Sight · Yosemite National Park
Two dozen sequoias are worth the 500-foot climb back.
Overview
Tuolumne Grove is a small stand of about two dozen mature giant sequoias near Crane Flat. It is a hike to the trees rather than a roadside stop: the trail follows the former Big Oak Flat Road downhill, then a half-mile loop winds among the sequoias. If you want a close look at these huge trees, this is an easy-to-fit stop—but the hill on the way out is real.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe grove is worth the walkMap
Plan your stop
“You're approaching Tuolumne Grove's trailhead, for a walk among about two dozen mature giant sequoias. Allow one to two hours for the two-and-a-half-mile outing, including the short loop among the trees.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yosemite National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yosemite audio tourRecorded for this place
Tuolumne Grove and the Dead Giant“You're approaching Tuolumne Grove's trailhead, for a walk among about two dozen mature giant sequoias. Allow one to two hours for the two-and-a-half-mile outing, including the short loop among the trees.”
Plays as you drive up to Tuolumne Grove in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“We just drove through Yosemite and it made our trip listening to this app as we drove through. Like having a tour guide in the car with you.”
Guide
The round trip is about 2.5 miles and takes roughly one to two hours. You drop 500 feet in the mile to the grove, then climb it back; the half-mile nature loop through the grove is easy once you reach it. The return is the part to plan for; keep energy and water for the climb.
The hollow Dead Giant is the grove's best-known tree. Its tunnel was cut in 1878, when the 200-foot tree was already dead. The Big Oak Flat Road's owners routed the road by it because a ride through the trunk seemed sure to draw visitors. The trunk's circumference was recorded at 120 feet. The trail follows that former road, one of the first routes into Yosemite Valley.
The trail is open year-round, but expect snow and ice in winter. Trailhead parking is limited; pit toilets are at the lot, with no restrooms or water in the grove, so carry what you need. The trail is not wheelchair accessible; pets are allowed on the paved route through the grove but not its side trails, and bikes are not allowed. For a photo, include part of the path or a person beside a trunk so its scale comes through.
Wildlife
732 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,747 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
332 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
276 sightingsPikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
677 sightingsYellow-bellied MarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yosemite. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateTuolumne Grove Trail2.5 mi · 2 hr · 0.8 mi awayThe walk-through Dead Giant makes the steep return worthwhile.
EasyCrane Flat Lookout Trail3 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.6 mi awayA steady climb to a 1931 fire lookout with wide views.
ModerateMerced Grove Trail3 mi · 2.5 hr · 2 mi awayA secluded sequoia grove rewards the steep uphill return.
ModerateSouth Fork Tuolumne River Trail5.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 3.8 mi awayA quiet forest descent to the South Fork Tuolumne.
ModerateCascade Creek Trail from Tamarack Flat4.4 mi · 2.3 hr · 4.1 mi awayAn old forest road ends at a footbridge and small cascades.
ChallengingTamarack Flat to Yosemite Valley Trail17 mi · 10.5 hr · 4.2 mi awayCross the north rim, then descend Yosemite Falls to the Valley.
ChallengingEl Capitan from Tamarack Creek16 mi · 10 hr · 4.3 mi awayA long forest climb to El Capitan's broad summit views.
EasyCarlon Falls Trail2.9 mi · 1.5 hr · 4.3 mi awayA shady river walk ends at a cascade tucked in the forest.
Sight · 1 mi awayCrane Flat Fire LookoutA 1931 fire tower and broad views, with a working helibase nearby.
Gas station · 1.3 mi awayCrane Flat Gas StationFuel, groceries and a useful break at Yosemite's northern road junction.
Campground · 1.4 mi awayCrane Flat CampgroundForest camping near Yosemite Valley and two giant sequoia groves.Sight · 2.2 mi awayMerced GroveThe quiet sequoia grove saves its climb for the way back.
Campground · 3.9 mi awayHodgdon Meadow CampgroundA west-side base, with Yosemite Valley about 45 minutes away.
Campground · 4.1 mi awayTamarack Flat CampgroundForest camping with a trail toward Yosemite's North Rim.
Entrance station · 4.3 mi awayBig Oak Flat EntranceThe park’s colorful sign is just beyond the Highway 120 fee booths.
Visitor center · 4.3 mi awayBig Oak Flat Information StationGet wilderness permits, maps and useful advice before heading deeper.Parkwolf’s Yosemite ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
