Graveyard of the Giants

The Graveyard of the Giants earns its name honestly — this loop through Nelder Grove passes as many downed sequoia trunks, some centuries old and slowly returning to the forest floor, as it does living giants still standing. It's a quieter alternative to Yosemite's better-known sequoia stops, set in the Sierra National Forest a few miles from Fish Camp. The full loop runs about 5.5 miles round trip with roughly 650 feet of elevation gain, climbing steadily enough to count as moderately difficult rather than a stroll.

What You'll See

Along the way you'll pass mature sequoias including the Old Grandad Tree and the Clothespin Tree, plus plenty of what regular visitors call the grove's "second-billing" giants — trees that would be famous anywhere else but here are just part of the scenery. A few clearings open up views toward the surrounding ridgelines, and from one near the Kiowa Tree you can pick out the Tenaya Lodge roofline in Fish Camp, about three miles away as the crow flies.

Getting There

The route starts off paved Road 632; the forest roads past that fork can be muddy or rutted, so a high-clearance or 4WD vehicle is a good idea. Snow can linger on the access roads into spring and the area sees seasonal closures in winter, so it's worth checking current road conditions before you drive out.

Know Before You Go

Nelder Grove was closed for wildfire-fuels reduction work across roughly 700 acres and reopened to the public on January 1, 2026; trail and facility restoration was still finishing up as it reopened, so conditions can vary by season. Compared to Yosemite's own sequoia groves, this one stays uncrowded even on busy weekends.