Mariposa Grove Grizzly Giant: Why Hike the Full Loop
The Mariposa Grove Grizzly Giant may be the main attraction, but this giant sequoia grove has much more to offer than one famous tree.
I almost skipped Mariposa Grove because I had read it was really crowded. After hiking the full Grizzly Giant Loop, I couldn’t believe I had almost missed this part of the park.
My biggest regret was not planning more time here. It’s absolutely worth the drive from Yosemite Valley.
Here’s what to know about the shuttle, hiking the Grizzly Giant Loop, and exploring beyond the busiest part of the grove.
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Mariposa Grove Grizzly Giant Loop at a Glance
- Distance: 2.1 mi
- Elevation gain: 400 ft
- Time: 1–2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail type: Loop
- Restrooms: Available at the arrival area
- Grizzly Giant Loop Trail Map
I tracked 2.25 miles and 360 feet of elevation gain on my Garmin watch. My moving time was about an hour at a decent pace, although I stopped frequently to take photos and admire the trees.
Getting to Mariposa Grove and Taking the Shuttle
The drive from Yosemite Valley to Mariposa Grove takes about an hour one way. If you’re also visiting Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, or Taft Point, it makes sense to combine these stops since they’re all accessed from Wawona Road.
I’d recommend camping along Wawona Road rather than driving all the way back to Yosemite Valley if it works with your Yosemite itinerary. We stayed at Wawona Campground, which made it much easier to spend the day exploring this part of the park without adding another long drive at the end.
Mariposa Grove Shuttle
I didn’t know there was a shuttle to Mariposa Grove until I read about it on AllTrails. Since I hadn’t done much research before showing up, I wasn’t sure how long we would have to wait.
Luckily, the shuttle arrived within a few minutes. Once we boarded, the driver told us shuttles ran about every 15 minutes and that the last shuttle out was at 8 p.m. This was in mid-August, and shuttle hours vary throughout the season.
The Mariposa Grove shuttle operates seasonally, so check the National Park Service website for the current schedule before your visit. Private vehicles generally aren’t allowed on Mariposa Grove Road while the shuttle is operating, with exceptions for vehicles displaying disability placards.
The Welcome Plaza has about 300 parking spaces, but NPS warns that the lot can fill by late morning. We started hiking around 5 p.m. and had no trouble finding a parking spot.
Emma’s Tip: Don’t budget only for the hiking time. Parking, waiting for the shuttle, riding to the grove, exploring, and catching the shuttle back can turn a one-hour hike into a much longer outing.
What If the Shuttle Isn’t Running?
When the shuttle isn’t running, reaching Mariposa Grove takes extra effort. You’ll need to hike about 2 miles each way to the grove via the Washburn Trail or Mariposa Grove Road, adding roughly 4 miles and 500 feet of elevation gain before you even start exploring.
Hiking the Full Grizzly Giant Loop
Starting the Grizzly Giant Loop
When we arrived at the trailhead, everyone getting off the shuttle started hiking at roughly the same time. That made the trail feel crowded all the way to the Grizzly Giant. A downside of dozens of people arriving at once rather than trickling in on their own.
But around 5 p.m., the sun was getting lower in the sky, and the grove looked magical. Golden rays filtered through the canopy, backlighting the massive tree trunks. We had accidentally shown up at the perfect time. The light felt so ethereal.
A sign marked the Bachelor and Three Graces right beside the trail. A few people stopped to admire them, but most continued toward the Grizzly Giant.
The trail had a noticeable incline, but nothing particularly strenuous. The trees also provided plenty of shade during our late-afternoon hike.
Seeing the Grizzly Giant
Suddenly, we rounded a turn, and there it was.
My mouth actually fell open as I said, “Wow.” It was easily the largest tree I had ever seen.
To really appreciate the Grizzly Giant’s enormous girth, walk around to the back rather than viewing it from only one angle. Take photos from up close, farther away, and from different perspectives. Even then, it’s surprisingly difficult to capture its scale in a photograph.
The Grizzly Giant is the largest giant sequoia in Yosemite. One thing I learned while visiting is that as giant sequoias age, they don’t necessarily keep getting taller; they continue growing wider.
Not surprisingly, several groups were taking pictures around the tree. We waited for the initial crowd to disperse and had plenty of opportunities to take our own photos.
Don’t Turn Around at the Grizzly Giant
Many visitors turned around after seeing the Grizzly Giant. We decided to continue and complete the full loop. I’m very glad we did.
Continuing takes you past the California Tunnel Tree, which you can actually walk through. A few people were still around the tunnel tree, but once we went beyond it, virtually everyone disappeared.
