consider that at the height of the Roman Empire, some of these trees were already standing watch here in the Mariposa Grove. The National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy created a wonderful video to give you a hint of what to expect when exploring a giant sequoia grove, but nothing can prepare you for seeing them in person.
One of the first named trees that you will see when you enter the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the Fallen Monarch. This tree toppled centuries ago, but thanks to the tannic acid present in the wood, you can still see the giant halo of the root system, and imagine the cavalry troop that lined up for a picture with the ancient tree that is so broad, they could lead their horses right up onto the trunk. Help preserve this centuries old tree by not following the example of these soldiers from over a century ago when attitudes were different; please don't climb on the Fallen Monarch.
This is one of the largest trees in the Mariposa Grove and thought to be more than 1, years old. Looking up, it can be hard to fully appreciate the scale and mass of this sequoia. The large limb high on the south side of the tree is nearly 7 feet in diameter all by itself. That one branch of the Grizzly Giant is larger than any non-sequoia tree in the grove.
The fire scars in the base of the trunk provide shade for mule deer on hot summer days. The tunnel was carved through the tree in to allow horse-drawn stages to pass through, and you can still walk through the tunnel today.
Two sequoia trees growing close to each other have merged over the years to form a single massive trunk. Nearby is an example of two younger trees in a similar situation which are likely to grow together over the years as well. If it seems amazing to you that people would carve tunnels in these amazing trees, keep walking until you come to the Clothespin Tree. This tree has a natural tunnel carved through its base as the result of many fires through the centuries.
The natural opening at the base is wider than a car! The entire center of the tree is gone, so that if you were to walk inside the trunk, you could look straight up through the center of the living tree and see the sky beyond. The trees in the upper grove, perhaps because of their proximity and the open areas between them, have a particular majesty and unsurpassed, cathedral-like grace. The cabin in the upper grove occupies a site where Galen Clark , the first guardian of Yosemite, built a small cabin in Prior to the restoration, this building served as a small museum with information about the trees and the ecosystem surrounding them.
Bicycles and vehicles displaying a disability placard can drive the Mariposa Grove Road to the Arrival Area. No vehicles are allowed beyond the arrival area. In , the American Civil War was raging. But in the midst of bloodshed and chaos, there was a magnificent grove of ancient sequoia trees that came to the attention of President Abraham Lincoln.
Tucked in the wilds of California, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias needed to be protected before they were destroyed for lumber and development. Lincoln never visited the more than trees that dotted the grove. But they must have stirred his imagination. Perhaps it was the awe-inspiring photographs taken by photographer Carleton Watkins and the stories written about them by Galen Clark, a Canadian carpenter who built a cabin among the trees.
Reaching the upper grove is a longer hike with elevation gains, but well worth the exercise! When shuttle buses are running, you can catch one here. Hike : You can also walk from Wawona to the Mariposa Grove. From behind the Wawona Hotel, follow a 6. Be prepared for significant elevation change. Horseback : You can also ride into the grove on horseback.
Yosemite Trails leads a guide horseback tour from their stables just outside the southern boundary of the park into the Mariposa Grove. Horses are allowed only on the Perimeter Trail, and not anywhere else within the grove.
Download a Mariposa Grove map here.
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