The Giant Sequoia Trees of Yosemite
Truly, California’s giant sequoia trees are a sight to behold. While the very largest of them are found to the south in Sequoia National Park, Yosemite has some very impressive groves of its own. Here is an overview with links to more photos…
Merced Grove
The secluded Merced Grove can be hiked to from the trailhead on Highway 120 as you enter the park. It’s not exactly a short hike, but not too strenuous, either. As you can see, I visited these sequoia trees in the December snow.
Tuolumne Grove
Just off the main road on Tioga Pass, you’ll find the beautiful Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias. I took the photo below in summer, but I just learned that even though Tioga Road closes in winter, the Tuolumne Grove is still open! Although it’s no doubt beautiful in the snow, you may need snowshoes to get there.
The hike to get here isn’t too bad, and it’s just a bit of a climb coming out. I found that this summer afternoon was perfect for taking pictures in the grove.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia Trees
Surprisingly, I just visited Mariposa Grove for the first time recently. It could be because it’s much further south than I usually go, but also the fact that it has been closed for renovation.
Although the weather wasn’t ideal for me on this visit, a couple things about this grove stood out. One was all the wildlife I saw on the brief nature walk through the trees. There really were a lot of deer grazing right near the trail, and they didn’t seem to mind the tourists at all.
The other interesting thing I noticed was that all tourists had to take a free shuttle bus from the parking lot. I suppose this helps to preserve the natural beauty of the Mariposa Grove.
Looking for lodging? Check out my Yosemite Hotels page.
Show the Sierra some love – Share this page:
About My Photos
The images on this website are available for licensing and/or sale as framed prints. If you’d like to purchase them for a blog, news article, or gift, feel free to contact me with the specifics. This way you’re supporting photographers such as me directly (as opposed to buying from a faceless stock photo corporation).
Pinterest users: By all means, feel free to pin!
– Nathan Allen
About Me
I’m Nathan Allen, photographer / creator of YosemiteParkPhotos.com (Yosemite Photos) and international travel site I Dreamed Of This. In truth, I lived in San Francisco, New York, & Singapore…but nothing compares to life in the mountains. I share my experiences HERE.