The picturesque Wawona Meadow Loop is a short, relatively flat trail within easy walking distance of The Redwoods In Yosemite vacation rental cabins. The trail is ideal for a quick morning run, or pastoral stroll with your leashed dog. In spring keep your eyes open for a multitude of different wildflowers lining the trail.
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.6 km) for the entire loop
Elevation gain: about 250 feet (75 m)
What to expect on the Wawona Meadow Loop
The Wawona Meadow Loop Trail provides a gentle rolling outing close to Wawona and The Redwoods In Yosemite cabins that is scenic, peaceful, and both bike and pet-friendly.
Photo: Theresa Ho
Although meadows are only 3% of Yosemite National Park’s total area, they are exceptionally rich habitats for both plants and animals. The Wawona Meadow is no exception. The Wawona Meadow Loop trail quickly leaves the edge of the Wawona Golf Course and takes you on a serene tour of this beautiful alpine meadow. Keep your eyes open. You may spot several Native American mortars (rounded holes on flat rocks) in places overlooking the meadow where people could sit and prepare their food. In the spring, the trail is also lined with a wide variety of wildflowers.
Unlike some of the meadows in Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne, Wawona Meadow is not surrounded by views of iconic cliffs or mountains from Wawona Meadow. That means that even on the busiest days, it’s a good place to find some peace and solitude on a pleasant tree-lined trail.
The trail itself rolls gently in a way that passes for flat in this mountainous terrain. That makes the Wawona Loop one of the best options for a quick run. It’s also a fantastic place to relax and chat with friends/family between taking on some of Yosemite’s steeper trail options.
Your leashed pets are also welcome on the Wawona Meadow Loop Trail. In fact, this is one of the few trails in Yosemite that is also bicycle friendly, so if you prefer to pedal rather than stroll, that’s also an option.
Wawona Meadow Loop Trailhead – Getting There
While strolling the Wawona Meadow Loop, keep your eyes open for an array of different kinds of wildflowers, including these delicate Star Tulips. Photo: Theresa Ho
Getting to the Wawona Meadow Loop Trailhead couldn’t be easier. Simply cross the Wawona Road and look for a paved road that leads across the golf course. Once past the golf course turn left at the signed trailhead to begin the counterclockwise loop. If you don’t want to walk the first part from your cabin, there are also a small number of dirt parking spots on your left close to the sign for the trail. Alternatively, counterclockwise you can park at the Wawona Hotel and walk from there.
For more Wawona hikes please refer to this map: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/WawonaAreaHikeMap.pdf