Mist Trail - Vernal and Nevada Fall

The Mist Trail is arguably the most popular trail in the busiest part of Yosemite. This means this will not usually be a quiet wilderness experience. With that said, it's popular for a reason. It traverses some spectacular country to get up close and personal with two massive waterfalls. Vernal Fall is 317 feet and is almost vertical and very delicate looking. Nevada Fall is 594 feet tall and cascades down a gorgeous cliff. Both are spectacular but very different and both are well worth seeing. This is not an easy hike. There are hundreds of rock stairs to climb to see the top of each fall. It is called the mist trail for a reason. The areas around Vernal Fall take you right through the mist of the falls getting you soaking wet. This trail is well worth doing. This trail begins at the Happy Isles bus stop in Yosemite Valley. The trail starts out in the trees and follows the cascading river. The beginning portions were really pretty. Before long you will come to the Merced River Bridge. The river here really rushes and is a good spot for a quick break. The hiking gets steeper from here. You can also see Vernal Fall and Liberty Cap up river. Soon you will learn why this is called the Mist Trail. We didn't have great weather this day so it was also pouring rain during our time at Vernal Fall, making it double wet, but this is truly a spectacular waterfall. We had to really embrace the water but it was worth it. You start climbing right at the side of the fall where you will climb several rock steps. Once on top you can go right to the brink of the fall. From here the trail levels out (relatively) for the next little while as you approach Nevada Fall. You get a few slight glimpses of it as you hike. Soon you will be at the base. This waterfall is one of those things that is impossible to give an idea of how huge it really is with a photo. It is so tall the water almost appears to fall in slow motion. It's a spectacular sight to see. If you are pretty tired at this point it may be a good idea to turn around here. It seemed like the majority didn't even come this far. The trail was still busy but nothing like the zoo around Vernal Fall. The trail to the top of Nevada is the hardest part as you climb rock steps basically straight up the cliff. You are climbing right up next to the fall giving you constant amazing views of the waterfall. Keep climbing until you get to the top. At the top you can make a very short detour to get right to the brink. The view from here was really cool and shows the unique way the fall here works. It's definitely not a vertical fall. I highly recommend crossing the bridge over the river to see from the other side. This is where you can get the spectacular views of Nevada Fall with Liberty Cap behind it. From here you can walk on the granite right up to the river at the brink. Please be EXTREMELY careful here. Many have underestimated the area and died because of it. This was one of the most spectacular spots I have ever eaten a sandwich. You can return the way you came or take two other trails. You can take the John Muir Trail back to Vernal Fall which is a little longer distance but less steps or you can keep climbing several thousand more feet and several miles up to Glacier Point via the Panorama Trail where you could try and bum a ride back to the valley. This is one of the premier hikes of all National Parks. Everyone visiting Yosemite should do at least part of this trail.