Mariposa Grove

Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California, United States, in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of giant sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature specimens. Two of its trees are among the 30 largest giant sequoias in the world. The grove attracts about one million visitors annually. Part of the natural area is old-growth forest and recognized by Old-Growth Forest Network. The Mariposa Grove was first visited by non-native people in 1857 when Galen Clark and Milton Mann found it. They named the grove after Mariposa County, California, where the grove is located. Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress on June 30, 1864, ceding Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley to the state of California. Criticism of stewardship over the land led to the state's returning the grove to federal control with the establishment of Yosemite National Park. The grove closed on July 6, 2015, for a restoration project and reopened on June 15, 2018. The Mariposa Grove Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Human development Mariposa Grove's evolution from a remote natural area to a well-integrated conservation model highlights the ongoing efforts to balance public access with ecological preservation. Discovery In 1856, after hearing from a hunter about three massive trees similar to those recently discovered at Calaveras Grove, Galen Clark, a resident of Wawona in Yosemite, embarked on a year-long search. In 1857, he discovered not only the three trees but a total of 427 mature giant sequoias in what he would later name Mariposa Grove. Clark built the first permanent structure in the grove, a cabin from which he guided tourists. The site now houses the Mariposa Grove Museum. Tunnel trees In 1881, the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company carved a tunnel through the Wawona Tree in Mariposa Grove, large enough to accommodate stagecoaches. The tunnel, measuring 7 ft (2.1 m) wide, 9 ft (2.7 m) high, and 26 ft (7.9 m) long, transformed the tree into a significant tourist attraction and a symbol of the grove's colossal sequoias. Such tunnel trees became hallmark attractions of Mariposa Grove. A second tunnel tree, the California Tunnel Tree, was cut in 1895. It remains the only living tunnel tree in Mariposa Grove. Automobile era The introduction of automobiles significantly changed tourism at Yosemite National Park. The lift of the car ban in 1913 and the construction of Highway 41 in 1933 made the park more accessible. This increased accessibility coincided with a rise in visitor numbers. Camp in the Big Trees In response to the growing number of motorists visiting the park, the Yosemite National Park Company established Camp in the Big Trees in 1919. The camp provided direct access to the giant trees, eliminating the need for the previously required 18-mile round trip from the Wawona Hotel. The camp featured cabins where visitors could stay overnight, right among the giant sequoias. Big Trees Lodge Built in 1932 to replace cabins that had collapsed under heavy snowfall, the Big Trees Lodge featured 12 guest rooms—four with private baths—along with a lounge, office, gift shop, dining room, kitchen, and a photo darkroom.. Originally intended for year-round use, the lodge operated from June to September due to heavy snowfall. It closed as a guest lodge in 1972, later served as a dormitory, and was eventually removed due to environmental concerns. Tram service In 1969, Yosemite officials introduced trams to reduce traffic congestion around the giant sequoias, banning private vehicles in the upper grove. Each tram carried 50 passengers, offering a more sustainable way to access the trees and protect the environment. The tour, which provided visitors with headphone-guided experiences among the giant sequoias, ran until 2014 when it was discontinued as part of the restoration effort that removed the asphalt roads from the grove. Restoration project On June 30, 2014, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act, Mariposa Grove closed for a four-year restoration project, the largest in the park's history. The project focused on protecting tree root systems and restoring natural water flows which had been impeded by paved roads throughout the grove. Key improvements included restoring sequoia and wetland habitats, realigning roads and trails, building a new welcome plaza, adding shuttle services, and removing commercial operations like gift shops and tram tours. When the grove reopened on June 15, 2018, a major change was the removal of private car access. Visitors now begin their journey at a welcome plaza near the park’s south entrance, taking a free shuttle on a two-mile ride to the restored grove. Human impact Fire management Giant sequoias rely on fire for reproduction but can be destroyed by intense wildfires when suppression allows ladder fuels to accumulate. This reduces soil moisture and increases heat generated by wildfires, which can overwhelm the trees' natural resistance. In recent times, controlled burns have been key to Mariposa Grove's ecological health, restoring the natural fire cycle disrupted by fire suppression after Anglo-American settlement. Natural fires historically occurred every one to fifteen years, and controlled burns were reintroduced in 1968 to preserve the grove. Controlled burns have been crucial. During the 2022 Washburn Fire, they helped firefighters protect ancient sequoias, demonstrating their effectiveness in forest conservation. Climate change Climate change is placing immense pressure on Mariposa Grove, threatening the survival of its iconic trees. From the 1930s to 1990s, large-diameter trees declined by 24% in Yosemite National Park due to water stress. This issue worsened after the 2012–2017 drought, with several sequoias dying from drought and beetle infestations. Experts predict more losses as severe droughts increase. In 2022, an alarming sign of distress emerged in Mariposa Grove when sequoias released a massive, unprecedented crop of seeds—an event typically triggered by fire. This release was ultimately futile, as sequoia seeds can only take root in soil that has been fully exposed by fire. Signs of climate stress in Mariposa Grove are overshadowed by the rising number of climate-induced sequoia deaths in National Park Service-managed groves further south in the Sierra Nevada. Noteworthy trees Many trees in Mariposa Grove are named after 19th-century American figures, like conservationist Galen Clark, or for their unique characteristics, such as the Telescope and Clothespin Trees. Though the grove has never been logged, several named trees, including the Wawona Tunnel Tree and the Massachusetts Tree, have fallen due to human activity. Visitors can explore the trees via a network of trails, offering routes that range from easy to strenuous, with some accessible options. Structures Mariposa Grove Museum The Mariposa Grove Museum is a historic log cabin that opened to the public in 1931. Positioned near the General Grant and General Sheridan trees, the cabin was constructed to replace an earlier structure known as the Galen Clark Cabin which had stood on the same site since the late 19th century. The original cabin, built by Galen Clark in 1858, served as a shelter for visitors and became renowned for its picturesque setting. Due to deterioration, the original cabin was replaced by the current structure, which was designed to echo the rustic style of its predecessor while incorporating modern building techniques for longevity. The museum housed within the cabin features historic photographs and exhibits detailing the history of the Mariposa Grove and its significance. The Mariposa Grove Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. See also List of giant sequoia groves List of largest giant sequoias List of individual trees Nelder Grove - a nearby giant sequoia grove. Galen Clark - discoverer of the Mariposa Grove Guardian of the Wilderness - theatrical film about Galen Clark References Further reading Geology of U.S. Parklands: Fifth Edition, Eugene P. Kiver and David V. Harris (John Wiley & Sons; New York; 1999; page 227) ISBN 0-471-33218-6 External links Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Yosemite National Park Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove: A Preliminary Report, 1865, California State "Mariposa Grove", National Geographic Society Record from the 38th Congress, 1864 Act granting the grove to California Record from the 59th Congress, Act returning the grove to federal control Short radio episode Samoset about John Muir showing Ralph Waldo Emerson the Mariposa Grove, from The Life and Letters of John Muir, 1923. California Legacy Project.