Mist Trail
Yosemite National Park
| Address: | Mist Trail, California 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°43'58.3"N 119°33'27.9"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trails/Routes: | 1.9-2.9 mi |
Rivers Waterfalls Streams Trails Rocks National Park
Backpack and Hike
The mist trail is a small breakoff from the John Muir Trail through Yosemite National Park. It's called the mist trail because of the heavy amount of mist that hikers walk through as Vernal and Nevada Falls crash hundreds of feet below. The hike is short as for horizontal distance traveled but the incline will give you a run for your money. You'll ascend 639 stone stairs to reach the top of Vernal Falls. There's a waterfall in between the two that is a sight all it's own but is often forgotten because of the behemoths on either side. The hike between the falls is a nice break as it is fairly flat relative to the rest of the trail. Once you get to the base of Nevada Falls, you'll have to take switchbacks up the giant cliffs to the top.
These waterfalls are usually the last to dry up around Yellowstone Village. Whether you just love waterfalls or you want a closer view of Halfdome, Whitecap, or Mt. Broderick, the Mist Trail definitely offers world class views. There are bathroom facilities just above Vernal Falls and water just before you start to ascend the stairs. There's another trail that is less steep but that skips Vernal Falls.
Distances (one-way):
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Vernal Fall Bridge | 0.8 miles | 400 ft |
| Top of Vernal Falls | 1.5 miles | 1100 ft |
| Top of Nevada Falls | 3.4 miles | 2230 ft |
More Information
Yosemite National Park Itinerary
This Yosemite National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yosemite National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yosemite-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinMist Trail - Wikipedia
The Mist Trail, looking west from the top of Vernal Fall (Photo taken in 1983)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist_TrailThe Mist Trail | Hike the Mist Trail | Yosemite National Park
The Mist Trail, a popular short hike in Yosemite, follows the Merced River, starting at Happy Isles, past Vernal Fall and Emerald Pool, to Nevada Fall. Learn more about the Mist Trail with maps, photos and more.
https://www.yosemite.com/things-to-do/adventure-activities/the-mist-trail/Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is closed between Clark Point and the Panorama Trail Junction. Use the Mist Trail to reach Nevada Fall, the Panorama Trail, Little Yosemite Valley, and other destinations. Reopening date to be announced—check back for updates.
https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/vernalnevadatrail.htmYosemite Hikes: The Mist Trail
A hiker’s guide to Yosemite’s Mist Trail
https://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/mist-trail/mist-trail.htmBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite National Park
- Head northeast on El Portal RdToll road(5.5 mi)
- El Portal Rd turns slightly right and becomes Southside DrPartial toll road(6.1 mi)
- Continue straight onto Happy Isle Loop RdToll road(0.4 mi)
- Turn left to stay on Happy Isle Loop RdToll road(0.1 mi)
- Turn rightToll roadRestricted usage road(0.5 mi)
From halfdome village, you can take a bus right to the trailhead.
Other Hiking Trails and Backpacking Trails Nearby
Glacier Point
Yosemite National Park
0.9 miles WPerched at 7,214 feet above Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point delivers bird's-eye views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and multiple waterfalls — accessible by car or a 4.7-mile hike.
Hike
Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.1 miles NEA paved, car-free trail winds to this seasonal lake at the base of Half Dome, offering a still mirror reflection and a popular summer swimming hole.
Backpack, Hike, Swim 0.4-2.1 mi
Illilouette Falls
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
1.4 miles SA 4-mile hike starting downhill from Glacier Point to a footbridge view of Illilouette Falls — with a side trip on the quieter Panorama Trail adding Half Dome and Nevada Falls views.
Hike 4.6 mi
Four Mile Trail
Yosemite National Park
1.6 miles WA 4.7-mile one-way hike connecting Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point with views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Royal Arches — best visited in spring when the falls run full.
Hike 4.1 mi
North Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.7 miles NA strenuous 10.4-mile hike through Yosemite forest to North Dome, rewarding hikers with the best straight-on view of Half Dome from 7,450 feet — plus a 0.6-mile detour to a 15-foot granite arch.
Backpack, Hike 2.9 mi
Upper Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.1 miles NWThe tallest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet — a 7.2-mile, 2,600-ft-gain hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls with stunning valley views along the way.
Hike 0.7 mi
Cook's Meadow Loop
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.1 miles NWA nearly 1-mile, nearly flat loop in Sentinel Meadow with close-up views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock — Yosemite's best easy walk.
Hike 0.8 mi
Lower Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.3 miles NWA short, flat walk to the base of a 3,967-foot waterfall — twice the height of the Empire State Building and one of North America's tallest, best visited in spring or early summer before it dries.
Hike 2.1 mi
Snow Creek Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.6 miles NEA 2,140-foot, seven-drop cascade tucked deep in Tenaya Canyon — best spotted from the Mirror Lake Loop, where you can also take a swim before hunting for the falls from the Snow Creek Trail junction.
Backpack, Hike 1.9 mi
Half Dome
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.6 miles EA grueling 14-mile round-trip hike with 4,800 feet of gain to the summit of Half Dome, including a cable section in the final 400 feet — a permit is required and a sunrise start is essential.
