Wawona Meadow

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Geography

Wawona Meadow

Location: California, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 37.53587°N / 119.65661°W

Trail Type: Cross Country, Paved

Technical Difficulty: Easy

Aerobic Difficulty: Easy

Layout: Loop

Elevation Gain: 100 ft / 30 m

Length: 3.5 Mi / 5.6 Km

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Page By: Cedar

Created/Edited: Jan 3, 2008 / Jan 3, 2008

Object ID: 265592

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Table of Contents

Wawona

Beside the Wawona Meadow Loop.

Wawona is located 4 miles from Yosemite's southern entrance. The area is a logistical center for those passing through on their way to Yosemite Valley.

At the center of Wawona is the historical Wawona Hotel. It offers dining and lodging for those who plan on staying for the night or even just passing by for lunch. For those running out of gas, there's even a gas station which, although more expensive than the stations in Oakhurst 15 miles away, may come come in handy for the unorganized.

Near the hotel is a self-guided historical tour of Wawona. Included here is a covered bridge, a jailhouse right next to a bank, what once was the superindentent's home and a chicken coop.

The Wawona Meadow is just south of the main portion of Wawona. The trail, actually a semi-paved road, circles around it in a 3.5 mile easy loop.

Trail Info

The route is on a heavily worn, partially paved road easily accessible to beginners. It is an easy loop with undetectable elevation gain surrounding a grassy meadow. At the end of the main trail, continue across the road back into the parking lot. Note that it comes in from a different location of the lot.

The loop may be biked year-round though in winter, there may be patches of ice which may be slippery. Otherwise, it's an easy ride require really no previous experience. Just watch for hikers whom may be found hiking the trail on foot at any given moment so keep an eye out.

Directions

The trail as it appears from an ordinary, ice free section.

Wawona is situated along the Wawona Road, a major access highway used by tourists from the south to enter Yosemite Valley. This road connects the otherwise isosolated Wawona with the rest of the world.

From Los Angeles

From downtown LA in Southern California, take I-5 Golden State Freeway north heading for Sacramento. This freeway crosses the Tehachapis and drops quickly down into the San Joaquin Valley. Stay left and continue staight onto CA-99 north.

In about 120 miles in Fresno, take the off-ramp onto CA-41 North for Yosemite. At the moment, it remains a 6-laned highway but quickly loses all but two as it begins climbing into the Sierra foothills. Continue past the town of Oakhurt and up then down a 5000 foot pass into Yosemite National Park's southern entrance.

Turn left on Mariposa Grove Road which renames as Wawona Road. Continue 4 miles and park at the hotel parking lot on the right. Walk across the road onto a narrow paved road and continue left at the entrace marked clearly with a gate.

From San Fransisco

Begin by taking the Bay Bridge east across the San Fransico Bay on I-80. Continue and take I-580 east for Stocton. Head straight onto I-205 then transfer straight onto CA-120. Keep on CA-120 eastbound onto CA-99 then leaving east as a highway.

Go straight on CA-120 into Yosemite Valley. Take the connector road onto Southside Drive and turn right through the Wawona Tunnel. The road climbs up to 6000 feet then drops slowly down 2000 feet into Wawona at 4000'.

Again, park at the hotel parking area and walk across the road to find the trailhead.

Other Sites

Please visit these links for more info:

Yosemite Hikes- Info for the hiker doing the loop

Wawona/Glacier Point- Other trails in the area; most of which open to hikers only