Wawona Meadow Loop

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: If you are looking for an easy afternoon walk to explore Wawona consider the Wawona Meadow Loop. Located conveniently next to the Wawona Hotel, the trailhead is just across Highway 41. Compared to most other hikes in Yosemite, this is about as easy as they come: it’s a 3.5-mile level stroll around the meadow, and most of it us under tree cover which makes it a perfect hike for the afternoon when the sun is out and temperatures are at their hottest.

Don’t become too caught up in the scenery, as this dirt road is used by horses on horseback tours and stagecoach rides, so watch your step!

If you are looking for some wildlife, consider going during the “golden hours” of the day, around dawn or dusk, when you may spot some deer grazing in the grass. While you won’t break much of a sweat on this hike, it’s a perfect way to end a day visiting Mariposa Grove, or to build up your appetite for dinner at the Wawona Hotel restaurant.

Points of Interest

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Trailhead

Park near the Wawona Lodge, cross Hwy 1, and walk along the paved path. You will walk through the golf course, so keep your head up for flying golf balls as you continue up the paved path. After a about 100 yards you will see a sign for the Wawona Meadow Loop on your left.

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Wawona Meadow Loop

Turn left at the sign for the trailhead and continue along the trail under the trees.

As you walk along the trail below the trees it is hard not to stop at every opening to gaze at the meadow and take another picture of a slightly different angle of the same view. After 5 minutes of walking, the golf course will disappear and be replaced by a gorgeous meadow.

Through the trees you will have wonderful views of the meadow, golf course, and the Wawona Lodge on the other side.

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View of the Meadow below

Once you have walked a little more than half way you will begin to start heading towards the Wawona lodge. You have reached the highest point of the hike, roughly 50-100 feet above the meadow. Take a second to look down the entire length of the meadow before continuing on down hill.

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Wildflowers

If the theme of the first half of the hike was redwoods* and tree cover, then the theme for the second half of the hike is wildflowers. This section of the hike is significantly more exposed than the first half, so be prepared with hats and sunscreen. As you walk along you will feel as if you are walking through a painting (depending on the time of year), the deep purples of the lupines and the yellow and orange flowers look almost unnatural.

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Hwy 41

Once you reach the road you have officially ended the Wawona Meadow Loop trail, but you have to walk a little ways further to get back to where you started. Walk across the road and follow the trail to the backside of the Wawona Lodge.

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Wawona Lodge

By now you have probably earned yourself a snack, so head over to the Golf Pro shop for some sandwiches, a hotdog, or just a drink and sit on the chairs outside looking out at the golfers in the meadow as you give your feet a break and prepare for your next adventure.

If you are staying at the lodge, a dip in the pool is a wonderful follow up to the hike.