Mariposa Grove vs Sequoia National Park: A Comprehensive Comparison
Deciding between Mariposa Grove vs Sequoia National Park? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s our verdict: Sequoia National Park gives you the best overall experience for seeing unforgettable sequoia trees. And it is a much easier park to navigate for newbies.
But each place has something unique and incredible to offer:
- Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park: Experience grandeur unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in one of the most famous places in the U.S.
- Sequoia National Park: Wander underneath groves of sequoia trees, see the largest tree in the world by volume, and explore two parks in one visit (Kings Canyon National Park)
If you’ve never been to either park, you have found yourself in the right place.
Let’s break down Mariposa Grove vs Sequoia National Park!
Yosemite National Park vs Sequoia National Park
Both of these parks are incredible. If you can swing it, we definitely recommend planning a longer trip from Yosemite to Sequoia National Park.
But you probably only have time for one park (we get it!)
- Mariposa Grove and the wider Yosemite Park is best explored in at least 2 days
- Sequoia is easy to explore in one weekend or even in one day.
Brief Overview of Mariposa Grove and Yosemite
Mariposa Grove is located near the south entrance of Yosemite, just south of Wawona. This section of the park is most famous for being the home of the Grizzly Giant.
Grizzly stands as the tallest tree in the grove at 209 feet. The entire grove is home to approximately 500 mature giant sequoia trees.
Mariposa is also famous for playing an important role for the conservation movement in the US.
In 1903, president Theodore Roosevelt camped in Mariposa Grove with well-known naturalist John Muir. During this camping trip, Muir convinced Roosevelt of the need to preserve not only Mariposa Grove, but the wider Yosemite Valley. Roosevelt would go on to establish 228 parks, preserves, and monuments.
Brief Overview of Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National park is most famous for being home to the largest tree on earth by volume – General Sherman.
Standing at 275 feet tall and weighing 1,385 tons, General Sherman is the most incredible experience we’ve had at any national park.
Within the confines of the park are roughly 40 distinct giant sequoia groves. We have gone twice and have not nearly seen them all!
The most visited area is the Giant Forest, where General Sherman sits. This area has extensive hiking trails, hundreds of sequoia trees, and is generally easy to navigate.
Why You Should Visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Mariposa Grove is worth exploring if you want to see a historic and ancient sequoia tree – the Grizzly Giant!
This is by far the biggest attraction within Mariposa Grove and the hike to see it is relatively easy.
But Mariposa Grove is also worth exploring if you are pairing it with a longer trip to Yosemite. You can fit a lot into a trip to Yosemite, including Glacier Point, Nevada Fall, and the Yosemite Valley.
If you are sticking to Mariposa Grove, there are three primary trails worth exploring:
- Big Trees Loop
- Grizzly Giant Loop
- Guardians Loop Trail and Mariposa Grove Trail
There is also a free shuttle system from the large Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to the main trailhead. The arrival area easy to navigate and makes visiting the grove more enjoyable! Restrooms and drinking water are available at the start of the trailhead as well. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the trails.
The loops all start at the same place, but extend beyond each other. We hiked the Big Trees Loop and Grizzly Giant Loop!
Big Trees Loop
The loop is an easy, 0.3 mile loop and should take you between 30-45 minutes to complete.
It takes you through a forest of giant sequoias and has several stops along the way where you can learn about the history of the grove.
The most notable attraction along the loop is the fallen monarch, an ancient fallen sequoia tree. The coolest part is seeing the roots sprawl and stick out – we could hardly believe their size!
The trail is flat and wheelchair accessible. We saw plenty of families with strollers helping their kids navigate the park!
Grizzly Giant Loop
The Grizzly Giant Loop is a moderate 2 mile loop and should take you 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. The trail has about 300 feet of elevation gain.
This trail includes viewpoints of the Bachelor and Three Graces, California Tunnel Tree, and the Fallen Monarch
We found the burned trees in the area also very interesting to see. In 2022, the Washburn fire threatened the Mariposa Grove and we could clearly see the remains. Some sequoia trees were hollowed out and burned all the way through.
At the end of the trial stands the Grizzly Giant – the 26th largest tree in the world. The branches bend, curve, and lean in curious ways. It towers over the rest of the forest, dwarfing everything else nearby.