The trail narrowed, and suddenly the only sounds we could hear were our own footsteps. This section felt much less developed than the main trail, and we could get closer to the giant sequoias as we walked through the forest.
I couldn’t believe more people weren’t taking this route back. Completing the loop added very little distance but gave us a completely different experience. We saw only two other people on this section of trail.
Without the crowds, I could finally slow down, take in the trees, and stop for photos without feeling like I was in anyone’s way.
California Tunnel Tree
I Wish I Had Planned More Time in Mariposa Grove
Before visiting Yosemite, I had read several recommendations saying Mariposa Grove was so crowded that it was better to skip it and visit Tuolumne Grove instead. I initially wasn’t planning to hike here at all.
Then I started reading about Mariposa Grove in the park pamphlet. It’s Yosemite’s largest giant sequoia grove and home to the Grizzly Giant, so we decided at the last minute to squeeze it into an already full day. That’s how we ended up starting our hike around 5 p.m.
I hadn’t realized how much hiking there is beyond the Grizzly Giant.
If I had known about the miles of trails winding through the upper grove, I would have planned considerably more time here. Next time, I’d happily devote most of a day to Mariposa Grove and explore beyond the main loop.
If You Have 1-2 Hours
Hike the Grizzly Giant Loop, about 2.1 miles. You’ll see the grove’s most famous trees without committing to a long hike.
If You Have Half a Day
Consider the Guardians Loop, about 6.5 miles round trip from the trailhead. It continues into the upper grove past the fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, Telescope Tree, and Mariposa Grove Cabin.
If You Want a Longer Hike
Continue toward Wawona Point for panoramic views from the upper grove. AllTrails lists the route at 6.8 miles with roughly 1,200 feet of elevation gain, depending on the route you take.
Mariposa Grove has enough intersecting trails that you can add serious mileage and create your own route. I’d recommend subscribing to AllTrails so you can download the trail maps ahead of time and access them without cell service. This is particularly useful here if you decide to extend your hike once you’re already in the grove.
The Dead Giant tunnel tree in Tuolumne Grove
Mariposa Grove vs. Tuolumne Grove
I hiked both Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne Grove during the same Yosemite trip, and they’re surprisingly different experiences.
Mariposa Grove has a much larger trail network and lets you spend anywhere from an hour to most of a day exploring. It’s also home to the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree.
Tuolumne Grove is a much simpler outing. I tracked 2.75 miles and about 500 feet of elevation gain there, with most of the climbing coming on the hike back out. Unlike Mariposa Grove, there aren’t miles of intersecting trails to choose from.
If giant sequoias are one of your priorities in Yosemite, I’d plan more time for Mariposa Grove. If you’re already driving Tioga Road and want to see sequoias without dedicating a large portion of the day to them, Tuolumne Grove is easy to incorporate into your itinerary.
We paired Tuolumne Grove with other stops along Tioga Road. North Dome is an excellent hike along the road, but requires a full day. You could combine Tuolumne Grove with hiking Cathedral Lakes for a bigger hiking day.
For more ideas, check out my guide to hikes in Yosemite.
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Mariposa Grove Grizzly Giant FAQs
Do you have to take a shuttle to Mariposa Grove?
When the seasonal Mariposa Grove shuttle is operating, most visitors park at the Welcome Plaza and take the free shuttle to the grove. Private vehicles generally aren’t allowed on Mariposa Grove Road during shuttle operations, with exceptions for vehicles displaying disability placards. Always check the National Park Service website for the current shuttle schedule before visiting.
How long is the hike to the Grizzly Giant?
The full Grizzly Giant Loop is about 2.1 miles with 400 feet of elevation gain. I tracked 2.25 miles and 360 feet of gain on my Garmin watch, with about an hour of moving time. I’d allow 1-2 hours so you have plenty of time to stop, take photos, and enjoy the trees.
Can you walk through a giant sequoia at Mariposa Grove?
Yes. The Grizzly Giant Loop passes the California Tunnel Tree, which was cut in 1895 to allow horse-drawn carriages to pass through. Today, you can walk through the opening as part of the trail.
Can you visit Mariposa Grove when the shuttle isn’t running?
Yes, but you’ll have to hike to the grove. The Washburn Trail and Mariposa Grove Road are each about 2 miles from the Welcome Plaza to the grove, meaning you’ll add roughly 4 miles round trip before exploring the grove itself.
Is Mariposa Grove or Tuolumne Grove better?
They offer very different experiences. Mariposa Grove has a much larger trail network, making it easy to spend several hours exploring beyond the Grizzly Giant. Tuolumne Grove is a simpler outing that fits particularly well into a day spent along Tioga Road. I visited both on the same Yosemite trip and was glad I made time for each.
