Hike Fell in Clothes Did Not Want to Get Wet Again

Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls

In This Guide	Video & Turn past Turn Directions for the Mist Trail How to Become to the Mist Trail Trailhead Everything You Need to Know To Set up for the Hike Options for three mile (total) hike to Vernal Falls, vi mile (total) hike to Nevada Falls, and 7.5 mile (full) hike to Nevada Falls and Back on the John Muir Trail with Scenic Viewpoints
Total Distance (?)	half-dozen miles (9.vii km)
Other Options	3 miles, vii.v miles
Hike Time	three-5 Hours (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Difficult
Full Ascent (?)	2,600 feet (792m)
Highest Top	6,020 feet (1835m)
Fees & Permits	Park Entry Fee
Dogs Immune	No
Alerts & Closures (?)	Yosemite National Park
Park Phone	209-372-0200
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Considered the classic Yosemite hike, the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls lives up to its hype. The lower slopes are paved and scenic, but and then you lot cross the Merced River and hike through the mist upward 600 granite steps  to the 317-foot Vernal Falls (three miles round-trip). Y'all can then continue to the massive and booming 594-pes Nevada Falls (6 miles round-trip). And for a (highly recommended) loop hike back, follow the famous John Muir Trail down scenic switchbacks where yous'll get great views of Nevada Falls and Liberty Dome.

#ane Tip: Get out at sunrise to beat the crowds! Tons of people do this hike every bit the day wears on and it's a much different feel when it's just yous, the waking wood, and the waterfalls.

Hither's the Vernal Falls Span at 9am on a Mon in July. At 11am this volition exist similar a packed New York subway car. Not fun. Do your hike early, and if yous can't make it early, become afterwards in the afternoon.

How to Go to the Mist Trail in Yosemite

Your all-time bet to hike the Mist Trail is to take the (gratis) green park shuttle bus to the Happy Isles stop (#16) and hike from there. Happy Isles is at the far (eastern) stop of Yosemite Valley, just past Curry Hamlet. The mileage in this guide (and in the National Parks official guides) starts from there.

Employ this trailhead address:
Happy Isles Shuttle Stop (#16), Yosemite Valley, CA 95389

Here's the Yosemite shuttle motorcoach map. Take the motorcoach to Happy Isles and get-go hiking from there. You tin as well park close in ane of the lots if you tin can find a spot.

If y'all'd similar to drive equally close as you can to the trailhead, there'south a parking lot, the Yosemite Valley Parking Lot, well-nigh 0.five miles from Happy Isles. The lot is usually airtight in the peak season after the early morning; it's usually reserved for those hiking Half Dome or the backcountry. In the off-season it can be open. Just park and walk downwards the route.

And you tin can park around Curry Hamlet in the public Half Dome Hamlet Parking Lot as well. Over again, only walk down the road 0.8 miles to the trailhead.

Once you lot get to the Happy Isles shuttle cease, walk down the road, across the Happy Isles Bridge, and then right onto the trail. More than in the video and turn-past-turn directions below.

Gear for the Hike

Information technology certainly helps to do this hike with proper hiking gear if you lot have information technology. If you don't take hiking clothes, your best bet is fitness wearing apparel. The trail can exist wet and slippery, and then good hiking boots or shoes help, equally do trekking poles. Be prepared to get wet as well; the mist from the falls makes it seem like it's raining out (sentinel the video below). I utilise a elementary rain jacket / air current breaker.

It'southward as well a longer hike, so bring plenty of water (at to the lowest degree 1L, 2L recommended) and snacks.  There are bathrooms along the hike; I've noted them on the map below. If you're hiking afterwards in the day and aren't experienced doing this distance, bring a headlamp or flashlight in case you have longer than you think.

Mist Trail, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls Trail Maps

The trails are very well marked in Yosemite, and especially on the popular Mist Trail. That said, some sections can exist tricky so brand sure yous study the images in the directions and lookout man the video. It's not an expanse of Yosemite that you have to worry about getting lost in; you'll be with tons of other people. Y'all just desire to avoid turning onto the wrong trail.

Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File

Hike Landmarks

Landmark	Distance	Summit
Happy Isles Shuttle Stop	0	4020
Vernal Falls Span	1	4400
Vernal Falls	ane.half-dozen	5000
Bridge	1.9	5150
Bathrooms / Trail Junction	ii.8	5980
Nevada Falls	3	5930

Trail Elevation

The trail is pretty much all uphill. The skilful news is that thousands of people of all shapes and sizes do this hike, and you can too. The steepest sections are correct before Vernal Falls and the final stretch upward to Nevada Falls.

3D Map

Here's a good 3D view of the hike. The Mist Trail follows the Merced River up the valley. The alternating way back downward on the John Muir Trail offers incredible views northward and east into the center of Yosemite.

Alternate Return On the John Muir Trail

I've included directions for an alternate loop back down to the start from Nevada Falls on the John Muir Trail. I highly recommend taking this way back down for several reasons.

• You won't beat up your knees going downwardly the granite stairs.
• It'due south safer to descend on the John Muir Trail. There are no places to potentially slip on a moisture granite step and fall.
• You lot won't have to walk against crowds coming up the Mist Trail.
• The trail is non nearly as crowded as the Mist Trail.
• You'll go incredible views of Nevada Falls, Liberty Dome, and the back of Half Dome.

Being Safe On the Mist Trail

People die every year because they did not head warnings on signs similar this. Don't be i of them.

As Yosemite'due south signature and most popular hike, the Mist Trail, as you might imagine, has its share of accidents and deaths. That doesn't mean information technology'south a dangerous trail. Thousands of people hike it safely all the time. Only if y'all don't follow the rules, you could end upward as a fatality.

• Don't go into, wade in, or go right next to the water. Think about what would happen if you were to slip into the river. How slick is the granite? Would you lot be able to cease? People fall into the h2o, slip, become swept away, and die here. It's real.
• Heed all the alarm signs.
• If the trail is crowded, hug the inside of the trail and let others pass on the outside.
• If you are passing, allow others know before you laissez passer, and do so very carefully. If you don't feel similar you can laissez passer safely on a section of the trail, stay behind and laissez passer in a better section.
• In the winter the trail tin be airtight due to falling ice. Listen all trail closures or detours.
• I wouldn't do this hike with pocket-sized children.

These people are standing on wet granite, about 1 foot abroad from a fall down all 594 feet of Nevada Falls. Hither's an example of what not to do.

Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls Hike Directions

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Video Directions

Scout This Video In 360/VR Why 360/VR Is Peachy

Turn past Plough Directions

From the shuttle motorbus terminate, keep up Happy Isles Loop Road.

The Mist Trail is pop and you should see some signs confirming that you're hiking in the right direction. Proceed hiking down the road and over the Happy Isles Span.

Once you're over the bridge, make the hard right onto the Mist Trail.

The trail splits, hike to the left.

The trail is paved here and starts to climb. It will probably be a little steeper than you think.

Pass this very absurd sign with mileages to some of the tiptop attractions of  Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, including Mt Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48, which you tin reach on the John Muir Trail in 211 miles from this point.

The trail continues uphill, with the Merced River down to your right.

Later on a expert deal of uphill on the paved path, you'll start to descend to the bridge.

Cross over the Vernal Falls Bridge later having a look around.

If you lot look upstream from the bridge you'll run into Vernal Falls in the altitude.

In that location are bathrooms and h2o refill stations hither.

Continue over the bridge and up along the southern banking concern of the river.

At the intersection with the John Muir Trail (to the right), continue directly. This is the "official" offset of the Mist Trail. If you take the loop trail option back down, you'll come out from the trail on the right on your way back.

There's a cool Mist Trail sign right afterward the junction. If you lot're hiking to Half Dome y'all'll exist hiking on this stretch of trail also.

