Mist Trail

The Mist Trail climbs from Happy Isles along the Merced River to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, earning its name from the spray that soaks the granite steps near the base of Vernal Fall in spring and early summer. It's the busiest corridor in Yosemite Valley for good reason — nowhere else gets you this close to two major waterfalls on a single day hike.

Distance and Difficulty

To the top of Vernal Fall via the Mist Trail is 2.4 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Continuing to the top of Nevada Fall brings the total to 5.4 miles round trip with roughly 2,000 feet of gain. Many hikers go up the Mist Trail and loop back down via the John Muir Trail, which trades the wet granite steps for a longer, gentler grade.

Footing and Safety

The steps near Vernal Fall are steep, uneven, and often slick with spray — expect loose granite grit mixed with running water. The pools and river above both falls have currents strong enough to have killed swimmers who underestimated them; stay behind the railings and out of the water above the falls.

2026 Access Notes

From July 27 through the end of October 2026, the stretch of trail above the Vernal Fall footbridge is closed Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a trail rehabilitation project. It's open Friday through Sunday and holidays, and on weekday evenings when conditions allow. A separate closure has the John Muir Trail shut between Clark Point and the Panorama Trail junction, so use the Mist Trail to reach Nevada Fall, Panorama Trail, or Little Yosemite Valley.