Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Grove Arrival Area/Trailhead.
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is magnificent in any season, and I’m looking forward to exploring not only the big trees themselves, but also the ecosystem that they inhabit. The last time I was there was in the spring, when the currants and azaleas were in full fragrant flower. I’m excited to see what new developments I might discover in this new season.
The Dome Fire
Wouldn’t you know it – we haven’t escaped fire season after all. The Dome Fire is burning above Wawona, a few miles from where we will be, but it’s moving slowly thanks to a previous burn, and is generally moving north and away from the Mariposa Grove. So, naturally, we are keeping an eye on that situation. In particular, mornings can be quite smoky as the cool air and smoke settle into the valleys, but then it tends to clear over the course of the day. By mid-day and in the afternoon, the air quality in Wawona can actually be quite reasonable, so for now at least, we are still on.
I trust all of you to be aware of the situation and make good decisions for your personal health. If the AQI on Purple Air shows Wawona as significantly into the unhealthy range (>150 AQI) I may cancel (and hunker down indoors with the filters running). If so, I’ll send out an email to the group to let you know. If you haven’t signed up to get emails, you can do so here.
What to Expect
Getting There
The Mariposa Grove is located near the South Entrance Gate. Go around the round-about just inside the gate, and follow signs to the parking area.
We will meet at 10 am at the Arrival Area, so plan to arrive at the parking area early so that you can take the bus or walk up to the lower grove. Shuttle buses run roughly every 15 minutes from 8 am to 5 pm, and it only takes a few minutes to get to the lower grove this way. You can also, of course, walk the 2-mile Washburn Trail for some extra nature time. There are restrooms and potable water at the Arrival Area, in case you want to fill/refill your water bottles before setting off along the trails in the grove.
Rough Plan
Rather than spending a lot of time hanging out by the shuttle bus stop, I’m eager to move into the grove itself. So, if you arrive a little late, start walking up the trail toward the Fallen Monarch. Keep an eye out for us on the little spur boardwalk trail to the left, before you get to the Fallen Monarch too. We should be able to pause there for introductions – and it’s a cool spot to check out the teenager sequoias – before continuing on toward the more famous trees.
Depending on interest, I could do a quick introduction to nature journaling and/or a mini-workshop/discussion on one of the cool things I learned at the 2026 Wild Wonder Conference recently, or we can move straight to the main event. For that, we will disperse in small groups or alone, as you wish, to do some nature journaling before regrouping to share our discoveries (and some picnic snacks).
Facilities
You can find water and restrooms at the Welcome Plaza/parking area near the gift shop and information center, and at the Arrival Area. There are also restrooms near the Grizzly Giant, (and the Mariposa Cabin if you make it that far), but these don’t have potable water so be sure to fill up your water bottles in advance.
Since we’ll be in the lower grove, please bring your own lunch and something to drink, and a small snack to share with people once we regroup to share our discoveries at around 1:30 pm.
What to Bring
- Something to write with and on. I usually have some extra supplies if you forget, or just want to experiment, but any paper plus a pen or pencil will work great! The goal here is to slow down and observe the natural world around us, and put our notes, insights, and questions on paper. Although not necessary, having some options for color is also fun – whether that’s watercolor, colored pencils, pastels, or markers.
- Your own lunch and water for the day. There is potable water at the Grove Arrival Area trailhead, but not higher in the grove.
- Snacks to share: When we regroup at the end of our time together to share discoveries and observations on the day, it’s nice to have a few snackable items to share while we chat.
- Clothing layers. By late September, we should be past the peak temps of the year, so you may want a few warmer layers in the morning.
- Sun protection. Always. Consider sun protection such as sunglasses, sunshirts and long pants, sunscreen, and sun hat.
- Your Curiosity and Wonder. The last thing on the list, but the most important.