The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, one of the most popular attractions in Yosemite as well as one of the best places to view these rare trees, will reopen sometime in the early summer months of 2017. The Grove closed in June of 2015 so that the National Park Service could begin a large-scale restoration process.
Giant Sequoias are the largest single tree species in the world, growing to heights of between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. They are found only along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Range, in California. In the last 150 years, since the trees were first studied, the impact that logging and settlement in the area near where Giant Sequoias grow have proven to have detrimental impacts on the number of trees that have survived, as well as on the health of the trees that are left.
Some changes being made during the restoration include the removal of several roads running through the Grove and the addition of a new service road, as well as a new shuttle stop. Other additions include a new parking lot and restroom facilities at the South Entrance. Conservationists are working to restore the wetland habitat of the area, to help ensure that the Giant Sequoias in the Grove survive and thrive for many generations to come. When Mariposa Grove reopens, there will be a shuttle available to take visitors from the South Entrance to the Grove. There will also be new, accessible trails to allow guests to view the towering trees with ease.
If you’re planning a visit to Yosemite prior to next summer and want to see the Giant Sequoias, there are several other places in and around the park that you can visit. Tuolumne Grove and Merced Grove are each home to about two dozen of these trees each and have a number of trails ranging from moderate to difficult. There are also other parks around California, including Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, that are home to these magnificent creatures.
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