Thanks to great support from the Yosemite Conservancy, the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias at Yosemite National Park reopened this summer after a lengthy restoration project/Josh Helling, Yosemite Conservancy

No matter how many times you’ve seen the giant sequoias in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove, it’s hard not to wonder at their size and tenacity. Sequoias can grow for millennia, reaching heights of nearly 300 feet. More than 150 years ago, they helped inspire the Yosemite Grant Act, which set aside the grove as one of the nation’s first protected landscapes.

In the decades following that legislation, however, pavement, compacted trails and other infrastructure put the sequoias’ future in question.

On June 30, 2014, Yosemite Conservancy and the National Park Service broke ground on a collaborative $40 million project to restore Mariposa Grove and ensure long-term ecosystem health. Over the course of the project, the largest such effort in park history, crews removed nearly 1.5 acres of pavement, installed 600 feet of boardwalks and bridges over sensitive areas, built 4 miles of sustainable trails, and restored four acres of habitat.

Mariposa Grove reopened on June 15, 2018, following a three-year closure. Today, you’ll find a tranquil, inspiring place alive with natural wonder.

Your visit to the restored grove starts at the Welcome Plaza near Yosemite’s South Entrance, home to a parking area, educational exhibits and the Yosemite Conservancy Depot. From the plaza, take a shuttle to the edge of the grove, where plants are growing in what was once a paved lot.

Among the trees, an ancient forest bursts with life. Listen for songbirds and revitalized streams. Look for snow plants, and sequoia seedlings, squirrels dashing along branches, and deer resting by the Grizzly Giant. Pause to read signs that explore science, stewardship and history.

The restoration brought balance and resilience back to Mariposa Grove—but didn’t leave it impervious to human and environmental impacts. The next time you visit, consider the role you can play in its future, by staying on trails and boardwalks; leaving cones and wildflowers on the forest floor, where they play a vital role in the rebounding ecosystem; and learning about, and from, the people who walked among the giants long before Yosemite became a national park.

The Yosemite Conservancy hopes your experience in Mariposa Grove reinvigorates your sense of wonder, and leaves you with a greater understanding of the ways you can make a difference for the natural world.

Thank you to everyone who has played a role in restoring and protecting Mariposa Grove! Read an extended version of this story and other Conservancy updates at yosemiteconservancy.org/blog.