Wawona and Mariposa Grove

This morning we went back through Yosemite Valley and on to our destination of Wawona located by the south gate of Yosemite National Park.

We were able to stop by this waterfall on our way in to the valley. I don't know the name of this one, but it is still beautiful.




We turned right toward Wawona just before we got into Yosemite Valley and continued on the narrow two lane highway.

We arrived at the Wawona Hotel built in 1887 by the Washburn brothers. There is a swimming pool, 9 hole golf course and dining room. We walked around the hotel awhile and then drove over to Mariposa Grove. We had to turn around and go back to Wawona and take the shuttle because the two parking lots were full. I guess there are still a lot of people here.



We went back to Wawona and rode the shuttle back. Mariposa Grove is a grove of sequoia trees that was protected by the Yosemite Grant signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. You can take a tram around the forest for a fee, but we opted for the walking trail.

One of the things we learned about the sequoia tree is that when they grow close together as the ones below, they share each other's root systems.


We walked to the Great Grizzley, one of the oldest and largest trees in the park with a trunk that is over 30 feet in diameter.



After we got back from Mariposa Grove, we went over to the Pioneer History Center. Buildings with historical significance were moved together in one location in 1961.



You enter the center by crossing through this covered bridge which was originally built uncovered in 1857. The Washburn brothers used a New England model to cover it in 1875. It was used as the primary crossing over the South Fork area until 1931.





The buildings are located along a paved path. They are open on the weekends and summer with docents.

This was the Wells Fargo Office built upon the demand of the many visitors to the park in 1914. Here, visitors were able to make phone calls and send telegrams.


I'm pretty sure this is a Junco that I zoomed in on while we were there.


This cabin was built as a ranger patrol cabin. In 1914. The U.S. Calvary left Yosemite and the management of the park fell to 15 men. Buildings such as this were used to collect fees and inform visitors of park regulations.


It was time to head back, but on our way back into the Yosemite Valley, there is a long tunnel you go through.



When you exit the tunnel, you see this stupendous view of Yosemite Valley. To the right is Bridal Veil Fall. There is a parking lot located past the tunnel exit where we stopped to see the view.


The sun shone on Bridal Veil Fall creating a rainbow effect on the bottom.


We stopped at Bridal Veil one more time to get a better picture than we got the other day. It's always amazing how different they look at different times of the day.


We headed home. Tomorrow is going to be a stay at home and relax day. We are going to move the rig to a shadier place in the park. They are forecasting temperatures into the 90s this weekend.

Location:Yosemite National Park