Soon you hike out of the trees and onto a granite path along the raging Merced River.

And soon the falls will spectacularly come into view, every bit will the beginning of the steps. Yous'll be climbing 600 wet granite steps to get to the summit of Vernal Falls.

Some of the narrow sections offer handrails. Please stay behind the rails and stay safe.

You become a break from the mist when the trail briefly winds abroad from the falls.

And then comes back out onto the granite cliffs for the final steep and narrow stretch to the top.

This role of the trail is narrow, so take intendance.

And presently you emerge slightly above Vernal Falls. Hike down the hills to bank check out the falls.

Hike out to the debate where y'all tin (safely) get to the edge of Vernal Falls.

Vernal, meaning "of spring" refers to the fact that the falls flow the most in spring when the snow melts.

This viewpoint is pretty epic. Soak in Vernal Falls and move on.

If you want to practise the 3 mile hike, simply turn around and go back the manner you came from hither. Be conscientious on the glace steps back down.

To continue hiking to Nevada Falls, follow the river upstream along the argue.

Keep hiking straight, avoiding whatever unofficial trails to the water on the left, Emerald Pool. And as always, stay out of the water.

There are bathrooms here to the right, otherwise continue straight.

The trail twists off to the right, away from the river, and starts to climb.

The climb gets rocky but is piece of cake to follow.

And you'll start getting glimpses of Nevada Falls in the distance.

When y'all reach the Clark Point Cutoff Trail (right), keep hiking to the left.

Hike over the bridge.

Then start climbing again equally the trail heads upward to Nevada Falls through the pine wood.

When you reach this flat section, the trail continues every bit a difficult left. You lot can become straight for a nice view of the falls.

Here's a view of Nevada Falls from that concluding flat surface area.

Otherwise the Mist Trail continues uphill, winding away from the falls for a bit.

And then information technology comes back out of the trees for some dramatic views.

There'southward one concluding steep stretch of switchbacks before the climbing is over for the day on the Mist Trail.

At the intersection, make the hard right to go on to Nevada Falls. There are bathrooms at the junction here too. If you were hiking to Half Dome, you'd caput left here.

Later on the junction follow the trail on the right.

And before long you'll come across the Nevada Falls area in front of you. Hike down and cross the bridge.

Please stay out of the h2o. The massive ruby-red signs telling you that the area is dangerous are real. If you lot skid here and get picked up by the current you accept nearly 100 feet before you go over.

The view from the bridge is breathtaking as the Merced falls almost 600 feet down the granite cliff.

Wait upward and adore Freedom Cap, rising 1700 feet from where you are and named after the pointy Freedom Cap found on quondam US coins.

From here you can turn effectually and get back the way you came, or you tin can take the (slightly longer but easier) loop back down the John Muir Trail. If you are taking the John Muir Trail loop back down, follow the directions beneath. Otherwise just plow around and hike dorsum down.

Hike beyond the flat rock on the other side of the Nevada Falls span.

The trail heads into the woods.

And continues forth the ridge where you'll get some nice peeks into the valley. The spectacular views are coming in a infinitesimal.

Get straight at the junction with the Panorama Trail.

And presently you lot emerge for almost a mile of nothing but views.

As you hike down on this department, make sure you look dorsum for some great views of Nevada Falls, where you just were.

When you reach the junction, y'all're at Clark Point. Make the hard left to continue down the John Muir Trail.

From here you lot will descend downwards what will seem similar 100s of switchbacks. Enjoy the downhill, you lot earned information technology.

Go along directly down the trail as it approaches the river. The trail to the left is for mules.

And soon y'all'll rejoin the Mist Trail that you came up earlier. Make the left, go along over the Vernal Falls Bridge and dorsum to the shuttle passenger vehicle stop. That's the hike!

This guide last updated on September 18, 2020. Did something change on this hike? If then, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.

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