Tuolumne Grove
Yosemite National Park, California
Tuolumne Grove is one of three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park, the other two being Merced and Mariposa. It’s home to two dozen towering sequoia trees reachable via a short hike along Old Big Flat Road. The grove is also home to the Dead Giant Tunnel Tree, which has a car-sized tunnel cut through the middle. (Cars, however, can no longer drive through.)
The Tuolumne Grove Trail is one of the most popular day hikes in Yosemite National Park. The hike is a relatively short 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) round trip that takes between 1–2 hours to complete, with minimal elevation gain on the return. It's also a regular stop on Yosemite sightseeing tours but less popular than the Mariposa and Merced groves. Try joining a guided hike to learn more about the grove's history. In winter, the trail is immensely popular with snowshoers.
- Driving through the “drive-through” tree isn’t possible any longer—but walking through is encouraged and a must-do.
- Facilities include restrooms, scenic viewpoints, and garbage and recycling cans.
- The trail is entirely paved but is quite steep and isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
It’s best to drive. The grove lies about 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley via Big Oak Flat Road and Southside Drive. From the valley, take Highway 120 to the Crane Flat/Tioga Road turnoff, then take Tioga Road east to the Tuolumne Grove trailhead and parking lot. From the east entrance, take Tioga Road west to the trailhead.
Tuolumne Grove is accessible by car when Tioga Pass is open, usually from June through October when the road is clear of snow. Dates can change depending on the weather, so check ahead for park conditions or road closures. Winter is snowshoeing season, but parts of the grove can close during bad weather.
Although Tuolumne Grove is home to two dozen giant sequoias, it’s not the most famous grove in Yosemite. Most visitors head straight for Mariposa Grove in the south part of the park—it has several hundred mature trees, including Grizzly Giant—and two among the tallest in the world. The smallest of the trio, Merced Grove, is near Tuolumne and far less crowded.
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