We are thrilled to share that, thanks to the support of Conservancy donors, Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is welcoming and serving visitors at full capacity for the first time since the January 2021 storm that forced the area to close for several months.
Last year’s windstorm downed trees and damaged facilities less than three years after the ribbon cutting that welcomed visitors to a more-accessible-than-ever Mariposa Grove in June 2018. That effort would not have been possible without your generous support — Conservancy donors contributed approximately $20 million to the project.
While unfortunate, natural disasters like this are an inevitable part of the park’s ever-changing landscape, particularly with the intensifying impacts of climate change. But Yosemite is resilient — especially with a little help from its friends. In May 2021, with basic repairs in place, the Grove reopened to anyone who could make the four-mile round-trip trek on foot or bicycle — and pack in their own drinking water.
Now, in even better news, Mariposa Grove has fully reopened with restrooms rebuilt, shuttle service resumed, Yosemite Conservancy bookstore up and running — and with your help, beautiful boardwalks restored to protect the root systems of the ancient trees who’ve lived for thousands of years in this special place.
You may recall this specific section of boardwalk, as it was damaged extensively and widely photographed after the January 2021 windstorm. Here it is in May 2022 post-restoration!
Repairing the Grove’s robust system of boardwalks — which saw extensive damage in the 2021 storm — was a labor of love funded exclusively by Conservancy donors, while restroom repairs were completed with federal funds.
We’d like to extend our gratitude to all the dedicated supporters who helped fix these boardwalks and preserve sensitive giant sequoia habitat.
The support of Conservancy donors made restoring Mariposa Grove’s habitat-preserving boardwalks possible.
Herrick Steel, which donated the beams for the boardwalks during the original (pre-2018) restoration, deserves our utmost thanks for their engineering assistance in making boardwalk repairs. Thanks also to the Estate of John D. and Carol Luckhardt, Jack and Sheri Overall, and the Yosemite Conservancy Legacy Fund.
These critical repairs, along with the important research to study and save sequoias that donor support is making possible in 2022 and beyond, are intended to help protect giant sequoia trees into the future.
What’s more, Yosemite’s continued resilience is one important goal of the Yosemite Conservancy Legacy Fund, which ensures that funding will be available to address problems in the park, even in unexpected circumstances. Contact us to learn how you can create a legacy gift and protect Yosemite for generations to come.
Thank you for preserving Yosemite and enriching the visitor experience in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias!
Thanks to Conservancy donors, park guests can enjoy a seamless, awe-inspiring visit to Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove for years to come.