Start your day in the Tuolumne Grove, one of Yosemite's more intimate and unique experiences, and home to some of the world's oldest living trees. 

The trail that leads to the Tuolumne Grove, follows the old Big Oak Flat Road, one of the earliest stage and wagon routes into Yosemite, adding a touch of history to every step.

Along the way, you'll encounter two unforgettable landmarks. The Dead Giant, a standing sequoia with a tunnel carved through its trunk, remains a favorite photo stop and a fascinating glimpse into Yosemite's early tourism era. You'll also find the Fallen Giant, a massive toppled sequoia that showcases the impressive scale of these remarkable trees and their extensive root systems.

The hike is approximately 2.5 miles round-trip, descending about 400 to 500 feet into the grove before returning uphill to the trailhead. Once among the trees, a gentle half-mile self-guided nature loop winds through the grove, with interpretive signs highlighting the area's natural and cultural history.

Take your time here. Walk at your own pace, look up and take in the scale of the sequoias, breath in the fresh mountain air. This is a great place for photography, and the cooler air makes the walk more comfortable than it would be in the heat of Summer.

Plan ahead: Check air conditions and purchase your park entrance pass prior to arriving to the park to save time at the entrance gate! 

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir sits behind the towering O’Shaughnessy Dam and stretches eight miles through the canyon. The water collected here travels to millions of people across the San Francisco Bay Area, delivering some of the cleanest drinking water in the country. Finished in 1938, the dam still stands as a remarkable engineering achievement and a cornerstone of California’s water system.

Autumn is a particularly rewarding time to visit. Golden leaves and cool, crisp air set the mood, while the colors play against the dark blue water and soaring granite cliffs. The result is a postcard-worthy landscape, minus the crowds that fill other parts of the park. Stroll across the dam for the views, wander the nearby trails, or simply sit and soak it in. Hetch Hetchy blends scenery, history, and calm in a way few places in Yosemite can match.

Lunch stop: Pull up a stool at the Evergreen Lodge Tavern for a cold beer and a hearty lunch. Stepping inside feels like slipping back a century, and the warm welcome makes you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. That sense of history is earned. The Evergreen’s roots go back to 1921, when it sprang up near Yosemite to serve the crews building O’Shaughnessy Dam in Hetch Hetchy Valley. Local lore credits its founding to a worker from the Hetch Hetchy Railroad, the line that carried both people and supplies up to the construction site. In those early days, the building doubled as a post office, café and general store. For many years afterward it ran as a modest seasonal inn that shut its doors every winter. When new owners arrived in 2001, they renovated the property and added 75 cabins along with shared gathering spaces, transforming it into the full-service Yosemite resort guests enjoy today.

Browse: Stop into Yosemite Basecamp to stock up on outdoor gear. The other shops in town are full of locally made gifts and souvenirs.

Raise a glass: Finish at Around the Horn Brewing Company with a one-of-a-kind seasonal brew.

Want More Fall Fun Near Groveland? If you're staying a little longer, try an off-roading expedition into the woods with Yosemite Outdoor Adventures.

End the day the way travelers have for more than 150 years, with a night at the Groveland Hotel. Built in 1849, it has been a Yosemite-area staple ever since, and it sits right next door to the Iron Door Saloon - the oldest operating bar in California.

Fall Special: The Groveland Hotel invites you to experience Yosemite's most colorful season with its Fall Into Yosemite special offer. Enjoy up to 15% off stays through November 2026 and cozy accommodations just minutes from Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance. It's the perfect home base for crisp Autumn adventures, scenic hikes, and small-town charm. 

*Offer subject to availability; blackout dates apply.