View List On Map- Ask a Local
- Locals have answered 35 questions about Yosemite National Park.
- Ask Yosemite National Park Locals
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1. Mariposa Grove
- Largest living things on earth
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- Nature & Wildlife
- Highway 41 corridor
- 1.4 miles
- Nile Expert Tip: Along with Yosemite Valley, Abraham Lincoln protected these trees in 1864; the first time in history...
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2. Wawona Campground
- This site is available year round with reservations necessary from May through October. Swimming and fishing opportunities are available on site.
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- 13.0 miles
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3. Wawona Visitor Center
- Your best first stop if coming in from the south
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- Visitor Centers
- Outside Park, South
- 2.5 miles
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4. Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad
- Ride a real steam train at the park's south entrance
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- Trains
- Outside Park, South
- 0.8 miles
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5. Pioneer Yosemite History Center
- Historic structures from the mining era
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- Museums
- Yosemite Valley
- 13.0 miles
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6. Chilnualna Falls Trail
- Wawona's best big hike
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- Hiking
- Highway 41 corridor
- 13.0 miles
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7. Wawona Golf Course
- Magnificent views from every hole
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- Golf
- Yosemite Valley
- 1.7 miles
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8. Wawona Meadow Loop
This relaxing stroll encircles Wawona Meadow, curving around at its east end and heading back toward...
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- 40000.0 miles
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9. Westfall Picnic Ground
- Westfall Picnic Ground is located just off State Highway 41. It is less than five miles from the south entrance station for Yosemite National Park.
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- Picnics, Parks & Gardens
- 4.4 miles
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10. Big Sandy Campground
- Big Sandy, at an elevation of 5,800 feet, is located in the heart of the Mariposa Ranger District offering 18 sites - no potable water.
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- Campgrounds
- Highway 41 corridor
- 3.8 miles
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The Best of NileGuide
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There are so many good things to do near Wawona, but most would agree that the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is at the top of the list. This is the largest of the park's three sequoia groves and the one with the most history. Pioneer/ranger Galen Clark popularized the grove, and was later responsible for its protection as part of the 1864 Congressional act that preserved this parcel and Yosemite Valley. Galen built a cabin in the upper grove, a replacement of which serves as a summer visitor center. There are several miles of trails that wind through the huge trees. Many people prefer to pay for a tram tour through the grove, which brings you to the Grizzly Giant and the famed Tunnel Tree.
Going north from Wawona, it's not too far to the Glacier Point Road. In summer the drive out to the end brings you to the rim of Yosemite Valley - unbelievable views of Half Dome, high peaks, waterfalls and cliffs. In winter, the Badger Pass Ski Area is 6 miles up the road; one of the West's first ski areas.
In Wawona itself, the visitor center, next to the Wawona Hotel is worth some time. Just down the hill is the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, an assemblage of historic buildings gathered from throughout the park to illustrate the challenges of the early days. In the summer, costumed interpreters provide a living commentary on Yosemite's heritage that far out-classes any brochure or sign. Across the street from the hotel is a very pleasant Meadow Loop Trail, an old carriage road following a mostly flat route through the forest.
- Best Of Yosemite National Park
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Hotels
- Cheap Accommodations
- Hotels Near South Entrance (Wawona)
- Hotels Near Tuolomne Meadows
- Hotels Near Yosemite Village
- Family Friendly Accommodations
- Luxury Hotels
- Bed and Breakfasts
- Boutique Hotels
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Restaurants
- Fun Restaurants
- Restaurants near Yosemite Village
- Romantic Dining
- Family Friendly Restaurants
- American Restaurants
- Restaurants for Meetings
- Unique Restaurants
- Restaurants Around Yosemite National Park
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Nightlife
- Bars and Clubs Around Yosemite National Park
- Bars and Clubs near Half Dome
- Hip Nightlife
- Fun Nightlife
- Off the Beaten Path Nightlife
- Romantic Nightlife
- Trendy Nightlife
- Upscale Nightlife
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