The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is set to reopen in early summer 2017, following a long restoration project. This exciting project means new trails, and a guarantee that the Grove will remain healthy for many generations to come. But if you’re planning a visit to the Yosemite and Bass Lake area this fall or early next year, you might be feeling disappointed about the closure. Luckily, there are several other places in and around the park where you can see these massive wonders.
Nelder Grove
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Eighteen miles south of Yosemite National Park is Nelder Grove. The sequoias are spread out in this grove, but you can see groupings of them dispersed along the grove’s five hiking trails. The trails range in length and difficulty. The shortest is Big Ed Tree Loop, a .2 mile round trip hike that gains less than fifty feet of elevation. The longest, and the most difficult, is the Graveyard of the Giants, a 5.5 mile round trip hike that gains more than 650 feet.
Two of the other trails, the Shadow of the Giants trail, a 1 mile round trip hike, and Bull Buck Loop, a .75 mile round trip hike, are the most popular. The Shadow of the Giants trail follows Nelder Creek, and features interpretative signs with information about the giant sequoias. The Bull Buck Tree Loop passes by Bull Buck Tree, which is thought to be one of the largest giant sequoias in the world, standing at a height of 246 feet and having a base circumference of 99 feet.
Nelder Grove has no paved trails. While this can make the hiking conditions slightly more difficult, it also means far less crowds. Even after Mariposa Grove reopens, Nelder Grove will remain a great place to take in the sight of the giant sequoias without having to worry about overcrowding.
Tuolumne Grove
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If you’re looking for a place to see giant sequoias in Yosemite, Tuolumne Grove is a great choice. While you can’t drive to this grove. a 2.5 mile round trip hike will take you through the grove and past many giant sequoias. The trail is an easy one, though you should plan to be hiking for at least an hour and a half. There’s even a giant sequoia that has a path carved through its base.
Tuolumne Grove is only accessible as long as Tioga Road stays open. Depending on the weather, Tioga Road usually closes in late October or early November. The trail to Tuolumne Grove is a beautiful hike with great views of the giant sequoias, but it does draw more crowds than Nelder Grove.
Merced Grove
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A slightly more difficult hike than Tuolumne Grove, Merced Grove is still a fairly easy hike. The trail is a 3 mile round trip hike with 600 feet of elevation change. The trail usually takes between 2 and 4 hours to complete.
Even though Merced Grove is the smallest of the giant sequoia groves in Yosemite, there are still 20 of these giants in the grove. Its also usually less crowded than Tuolumne Grove. The road leading to this grove, 120 North, stays open more of the year than Tioga Road.
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