We particularly loved the extended path leading up to the tree. From this farther viewpoint, you are better able to grasp how giant this tree is compared to the others. It’s no wonder people travel hundreds of miles just to see this tree!
Guardians Loop and Mariposa Grove Trails
Beyond the Grizzly Giant are the Guardians Loop and Mariposa Grove Loop. This is a strenuous 6.5-7 mile trail and should take you 4 to 6 hours to complete. The trail gains about 1,200 feet of elevation from the trailhead to Wawona Point.
While we did not personally hike this trail, it’s on our bucket list for next time!
Some notable sights along this trail include the Faithful Couple, Clothespin Tree, and the historic Wawona Point.
The crowds will start to thin out the farther along you go, so if you are looking for a quiet serene hike, this might be your choice!
Why You Should Visit Sequoia National Park and the Giant Forest
Sequoia National Park is worth exploring for the iconic General Sherman Tree. It stands out as a distinctive experience from any of our other national park trips.
Beyond General Sherman, Sequoia is a great park to explore for beginners because it is relatively small, easy to navigate, and can be visited in one weekend.
We have already visited twice and are counting the days when we can head back.
General Sherman
The General Sherman Tree is located in the center of the park and it is the most popular attraction.
Standing at a whopping 275 feet tall with a world-record volume of 52,500 cubic feet, this is the largest tree in the world by volume. In fact, it is one of the largest living organisms in all the earth (!!!)
The hike down to see General Sherman is easy-to-moderate and there is a shuttle system if you need it.
But all-in-all, General Sherman is the reason you visit Sequoia National Park.
The Giant Forest in Sequoia is located near General Sherman as well. Here you will find multiple trails leading you around other sequoia trees in the area!
Moro Rock
Just south of General Sherman Tree is the trailhead for Moro Rock. Most folks park near the Giant Forest museum and then take the shuttle down to the trailhead.
This is a unique and thrilling hike. The trail itself is short – 0.5 miles round trip. But the climb is steep.
To reach the top of the dome, you need to climb roughly 350 steps that have been carved into the granite.
There are handrails all the way up, but we felt a tad uneasy knowing there were sharp drops just on the other side.
But the top of the hike is spectacular and rewarding. You will see a grand view of the western divide peaks and the surrounding sequoia wilderness.
Kings Canyon National Park
This feels like cheating a little bit, but one of the benefits of visiting Sequoia is that you can sneak a visit into Kings Canyon National Park as well!
The parks are generally considered one in the same, as the main Generals Highway connects them both.
General Grant is the main attraction in Kings Canyon. This is the second biggest tree in the world by volume.
Equally as mesmerizing and equally as unbelievable, General Grant stands at 268 feet and weighs about 1,254 tons. This tree is famous for being coined as “the Nation’s Christmas Tree.”
You can park and stroll around Grant Grove where you will find other interesting attractions like a historic cabin and fallen sequoias.
It’s definitely worth the trip, especially since you are already within the park boundaries!
Final Verdict: Mariposa Grove vs Sequoia National Park
We spoiled this at the beginning, but if you absolutely need to choose, our vote would be for Sequoia National Park!
We think this is an unpopular opinion. More people have heard of Yosemite and more people visit Yosemite every year (3+ million vs 1+ million according to the National Park Service).
But that’s what makes Sequoia our top choice:
- Sequoia is severely underrated
- There is much less traffic
- And there is no better place to experience giant sequoia trees than at Sequoia National Park!
We promise that you will be amazed by the size of giant sequoias. It’s an image that sticks in our minds and part of the reason we keep going back.
Mariposa Grove vs Sequoia National Park: What’s your choice?
If you are looking to experience the very best sequoia trees while not being too overcrowded with visitors, the choice is clear: Sequoia National Park.
If you are interested in sprinkling in sequoia trees along with other long hikes and vistas, then your choice should be Mariposa Grove and Yosemite National Park.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong between Yosemite and Sequoia. Both parks will give you the chance to see ancient sequoia trees and hike among them.
And both parks will leave a lasting memory as some of the most incredible places on earth!
