Mist Trail Yosemite: My Review and Guide to Vernal and Nevada Falls

I have hiked the Mist Trail in Yosemite three times, with very different turnarounds: toward the foothills of Half Dome on the first visit, almost to Glacier Point on the second, and above Nevada Fall on the third. I have never climbed Half Dome itself.

Of those options, Nevada Fall is my pick for a first visit. You get both waterfalls and the scenery above the higher one, with shorter turnarounds available at Vernal Fall or its footbridge. Here is my review of what makes the climb worthwhile, followed by the route, parking, costs, and return options.

Read more from my California and Yosemite travel guide.

 

Is the Mist Trail worth it? My review

Those dots at the top of Vernal Fall are people, which tells you how big it is and how busy it gets

 

Absolutely. This is one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite, particularly in early summer when the waterfalls are powerful. Going to the upper waterfall gives you more than a quick view from the Valley floor, and for me the scenery above Nevada earns the extra climbing.

The trade-offs are the time and effort, the crowds around Vernal, and the spray. I have usually ended up soaking wet. That is fine when it is warm and very unpleasant when it is cold. A rain layer belongs in your bag even if the forecast looks good.

 

Sunny sky above Vernal Fall, rain jacket weather on the Mist Trail below it

 

For your first Yosemite Mist Trail visit, my choice is Nevada Fall, then back down the same trail when conditions allow. Vernal is the shorter option, and the John Muir Trail is there if descending the wet steps is uncomfortable. Going all the way to Nevada takes most of a day; this is not the waterfall stop to squeeze into a packed afternoon.

Glacier Point is the extension I would leave out. I have tried that direction from the Valley, and I prefer starting at Glacier Point on a separate outing. Continuing toward the foothills of Half Dome interests me more, with enough time and fitness, but it is optional rather than part of the standard waterfall hike.

 

 

Mist Trail hike statistics: choose your turnaround

The top of Vernal Fall

 

Taking the Mist Trail to Nevada Fall means a 5–6-hour hike before you add the walk from parking and stops.

If you only have a few hours, choose the top of Vernal Fall. You still get the famous staircase and close-up waterfall experience. If steep steps, slippery surfaces, or the time commitment are a problem, turn around at the Vernal Fall footbridge instead.

Pro tip: Coming on a day trip from San Francisco? This Yosemite day tour gives you 3 to 4 hours of free time in the Valley, which is enough for the Vernal Fall footbridge but not for Nevada Fall.

For a Mist Trail hike returning by the same route, use the National Park Service's planning figures:

 

Going on from Vernal to Nevada Fall doubles both the climb and the hours, and that’s the real Mist Trail decision

These distances start at Happy Isles, not your car. Add the walk from parking and time for breaks. Other guides give different totals because they measure from different starting points or include a John Muir Trail loop; check the route before comparing numbers.

My own outings have ranged from roughly 3 to 8 hours, with different turnarounds. For planning your first visit, use the endpoint-specific estimates above.

The footbridge gives you a view of Vernal Fall; the staircase beside it comes afterward.

 

How difficult is the Mist Trail, and who is it for?

Looking back down from the top of Vernal Fall is the moment the Mist Trail mileage stops making sense

 

The Mist Trail in Yosemite becomes strenuous much sooner than its mileage might suggest. The climb to Nevada Fall gains around 2,000 feet in 2.7 miles, followed by the descent. Wet stone steps add a footing problem to the physical effort.

For an occasional walker, the footbridge is the sensible target; the climb to Vernal needs a more careful decision. Regular hikers can aim for Nevada with the full time allowance. Slow down on slippery granite regardless of your fitness.

The Mist Trail with kids needs a decision based on their hiking ability and your comfort supervising them beside steep steps and fast water. The footbridge is the more manageable option; age alone tells you little about whether they can handle the upper route.

 

 

Where to park for the Mist Trail and how to reach Happy Isles

Your car stays at Curry Village or the trailhead parking, and the Mist Trail only starts at Happy Isles

 

The Yosemite Mist Trail starts at Happy Isles in the eastern end of Yosemite Valley. There is no public parking right at the trailhead, and you cannot drive all the way there in your own car.

For the closest practical access, look for Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking, just beyond Curry Village. The NPS access directions put it about half a mile from Happy Isles. Curry Village parking is another option, about three-quarters of a mile from the start. Walking from Curry adds approximately 1.5 miles to your round trip, which is worth remembering when a hike already involves 2,000 feet of climbing.

Curry Village has a large parking area, and I have still seen it fill quickly. Arrive early. The size of the lot is no reason to count on a space at midday.

If you park farther away in the Valley, use the free Valley shuttle to stop 16, Happy Isles. The Valley shuttle service runs from 7 am to 10 pm. For a start before 7 am, plan to walk from your parking area; the shuttle is not an early-morning shortcut.

