Merced Grove Trail

Merced Grove is the smallest and most secluded of Yosemite's three giant sequoia groves, and the trail that reaches it is one of the quieter walks in the park. From the trailhead on Highway 120, about 4.25 miles east of the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, an old fire road drops downhill through pine forest to a stand of roughly twenty sequoias. The way in is all downhill, so save some energy for the climb back out.

Trail details

The route follows a wide, well-maintained old road bed rather than rugged singletrack, which makes it manageable for most hikers. Round trip it runs about 3 miles with roughly 520 feet of elevation gain on the return leg, and most people take 1.5 to 3 hours. The trailhead parking area has restrooms and bear lockers.

What you'll find in the grove

Merced Grove holds only a couple dozen sequoias, far fewer than Mariposa or Tuolumne Grove, and that small scale is the point — visitors here often have the big trees mostly to themselves. An old cabin near the grove, once used as a summer retreat for park superintendents, adds a bit of history to an otherwise peaceful walk through forest.