Mariposa Grove

 I can't believe it's been three months since I last posted.  I don't really have an excuse other than life gets in the way and we've had a couple months of sorrow in the family.  Today I decided to jump back in and record the beautiful moments we've experienced.

Back in September we jumped on a plane and headed to Fresno, California.  Our destination was Yosemite National Park--a bucket list trip for me.


After arriving in Fresno we drove the couple hours to our lodging in Mariposa and then immediately headed out to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias located at the south entrance to the park.

Did you know Abraham Lincoln saved the Mariposa Grove with the Yosemite Grant Act of 1864? It set the land aside for the enjoyment of public and provided protection to these giant trees.  This set a precedent for future National Parks.


Pictures do not do justice for these magnificent giants.  There are about 500 of these giant trees in the grove.


There are a variety of trails through the grove--you can go as far or as little as you'd like.  The trails are beautifully maintained.


Of course we had to head off to visit Grizzly Giant, the oldest and most famous tree in the grove.


There she is!  She's estimated to be 209 feet tall and roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years old and is thought to be the 26th largest tree in the world.  It's branches are about six feet in diameter and its bark is about two feet thick.


Another view looking with the head tilted backwards.  It has survived multiple fires, the most recent in 2022.  The NPS used sprinklers to save the grove.


It was a very warm day--near 100 degrees so lots of breaks were needed.



This is the California Tunnel Tree.  There used to be others that cars could drive through, but this is the only one left standing.



It was a great time to visit, we had the grove to ourselves that evening.


Fire damage is visible throughout the grove.


I'm a proud tree hugger so I had to stop and give some love to the trees.


I look so miniscule next to this giant.

When it started getting dark we hiked our way out and went in search of a good brewery for dinner.

If you ever go to Yosemite the Mariposa Grove is a must see!






Comments

Yogi♪♪♪ said…
That's amazing. Those trees look pretty grizzled. They could probably use some love.
November 27, 2025 at 11:37 AM
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