Pro tip: For a start before 7 am, you need your own wheels, and DiscoverCars is the easiest way to compare rental prices at San Francisco Airport before the trip.

 

The paper Yosemite Valley shuttle map, still working in all the places your phone signal doesn’t

 

Download your route before arriving. Yosemite's patchy reception is one reason I enjoy being here, but it is less charming when you are trying to figure out a trail junction.

 

Entrance fees and hiking permits

You do not need a separate ticket or a day-hiking permit to visit Vernal and Nevada Falls. Yosemite's entrance fees still apply.

For 2026, the standard private-vehicle entrance fee is $35, valid for 7 consecutive days. Non-US residents aged 16 and older also pay $100 per person, unless covered by a qualifying pass. That makes a car with two nonresident adults $235, rather than $35.

The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $250 for non-US residents and $80 for US citizens and residents in 2026. If Yosemite is part of a longer national parks trip, compare the pass with the fees for your whole route. Check the current pass coverage before buying.

Yosemite does not require a timed park-entry reservation in 2026. That does not reserve you a parking space. Half Dome permits and overnight wilderness permits are separate requirements, which I explain below.

 

My Mist Trail hike: from Happy Isles to Nevada Fall

The footbridge and the top of Vernal Fall are useful turnarounds if the climb is harder than you expected. Nevada is my preference, not a requirement.

 

Happy Isles to the Vernal Fall footbridge

The Merced River below the Vernal Fall footbridge, loud enough to drown out your knees complaining

 

The first stretch climbs alongside the Merced River to the footbridge, about 0.8 miles from Happy Isles. This is the easiest version of the hike, although it still involves an uphill walk. The view toward Vernal Fall gives you an early payoff without committing to the steeper section.

Turn back at the bridge if the climb is already tiring. The staircase ahead is steeper and needs sure footing.

The footbridge has drinking water during its operating season, usually May through October. Carry water from the start.

 

Climbing beside Vernal Fall

Hikers on the Mist Trail below Vernal Fall, every one of them regretting the cotton T-shirt

 

Past the bridge, follow the signs for the Mist Trail toward Vernal Fall. The John Muir Trail branches off as an alternative. The Mist route climbs more than 600 granite steps beside the waterfall.

Vernal Fall drops 317 feet / 97 m. During strong runoff, the spray reaches the staircase, and “mist” is a fairly polite description of how wet you can get. Pack a rain layer even on a sunny day and protect your phone before reaching the spray.

The steps are also where crowds become more awkward. People climbing, descending, stopping for photographs, and trying to protect their phones all share a steep trail. Leave room, let people pass where it is safe, and take photographs from places where you can stop without blocking the route.

The top of Vernal Fall is a good finish for a shorter hike. The climb to Nevada comes next, so check your energy and remaining time before continuing.

 

Continuing to the higher waterfall

Above Vernal Fall the Mist Trail swaps crowds for granite domes like Liberty Cap

 

The longer Mist Trail hike to Nevada Fall keeps climbing beyond Vernal. Budget for that second climb, not just a few extra minutes along the river.

Nevada Fall is 594 feet / 181 m high, almost twice Vernal's height. Together, the two waterfalls drop 911 feet / 278 m along this route.

I remember Nevada Fall looking like a trickle on one visit and absolutely roaring on another. That variation has made the hike feel different across my visits. Early summer is my favorite for the waterfalls, but the upper section still earns the climbing for me when there is less water.

Stay on the marked routes and use the designated viewpoints at the top. From here, you can descend by the John Muir Trail or retrace the Mist Trail.

Stay out of the river and behind the railings. Emerald Pool and Silver Apron are not swimming stops. The water above and between these falls is dangerous even when it looks inviting.

 

Mist Trail vs John Muir Trail: why I return the same way

The John Muir Trail you take back to Happy Isles looks like this a few days’ walk north in Tuolumne Meadows

 

I have always retraced my route on these outings. A Mist Trail out-and-back is my recommendation because it keeps the day shorter. After reaching the upper waterfall, I am happy to return without adding a longer loop.

The John Muir Trail return makes sense when the steps are slippery or crowded. NPS recommends it as an alternative to the wet staircase. From Nevada Fall, it takes a longer, more gradual route toward the lower trail junction, with a different perspective on the waterfalls and granite.

The important logistical distinction is that this loop still finishes at Happy Isles. It does not require a second car or a ride from another trailhead. Its trade-off is the extra walking, not transport. A one-way hike involving Glacier Point is a different plan altogether.

My shorter-route preference depends on being comfortable descending the steps. If they are too slippery, choose the JMT instead. Closures can also decide the return for you; follow the posted detour and allow for the longer walk.

