Wawona is in the south western part of Yosemite National Park and is much less visited compared to the Valley. There are several highlights of this area including the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia which was protected by Galen Clark 150 years ago and is home to over 300 massive Sequoias, some of the largest and oldest trees in the world still alive today.
The Wawona Lodge and nearby meadow and golf course are also a favorite for the area. You can stay in the beautiful Wawona Lodge built in the late 1800s and dine in the restaurant at the lodge after a full day of hiking, riding, or swimming in the nearby rivers. No trip to Wawona is complete without a walk around the gorgeous Wawona Meadow along the 3.5 mile wawona meadow loop trail.
The Wawona Lodge and nearby meadow and golf course are also a favorite for the area. You can stay in the beautiful Wawona Lodge built in the late 1800s and dine in the restaurant at the lodge after a full day of hiking, riding, or swimming in the nearby rivers. No trip to Wawona is complete without a walk around the gorgeous Wawona Meadow along the 3.5 mile wawona meadow loop trail.
![IMG_0010[1].](http://images.everytrail.com/pics/fullsize/111730-IMG_0010_1_.JPG "IMG_0010[1].")
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Wawona Swinging Bridge
A short flat hike to the swinging bridge over a slow-moving river with perfect pools for swimming.
A short flat hike to the swinging bridge over a slow-moving river with perfect pools for swimming.
Easy
0.8 mi/
1.3 km
1.3 km
Wawona Meadow Loop
Take a relaxing stroll around a beautiful meadow with this easy 3.5-mile loop
Take a relaxing stroll around a beautiful meadow with this easy 3.5-mile loop
Easy
3.5 mi/
5.6 km
5.6 km
Lower Chilnualna Fall
A short but steep hike up to the base of Chilnualna Fall in Yosemite National Park
A short but steep hike up to the base of Chilnualna Fall in Yosemite National Park
Moderate
0.9 mi/
1.4 km
1.4 km
Mariposa Grove to Wawona Lodge
Take a closer look at the Wawona wilderness while escaping the crowds on this downhill hike in Yosemite National Park
Take a closer look at the Wawona wilderness while escaping the crowds on this downhill hike in Yosemite National Park
Moderate
5.5 mi/
8.9 km
8.9 km
Chilnualna Falls
Hike this lesser-known trail to discover Chilnualna Falls with a wading pool and cascades waiting at the top.
Hike this lesser-known trail to discover Chilnualna Falls with a wading pool and cascades waiting at the top.
Difficult
8.4 mi/
13.5 km
13.5 km
Guides
Take a relaxing stroll around a beautiful meadow with this easy 3.5-mile loop
Take a closer look at the Wawona wilderness while escaping the crowds on this downhill hike in Yosemite National Park
Hike this lesser-known trail to discover Chilnualna Falls with a wading pool and cascades waiting at the top.
A short flat hike to the swinging bridge over a slow-moving river with perfect pools for swimming.
A short but steep hike up to the base of Chilnualna Fall in Yosemite National Park
A bundle of great hikes in the Wawona Section of Yosemite National Park: meadows, groves, rivers, and waterfalls
Community Trips
An overnighter along the beautiful Chilnualna Falls trail in Yosemite near Wawona.
We left San Jose bright and early at 6am and arrived in Wawona around 9:30 including a 15 minute or so to pay our $20 for a week long pass. Next stop was the beautiful Wawona Hotel to meet the others and grab our wilderness permit at the wilderness center. We arrived early so went exploring around the hotel grounds and...
New year's hike with 3 generations of our family. Nice way to start 2008!
![IMG_0007[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo](http://images.everytrail.com/pics/thumbnail/111728-IMG_0007_1_.JPG "IMG_0007[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo")
![IMG_0008[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo](http://images.everytrail.com/pics/thumbnail/111729-IMG_0008_1_.JPG "IMG_0008[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo")
![IMG_0010[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo](http://images.everytrail.com/pics/thumbnail/111730-IMG_0010_1_.JPG "IMG_0010[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo")
![IMG_0011[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo](http://images.everytrail.com/pics/thumbnail/111731-IMG_0011_1_.JPG "IMG_0011[1]. (North Wawona (historical), California, United States) Photo")
Description of Chilnualna Falls: Strenuous but very rewarding, this hike now ranks
as my second favorite within Yosemite, right behind Spillway
Lake. The hike starts with a nice teaser a quarter mile in at the
Lower Falls, which would be more than a sufficient view for those not
able to make the entire hike. But the real rewards come after
enduring a long, partly shady trail that alternates between oak and pine
...
Chilnualna Falls - Yosemite National Park
North Wawona (historical), California, United States
10.0 miles
10.0 miles
We had a great time spending the weekend in this part of Yosemite. Chilnualna Falls is a great destination, either for a day hike, or for a simple backpacking trip like we did (thanks to Rebecca/Calipidder for organizing).This is early in the season and patches of snow were still present above the falls. With all the snow melting, the creek was really a raging river and while it made fishing almost impossible,...
On our first day in Wawona the entire family went on the Wawona Meadow loop. This is one of my favorite hikes in Wawona because it is so simple with stunning scenery throughout the hike, with glimpses of the Wawona Lodge every now and then through the trees.After we returned from the hike we made a beeline to the golf shop for lunch to refuel for our next activities.
The Long Meadow hike was about 5.2 miles (500 ft elevation change) easy hike.From Oakhurst, we took Hwy 41 to Jackson Rd (6S07) just befor the turnoff to Tenaya Lodge at Fish Camp. I recommend high clearance vehicles only on this one lane dirt road. The trail head is about 6.2 miles off Hwy 41 (about 1 mi after Big Sandy Campground). After crossing the stream (about 8" deep this time), go...
A bunch of us went on a short hike to the base of Chilnualna Fall. I had hiked to the top a number of years ago but this hike was much quicker. After only about 10 minutes we were at a smaller waterfall with a pool near the base (but we didn't go swimming, we were leaving that for the pools near the swinging bridge.We then hiked up the trail further until...
Swinging Bridge and Swimming in the River
Yosemite National Park, California, United States
1.5 miles
1.5 miles
To cool off in the afternoon we hiked to the swinging bridge and found a nice spot on the granite next to the river to put our stuff while we swam in the water. The water was cold but very refreshing after a few hikes today and we stayed in until we could no longer feel out toes.
this is the hike down Mariposa Grove Trail
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