Hiking the Big Trees Loop Trail in Yosemite National Park
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
The Big Trees Loop Trail in Yosemite National Park is the easiest and most accessible day hike in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, as the loop is truly just introduction to all the longer interconnecting trails within Mariposa Grove, including the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail and the much longer Perimeter Trail.
That said, the Big Trees Loop Trail can be a great option for those who don’t have a lot of time to explore all of Mariposa Grove or who don’t have time to visit the Giant Sequoias in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to the south.
All this to say, the Big Trees Loop Trail is a beautiful, kid-friendly adventure outside of Yosemite Valley, but know that because it’s so short and easy, it’s also the most popular part of Mariposa Grove, which is why I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning!
Big Trees Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for all the day hikes within Mariposa Grove is located at one of two areas.
The first is the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, adjacent to the south entrance. This is the parking lot that the vast majority of park visitors will utilize, as the upper parking area—at the far end of the Washburn Trail and the beginning of Mariposa Grove—is only available to vehicles displaying a valid disability placard.
This is true throughout the year, meaning that during the winter off-season, when shuttles aren’t running, visitors without disability placards are required to hike the Washburn Trail to access Mariposa Grove.
However, when shuttles are running—typically from mid-April to the end of November (check dates and times here)—visitors can utilize the free park shuttle to get to and from the Welcome Plaza.
Google Maps Directions: Big Trees Loop Trailhead (Mariposa Grove)
Hiking Checklist - Yosemite
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Yosemite National Park.
That said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the Sierra Nevadas are home to a large Black Bear population, bear spray is not allowed in Yosemite National Park.
Hiking the Big Trees Loop Trail
The Big Trees Loop Trail begins at the Mariposa Grove Trailhead, the same trailhead that serves all the hikes within the grove and beyond.
For the most part, the Big Trees Loop Trail is a very easy, straightforward day hike, but the one thing to note is the time of day these photos were taken.
I say this because Mariposa Grove is one of the busiest locations outside of Yosemite Valley, which is why I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning, as shown here.
That said, hiking the Big Trees Loop Trail early will likely mean that shuttles won’t be running, and you’ll have to hike the Washburn Trail to get to Mariposa Grove.
However, I truly believe the Washburn Trail is worth the effort because hiking the busiest parts of Mariposa Grove early, without the crowds, is an incredible experience!
This Sequoia alongside the boardwalk is the Fallen Monarch—not the second tree to the left of the junction up ahead.
East Big Trees Loop-Grizzly Giant Loop Junction
Just as the Big Trees Loop is about to turn back toward the beginning, the trail splits with the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail—the most common day hike within Mariposa Grove after the Big Trees Loop.
Here, go left at this split to stay on the Big Trees Loop Trail, which is also the direction that leads to the other side of the Grizzly Giant Loop, should you be interested in hiking the trail in reverse.
Read My Separate Post: Grizzly Giant Loop Trail
This fallen Sequoia is not the Fallen Monarch, but nonetheless, it is still fun to take a picture with!
After the second fallen Sequoia, the Big Trees Trail begins the return loop.
West Big Trees Loop-Grizzly Giant Loop Junction
Shortly before the Big Trees Loop returns to the beginning, the trail splits once again, connecting with the other side of the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail.
This is the direction that most hikers return from when beginning at the Mariposa Grove Trailhead, shown at the beginning, but the Grizzly Giant Loop could just as easily be hiked in reverse.
In any case, go left at this split to return to the beginning of the loop.
Read My Separate Post: Grizzly Giant Loop Trail
This Sequoia footprint bears a striking resemblance to the footprint on the General Sherman Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park, but if you’ve ever seen both, note how different the two are in size, as the one featured here is significantly smaller than the General Sherman Tree’s—the largest tree on Earth!
After just 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Big Trees Loop Trail returns to the beginning, where the free shuttle picks up hikers to return to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza.
This 3D map at the Mariposa Trailhead is a really cool way to see how all the Giant Sequoias are spread throughout Mariposa Grove.
