Vernal Fall

This waterfall maybe immensely popular, but it's not quite as easy to access as other famous waterfalls throughout Yosemite Valley. That's because you'll have to either hike to this waterfall to get close to it, or you have to drive a bit in order to see this waterfall from afar.

So allow me to walk you through some of the ways we've experienced this waterfall.

Mist Trail to Vernal Fall: This trail begins at the Happy Isles trailhead (signpost V24). Usually, no vehicles are allowed to this point, but you can take one of the frequent shuttles from the Curry Village stop (V22) or you can walk the extra mile to the trailhead. If you're real fortunate or did some planning ahead, you might be able to secure a camping spot in the Upper Pines Campground and merely walk to the trailhead from there.

This hike is about 2 miles each way. It's about a mile to get to the footbridge where you can get a distant, but partial view of the waterfall from there. However, this isn't the best view yet.

From the footbridge, you have a choice as to whether to take the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail. Take the Mist Trail, which follows the turbulent (especially in the Spring) Merced River right up to the top of Vernal Fall. And it's this mile stretch where you'll probably need some wet weather gear unless you just want to take a cold shower. But do watch out for the potentially slippery footing on the granite steps.

Since the Mist Trail is so popular, you will be squeezing your way through the bi-directional traffic while trying not to fall into the Merced River! You're probably going to have a pretty hard time noticing the falls while paying attention to your safety (at least if you're going downhill on the Mist Trail). Anyhow, be careful and take your time if you find yourself in a crowd here.

Vernal Fall from near Clark Point: There's a trail linking the John Muir Trail (about a mile downhill from the Panorama Cliffs) with the Mist Trail (from above Vernal Fall but before you cross the footbridge). From near the top part of this linking trail, you can get a dramatic top-down view of the entire waterfall. And if there are people standing at the brink of the falls, you can even get a sense of how big the waterfall is against the tiny folks standing next to it.

Glacier Point or Washburn Point: If you don't want to hike, but still you want to see the falls (albeit a distant view), then you can drive to the end of Glacier Point Road (G11) or one stop before that at Washburn Point (G10) to get a dramatic panoramic view of not only this waterfall but also Nevada Falls, Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon, Mt Starr King, and more! It's also from this vantage point that you might appreciate why the Vernal and Nevada Fall combo is sometimes referred to as the Giant Stairway.

Moreover, if you do decide to do a hike from Glacier Point, parts of the Panorama Trail also yield additional top-down views of the waterfall.

I've included more photographs below to show you how else we've captured the awesome beauty of the waterfall.

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Vernal Fall from near Clark Point as seen in late afternoon March 2004

Full context of Giant Stairway from Washburn Point

The first portion of the hike to Vernal Fall is paved as it passes through fields of fallen talus (evidence of the continual shedding of the granite cliffs resulting in rock falls like the one that happened near Curry Village in 1997)

Partial view of the waterfall from the footbridge

A recent (June 2011) morning photo of the falls from Lady Franklin Rock

The Mist Trail before it gets misty

About to enter the mist; notice the wet granite steps

Getting sprayed

Temporary shelter from the drenching mist of the Mist Trail

Full rainbow from the Mist Trail

Looking back at the Mist Trail and a rainbow

Angled view of the waterfall near the last section of the wet part of the Mist Trail (as seen in March 2004)

Narrow granite steps to the top of the waterfall

Lots of people at the top of the waterfall

Looking down over the top of Vernal Fall

The top of the waterfall (as seen in 2002)

The waterfall viewed from the Panorama Trail

A more recent photo (2011) of Giant Stairway from the Panorama Trail

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Bottom up sweep starting with the Giant Stairway then zooming out showing the full context of the view from Washburn Point


Bottom up sweep of Vernal Fall from Lady Franklin Rock. Notice the tiny people on the right side of the sweep - they're about to find out how the Mist Trail got its name


Top down sweep of the falls from just beyond the wet part of the Mist Trail. The sweep ends in a rainbow further downstream


Right to left sweep from the brink of the falls


Right to left sweep starting with the Silver Apron and ending at the Emerald Pool


Left to right sweep starting with direct view of Vernal Fall and ending with the mist from the waterfall spraying the Mist Trail


Following the falls from its brink to its base as seen from somewhere near Clark Point

Swirling sweep from right at the brink of the turbulent Merced River leaping off at Vernal Fall from atop the wet portion of the Mist Trail


Sweep of the eastern side of the Glacier Point panorama showing Vernal and Nevada Falls as part of the sweep as well as Half Dome and Mt Starr King

View World of Waterfalls in a larger map

TRIP REPORTS

• June 1, 2002
• June 7, 2003
• March 20, 2004
• February 25, 2006
• June 3, 2011

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Nevada Falls
• Illilouette Falls
• Staircase Falls
• Royal Arch Cascades
• Snow Creek Falls
• Yosemite Falls

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