Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias – Is The Trail Worth Hiking?

Are you planning to visit Yosemite National Park and want to know – is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias trail worth hiking? Well, you’re in the right place. I hiked this trail as part of a group hiking trip and in this post I’ll give you my answer to that frequently asked question. In addition, I’ll provide a practical guide on what to expect when hiking this trail and offer some tips to help you get the most from your visit….should you choose to take a hike!

Giant Sequoias in California

Giant Sequoias are native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. They are the biggest trees on earth, growing upwards of 300 feet (92 metres) tall with trunk diameters of 20-26 feet (6-8 metres). They are also amongst the oldest living things with the oldest Giant Sequoia being over 3000 years old!

Giant Sequoias are resistant to fire, yet fire is very important in clearing undergrowth and aiding in germination of seeds. Its tannins make the Giant Sequoia inedible to many pests. Changes in the climate are having an effect on Giant Sequoias however. Drought is causing increased mortality whilst hotter fires are making live trees less resilient to bark beetles.

For a more detailed look at Giant Sequoias, you can read this Wikipedia article. The National Park Service also has some interesting videos about Giant Sequoias in Yosemite.

Giant Sequoias and the National Park Service Arrowhead

Have you ever looked at the National Park Service logo? Like many of us, I had noticed it of course but never really looked at it too closely. Until recently.

The logo is actually in the shape of an arrowhead and features 3 elements:

• a Giant Sequoia – representing vegetation
• a bison – representing wildlife
• a mountain and water – representing scenic and recreational values

The arrowhead shape represents historical and archeological values.

The arrowhead was authorised as the National Park Service emblem in 1951 and designated its official symbol in 1962. The emblem appears on the uniforms worn by Rangers, websites, brochures, signboards etc. provided by all the Parks.

Where is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias?

The Tuolumne Grove is located on Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat on the western edge of Yosemite National Park. The Grove is open year round, although conditions may be snowy and icy in winter. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular trail for snowshoers apparently.

Note that the Tioga Road from the ‘you are here’ point shown in the photo below to the Tioga Pass Entrance in the east is closed from approximately November to May each year.

Hike Details

I have extracted the information below from the official National Park Service website however you can also check the AllTrails website:

• Distance: 2.5 miles (4 kilometres; 4.3 kms according to AllTrails) round trip
• Elevation Gain: 500 feet (152 metres) on the return trip
• Difficulty: Moderate (according to AllTrails)
• Time: 1-2 hours

Is Hiking the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias Worth it?

In a word, yes! With around 2 dozen mature Giant Sequoias, there is opportunity to see these enormous trees in beautiful surroundings. There are also many other trees and vegetation to enjoy and the Grove is very peaceful. Although not the largest Grove (more on that later!), it’s visited less often and as such, is less crowded. The hike itself is classified as moderate due to the elevation gain on the return, however that section is well paved.

In short, if you find yourself entering Yosemite through the Big Oak Flat Entrance, then head to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Here’s What You Can Expect to See Hiking the Tuolumne Grove Trail

We started our hike from the Tuolumne Grove parking area, from where it was a short walk to the Tuolumne Grove Trailhead. At this point, take a look at the cross section of a Giant Sequoia with its rings indicating not just its age but showing a timeline of the appearance of many of the world’s most recognized structures eg Roman Colosseum, Taj Mahal etc. during the lifetime of the tree.

Leaving the site map behind, began the walk down into the Grove past sugar pines and white firs along the Old Big Oak Flat Road, one of the first roads into the Yosemite Valley. The first Giant Sequoia you will come to is Big Red, about one mile from the trailhead. At this point, you will be hiking on a well paved pathway.

Carry on along the trail, crossing over one of the bridges spanning the North Crane Creek. This is basically a self-guided nature trail, however along the paths there are various information boards providing facts and context for what you are seeing.

Throughout the Grove there are Giant Sequoias at various stages of growth. You will also see signage prohibiting access to the trees in order to protect them.

There are also some Giant Sequoias no longer alive. Be sure to take a walk through one of them, although be aware you will need to crouch down to get through!

Eventually you will arrive at the main drawcard for this hike, the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree. By the mid-1870s, the Old Big Flat Oak Road was becoming the established route into the Yosemite Valley. In 1878, a hole in the Dead Giant was created in order to attract tourists on to what was, at that time, a toll road. As you walk through it, look out for the years old graffiti inside.

The hike back to the car park is steep – you are regaining the 500 feet of elevation lost going down into the Grove after all!

My Tips for Hiking the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias

My overall experience of hiking this trail was a positive one. To help you also have an enjoyable visit too, here are my tips:

• be aware that the hike back to the car park is steep
• wear comfortable, supportive hiking shoes
• carry water – there is no drinkable water source in the Grove
• wear sunscreen
• wear bug spray
• consider using hiking poles if you could benefit from added stability or have joint issues

Can you see Giant Sequoias elsewhere in Yosemite?

Yes, Giant Sequoias live in 3 groves in Yosemite National Park. The first is of course the Tuolumne Grove, but there are 2 more:

1. The Mariposa Grove

The largest Grove in the National Park, the Mariposa Grove is located close to Yosemite’s South Entrance. It is home to over 500 mature Giant Sequoias! There are a variety of trails in the Grove, including:

• Big Trees Loop Trail (easy) – wheelchair accessible
• Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate)
• Guardians Loop Trail (strenuous)
• Mariposa Grove Trail (strenuous)

All trails are open in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

For much of the year, access to the Grove is via a free shuttle from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza. Water is available year round from the Welcome Plaza and, during summer, from the arrival area. For more Mariposa Grove visitor information check the official National Park Service website.

It is also possible to visit the Mariposa Grove via one of the many tours on offer – check the official National Park Service website or this small group tour for those visiting for the day.

I have not visited the Mariposa Grove but would very much like to. Its size and available hiking trails suggest to me that it would provide an even better Giant Sequoia experience than that I enjoyed at the Tuolumne Grove.

2. The Merced Grove

Smaller than the Mariposa Grove, the Merced Grove is located on the Big Oak Flat Road east of Big Oak Entrance to Yosemite. It’s about 6 miles west of Crane Flat and therefore not that far from the Tuolumne Grove.

There are apparently around 2 dozen mature Giant Sequoias in the Grove, however they are only visible after a 1.5 mile hike with 500 feet of elevation loss. The 1.5 mile hike back is classified as strenuous due to the 500 feet of elevation gain on the return. Parking is very limited and there is no drinking water available so bring plenty.

I have not visited the Merced Grove but my research suggests that the experience would be much like that I had hiking through the Tuolumne Grove.

Final Thoughts

If you want to experience hiking through a Giant Sequoia grove then head to the Tuolumne Grove. Less busy than the Mariposa Grove and with only one main trail to hike, there is plenty of opportunity to see these huge trees, scramble through a fallen one and walk through a famous tunneled one. I definitely felt that hiking the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias trail was worth it.

Yosemite National Park is located in Mariposa County in the State of California, about 274 kilometres (170 miles) from San Francisco. When planning your visit to Yosemite, do read my posts How to Spend 2 Days in Yosemite National Park and Hiking the Mist Trail to Beautiful Vernal Falls. If you are planning to spend time in San Francisco before travelling to Yosemite (or after), then do read the other posts in my San Francisco series.

Finally, if you need any general assistance with planning a trip to San Francisco and/or Yosemite National Park, then check out my Resources page.

Disclaimer – Information correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.