Mariposa Grove

A Lazy Day at Mariposa Grove

We had a slower start to the morning, then drove out to Mariposa Grove. At the Welcome Center, we checked the trail board and decided on the Big Trees Loop Trail, based on the length of time we had. Since the Grove had just opened, we managed to catch the second shuttle from the visitor center (not yet open itself) to the trailhead.  

The shuttle driver was...intense. He kept quoting "It's the law! It's the law!" to a family about collapsing their stroller and storing it properly in the front. It was awkward, but definitely made for a memorable start.

Mariposa Grove is the largest grove of giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park, home to legendary trees like the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.

Mariposa Grove Trailhead

The Grizzly Giant 

Compared to Sentinel Dome, this trail was pretty tame. But I had a crazy idea--if we powered  through quickly, maybe we could get a photo of the Grizzly Giant without anyone else in the frame. Ira must have thought I was nuts, but I practically flew down the trail. 

Grizzly Giant

Grizzly Giant closeup

The California Tunnel Tree

Walking through this living tree is surreal. The bark is slowly growing inward, trying to heal over the tunnel carved in 1895. This was once a "winter replacement: for the more famous Wawona Tunnel Tree, which fell in 1969 after standing for over 75 years. Though weakened, the California Tunnel Tree still survives today--an enduring relic of early tourism promotion and Yosemite's history.

California Tunnel Tree

Tunnel Tree Close Up

The Sequoia Slice

Back at the Welcome Center, we found a fascinating display: a giant slice of sequoia, cut from an 805-year-old tree that grew in the grove from 1149 to 1954. At 199 feet (60.7 m) tall and nearly 13 feet (3.9m) in diameter, this giant lived through centuries of drought, fires, and storms. The growth rings tell its story of resilience--one scar marks a drought and fire in 1580, and by 1697 the tree had sealed over the wound, healing itself over 117 years.

Sequoia Slice

Cones and Foliage

Outside, a ranger was displaying cones and foliage from different species. It was fascinating to see the massive sequoia cones next to sugar pine and lodgepole pine, especially the difference between healthy cones and those touched by fire.

Sequoia foliage and cones before and after a fire

Sugar Pine foliage and cones

Lodgepole Pine foliage and cones

Road Warriors to Crescent City

From there, it was time to hit the road for Crescent City. We travel like road warriors, usually pushing straight through with as few stops as possible. Our big break was for lunch in Redding, where we grabbed Chipotle--and of course, I checked the map for Little Free Libraries. Sure enough, I found one and swapped out a book I wasn't enjoying.  

Not long after, we passed a sign I thought I misread--but then we saw the Bigfoot Museum in Willow Creek, and of course we had to stop.

Willow Creek Welcome Sign

Outside the Bigfoot collection was the best part, complete with a giant cast of an alleged footprint from Bluff Creek in 1963, just a mile upstream from where the famous Bigfoot film was shot in 1967. 

Bigfoot Collection
at the Willow Creek China Flat Museum

Bigfoot

My foot compared to Bigfoot's--no contest!

This kind of quirky roadside stop is exactly why I've always wanted to do a roadside attraction road trip. The things people choose to build museums around are so wonderfully zany. The museum was closed but still, this one was perfect. 

Catching up in Crescent City

We finally arrived at Jon & Marci's--late, but not too late to pop in for hugs. Their youngest daughter Em (short for "Maudie Mae," a sweet family name) was home. We hadn't seen her since she was excited about starting her senior year in high school, and now she was back from Tennessee!

Their middle child, McNeely, had just returned from her very first flight--to Japan! Her parents were nervous wrecks, but she handled it fine and had a wonderful time. I couldn't help but feel proud of her.

Marci also shared that they've been enjoying "grandparenting" Vinny's kids. Vinny wasn't their adopted son in the legal sense--he was their eldest child, Alex's best friend, who basically grew up at their house and became part of the family. 

They led us to a cozy cabin where we'd be staying the next three nights. Set up like an Airbnb, it was warm and welcoming--perfect for chilly, dark Northern California nights. Practically Oregon, really. And absolutely perfect for sleeping.

A day of towering giants, quirky roadside fun, and heartfelt connections with friends--exactly the kind of road trip day we love.

A dopo!


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