 

Beyond Nevada Fall: Half Dome or Glacier Point?

Nevada Fall sits at the foot of Liberty Cap, and Half Dome is a lot further than it looks from the Panorama Trail

 

Continuing a Mist Trail hike beyond Nevada Fall adds distance to an already substantial day. Decide on an extension before setting off.

I have gone toward the foothills of Half Dome, and that is my preferred direction for a longer hike from the Valley. It suits strong hikers with time left. Choose a turnaround that leaves enough daylight for the descent; the Nevada Fall distances above do not include this extension.

 

Half Dome is a separate commitment

Half Dome from Glacier Point, the summit I keep admiring from a safe distance

 

I have not climbed the Half Dome summit. The full Half Dome day hike is roughly 14–16 miles round trip, gains about 4,800 feet, and commonly takes 10–12 hours. It is a much larger undertaking than the Nevada Fall hike.

When the cables are up, a Half Dome permit is required beyond the base of the subdome, not merely when you reach the cables. Overnight trips require the appropriate wilderness permit as well.

For most first-time visitors, Nevada is enough. Treat the Half Dome summit as a separate trip to prepare for.

 

Start at Glacier Point for the Panorama Trail

Glacier Point sits about 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, a good reason to start the Panorama Trail here and not climb up to it

 

I continued almost to Glacier Point on one Valley outing. My recommendation after doing that: start at Glacier Point if you want the Panorama Trail scenery. Adding it to the waterfall hike makes the day too long for my liking.

On a separate outing from Glacier Point, we descended almost to Nevada Fall and then returned uphill. I loved that perspective on this part of the Valley. Just leave energy for the climb back to Glacier Point.

For a one-way hike between Glacier Point and the Valley, arrange transport in advance; there is no regular free Valley shuttle to Glacier Point. For a first Mist Trail hike, stick with the waterfalls and a return to Happy Isles.

If you’re staying near Oakhurst, this full-day Yosemite tour includes Glacier Point in season, so you get the view without driving up yourself.

 

Best time to hike the Mist Trail, crowds, and closures

My choice is early summer, while the waterfalls are powerful, provided the route is open. According to the NPS waterfall guide, Vernal and Nevada flow year-round, with peak flow generally in May and June. Snowpack and weather affect the timing; a calendar date alone does not guarantee maximum water.

 

Tunnel View in late May, with Bridalveil Fall running at full volume, which is roughly what the Mist Trail waterfalls are doing too

 

Later in summer, there may be less spray and much less water. The scenery still justifies the hike for me, but expect a different waterfall experience from the peak snowmelt season.

 

Same Tunnel View in late September, and good luck finding Bridalveil Fall this time

 

For the Yosemite Mist Trail, an early start helps with parking and puts you ahead of the busiest part of the day. Expect company around Vernal Fall, especially in the main season. Nevada requires more effort, but continuing uphill does not guarantee solitude.

 

Check the closure schedule for both directions

Between the footbridge and the top of Vernal Fall, the stretch of the Mist Trail that closes first and reopens last

 

Checked October 8, 2026: the NPS current conditions page lists repair closures on the lower Mist Trail, between the junction above the footbridge and the top of Vernal Fall, Monday–Thursday, 7 am–3:30 pm, through October 2026, subject to change. The John Muir Trail provides the designated detour. The notice excludes holidays; Friday–Sunday are outside this scheduled weekday closure.

Getting through before 7 am does not automatically make an out-and-back possible: the section may be closed when you return. Check the schedule against your whole hike, not just your start time.

Older guides may also mention the John Muir Trail's Ice Cut closure. That section reopened on July 27, 2026. Use the current NPS notice rather than a previous year's route description.

Winter introduces different restrictions. Falling ice and rock can close the lower Mist Trail, while icy sections of the upper JMT can also close. Follow the posted winter route and ranger advice; this is not a trail where I would assume the summer plan works year-round.

 

What to bring on the Mist Trail

Rain jacket, backpack, and shoes that grip; the Mist Trail dress code above Vernal Fall

 

For a Nevada Fall day, pack:

• Shoes with dependable grip. Smooth soles and wet granite are a bad combination.
• A rain layer and protection for your phone. Warm weather does not keep waterfall spray out of your bag.
• Water, food, and sun protection. For Nevada Fall, NPS advises about 3–4 liters of water per person. Adjust for heat and your own needs.
• A headlamp and downloaded directions. Longer extensions and slow descents can eat into the time you expected to have left.

Drinking water is available at Happy Isles and seasonally at the Vernal Fall footbridge; there is no drinking-water supply farther up the trail. Restrooms are at Happy Isles, seasonally near the footbridge, and above the two waterfalls. Carry what you need rather than plan on a refill at Nevada.

 

 

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