Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park — Tuolumne Grove

We began visiting Yosemite National Park at the western entrance (Big Oak Flat / Hwy 120) and headed for a short hike in Tuolumne Grove, a unique stand of giant sequoias.

We parked at the small Tuolumne Grove lot on Tioga Road (120), a little east of Crane Flat, and started a descent of about two kilometers along a section of the Old Big Oak Flat Road to the grove. Inside the grove, there’s a short loop trail among the massive trees and scattered logs. The return to the parking lot follows the same path—this time uphill…

The hike itself took about two hours.

There are restrooms at the trailhead, but no drinking water—don’t forget to bring your own.

We didn’t visit during peak season, so parking wasn’t an issue, but in busier months the lot tends to fill quickly; it’s best to arrive early.

Note: Because we visited off-season, we didn’t need to reserve a vehicle entry for the park. It’s worth checking the National Park Service website to see whether advance entry reservations are required for your dates.

Our visit to Tuolumne Grove felt just right: not long, easy to navigate, and worthwhile—an excellent start to a day in Yosemite.