Tuolumne and Merced Groves

The Mariposa Grove gets the crowds, but Yosemite has two smaller sequoia groves in the northwest of the park that many visitors prefer for their quiet. The Tuolumne Grove sits just east of Crane Flat near the start of the Tioga Road, about 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley. The NPS describes about two dozen mature giant sequoias, reached by a one-mile walk that drops about 500 feet into the grove — which means the return climb gains 500 feet and is strenuous for some visitors. The trail follows a section of old road through mixed conifer forest, and in the grove a short nature loop leads among the sequoias, including the Dead Giant, a tunneled sequoia snag you can walk through. Parking is limited and there is no water, so bring what you need. The Merced Grove, also about 45 minutes from the valley on Big Oak Flat Road, is the smallest and quietest of the three: about two dozen mature sequoias reached by a 1.5-mile walk with a 500-foot descent, and an equally strenuous climb back. Parking at its trailhead is extremely limited, and the walk is pleasantly forested with fewer people than any other sequoia stop in the park. Both groves are free with park entry and do not require a shuttle. They are especially useful for travelers entering from Groveland and the Big Oak Flat Entrance, where they make a fine first or last stop. In winter, access depends on snow: Big Oak Flat Road is kept open year-round with chain controls when needed, but the Tioga Road beyond Crane Flat is closed for the season, and trails are often snow-covered, making snowshoes or traction devices necessary. Check the NPS conditions page before going.

These groves are a reminder that sequoias are not limited to one famous stand. Each holds roughly two dozen mature trees, and the experience is intimate: you can often have a sequoia to yourself, hear the wind high in the crowns, and see the scale of the trees without crowds. The Tuolumne Grove trail is part of the historic Big Oak Flat Road, once the route stagecoaches used to reach the valley, and the descent passes sugar pines with their enormous cones. The Merced Grove is even more secluded, tucked into a quiet drainage away from the main road.

Hiking tips. The key to both groves is the reversed elevation profile: you walk downhill first and climb back to the car. Pace yourself on the return, especially at altitude and in warm weather, and carry water because none is available at either trailhead. Allow about an hour and a half to two hours for the Tuolumne Grove including the loop, and two to three hours for the Merced Grove. In spring, look for dogwood blooms; in fall, the forest floor is gold with leaves and the light is soft.

Winter visits. When snow covers the trails, both groves become snowshoe outings. Big Oak Flat Road remains open, but chains may be required during storms, and parking areas can be partly plowed or buried. Ask at the Big Oak Flat Entrance about trail conditions, carry traction devices or snowshoes, and allow extra time. For travelers staying in Groveland at Rush Creek Lodge or Evergreen Lodge, these groves make an easy half-day outing without the long drive to the South Entrance, and they pair well with a scenic drive down into the valley and a stop at Tunnel View.