![images of yosemite park redwoods images of yosemite park redwoods](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2C3GX04/the-three-graces-in-mariposa-grove-of-giant-redwoods-yosemite-national-park-california-2C3GX04.jpg)
I don't think this was a safe situation for walkers, and I certainly would not take small children on this road. Other walkers routinely called out "CAR" in warning.
![images of yosemite park redwoods images of yosemite park redwoods](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/images/mg-page.jpg)
#Images of yosemite park redwoods drivers#
Drivers with a disabled placard are also able to use this road, and almost all of them were going much faster than the speed limit. We continued down to our car via the road. The Telescope Tree is so much shorter after the winter storms. The Guardian Loop Trail is well done it's hard to tell that it's an old road. Our descent included the lovely Upper Grove. The Wawona Meadow and the (closed) Wawona Golf Course were visible in the distance as this was a clear day. We chose routes that were not blocked and continued up to Wawona Point. The January Mono Wind Event was devastating. We saw many trees down, some completely blocking trail access. If we had turned around at this point and walked back down to our car, that would have been about 5 1/2 miles. We continued to the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree. Even though we started early in the morning, it was already hot on the trail. This year, a visit to Mariposa Grove starts with a 2 mile walk uphill on the road (speeding cars) or on the dusty Washburn Trail to access the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area.
![images of yosemite park redwoods images of yosemite park redwoods](https://www.myyosemitepark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/yo-mariposa-sequoia-bachelor3graces_istock_700v.jpg)
Tuolumne Grove has fewer trees but a much shorter hike. However, without a shuttle, I do not think that visiting Mariposa Grove this summer is worth the effort for most visitors. Specifically, the Upper Grove is fabulous. Mariposa Grove is one of my favorite places in Yosemite. If we knew ahead of time, our friend probably would not have done the trek. I just wished that we knew what we were getting ourselves into before we started. Was it worth it! Personally, I thought seeing the beautiful trees and grove was worth the hike. So just be forewarned before you start your trek. We did see a few people walking down this special access road. We thought that would be an easier walk down rather than the original path we took. We weren't sure if we would be picked up but our plan of attack then was to walk down the special access road. (So we didn't have to do a return 1.8 m hike). Fortunately for us, we had somebody in the parking lot who was able to beg the ranger to allow her to use the special access road to pick us up.
![images of yosemite park redwoods images of yosemite park redwoods](https://www.yosemite.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/The-Redwoods-at-Yosemite-760x425-Yosemite-Mariposa-Lodging-Slide-.jpg)
Due to covid, the shuttle to bring you down the parking lot (once you are up near the grove) is not running. Note, if you go up, you have to hike down to the parking lot! So, this trip is easily a 4-mile difficult hike. But that hike or walk can be done on a paved road with a not-so-bad incline - relatively flat. Once you reach the top you still have to hike/walk more to see the Grizzly Giant, the Bachelor and the 3 Graces, and the Tunnel Tree. It was also hard for me and for other people in our party. Whether that was wise is another question. This climb was extremely difficult for him, but he did make it. This hike is pretty strenuous and uphill!!! One of our friends has bad asthma. You still have to walk some distance to see the famous trees in the area.įor those who are not eligible to use the special access roads, from the parking lot you have to first hike 1.8 miles to be even near any famous sequoias. For people with handicap placards, however, you can drive up a special access road thereby eliminating a minimum 1.8m strenuous hike. We were visiting Yosemite National Park and, of course, this was one of our must-sees! This is not something you can easily just drive by, walk to, and see.