Hike 15.9 mi
Valley Loop Trail
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.8 miles WAn 11.5-mile loop trail through the heart of Yosemite Valley following the Merced River past wildflower meadows, the Three Brothers, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls — with nearly no elevation gain.
Hike 1.2 mi
Taft Point
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
2.9 miles SWA 5-mile Yosemite loop pairing Sentinel Dome with Taft Point, offering El Capitan views, dramatic cliff fissures, and 3,000-foot valley vistas — no guard rails, so watch your footing.
Hike
Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
3.9 miles WFor a few weeks in mid-to-late February, Horsetail Falls glows orange with reflected sunset light — a rare 'firefall' phenomenon requiring clear skies and a parking permit.
Hike 1.7 mi
Mono Meadow
Yosemite West, Yosemite National Park
4.5 miles SA short, lightly trafficked 3-mile round-trip hike through a wildflower meadow recovering from wildfire, offering simultaneous views of Mt. Starr King, Clarke Range, and Half Dome.
Hike 0.2 mi
Ribbon Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
4.6 miles WThe longest single-drop waterfall in North America at 1,612 feet — seasonal and best seen in late morning when the sun hits it directly, visible from El Capitan Road as you enter Yosemite Valley.
Hike 0.2 mi
Bridalveil Falls
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
5.0 miles WA 620-foot waterfall that flows year-round and soaks onlookers with mist — Bridalveil Falls is just a quick half-mile paved walk from the trailhead, wheelchair accessible and pet friendly.
Hike 0.5 mi
McGurk Meadow
Yosemite National Park
5.8 miles SWA flat, 0.8-mile walk through one of Yosemite's most secluded wildflower meadows, complete with a brook and a historic 1800s cabin — few visitors, pure charm.
Hike 5.5 mi
Ostrander Lake
Wawona, California
7.5 miles SAn 11.4-mile Yosemite hike to a semi-secluded swim lake surrounded by granite mountains — wildflowers, streams, and meadows in summer; open for cross-country skiing in winter via Ostrander Lodge.
Hike, Swim
Tenaya Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.6 miles NETenaya Lake's glacier-carved granite shoreline offers a spacious east-beach for swimming, canoeing, and kayaking with stunning Yosemite dome views all around.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim 1.3-1.6 mi
May Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
8.7 miles NEA 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to a scenic 9,270-foot lake at the base of Mt. Hoffmann — with views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Teyana Lake, plus the option to summit the peak for even grander panoramas.
Hike, SwimNearby Campsites
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
1.5 miles NWThe Merced River circles Yosemite Valley with whitewater, swimming holes, gold-panning spots, and unbeatable views of Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point at every bend.
Camp, Swim, Whitewater 5.7 mi
Ten Lakes
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
11.8 miles NA 6.4-mile hike from Yosemite Creek to three of the Ten Lakes Basin's seven lakes, through wildflower meadows, forests, and past the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, gaining 2,200 feet.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Crane Flat
Big Oak Flat, Yosemite National Park
13.3 miles WFramed between two giant sequoia groves, Crane Flat meadow is a quiet Yosemite base camp for birding, stargazing, and seasonal hikes to Lukens and Harden Lake.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Snowshoe 6.1 mi
Glen Aulin
Wawona, California
14.3 miles NEAn 11-mile hike along the Tuolumne River to Glen Aulin with 800 feet of gain, passing Tuolumne Falls, Soda Springs, wildflower meadows, and the stunning White Cascade.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Glen Aulin
Glen Aulin, California
14.4 miles NEA popular introductory Yosemite High Country backcountry hike following the Tuolumne River to a High Sierra Camp beside the White Cascade waterfall, with further options to Waterwheel Falls.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
15.3 miles NEA stunning alpine meadow in the high Sierra with granite domes and mountain views, the meandering Tuolumne River, and access to Yosemite backcountry — open summer only when the park road is clear.
Camp, Hike 4.0 mi
Saddlebag Lake
Lee Vining, California
22.4 miles NEAt 10,008 ft, this Eastern Sierra alpine lake offers exceptional trout fishing, a scenic four-mile loop, and a water taxi into the heart of the Twenty Lakes Basin.
Camp, Canoe, Hike
Briceburg Recreation Area
Midpines, California
25.2 miles WBriceburg is where State Route 140 drops out of the Sierra foothills and meets the Wild and Scenic Merced River, twelve miles east of Mariposa on the road to Yosemite, and it's one of the best public...
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Crystal Lake
Mammoth Lakes, California
31.2 miles EA 3.2-mile roundtrip Sierra day hike past Lake George, Lake Marie, and Lake Mamie, ending at Crystal Lake beneath the monolith Crystal Crag — shaded trail with room to swim, fish, or picnic lakeside.
Camp, Hike
Standish Hickey Area
Lakeshore, California
40.9 miles SEA two-mile stretch of the south fork of the Eel River inside a redwood canyon 180 miles from San Francisco — swim, kayak, fish, or hike, then camp near the 1,200-year-old Captain Miles Standish Tree.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Wild Willy's Hot Spring
Mammoth Lakes, California
43.3 miles EA soaking hot spring in Long Valley's open sagebrush plain — pools range from 95°F to 105°F, with a larger deeper pool and smaller, hotter pools, reached by a 0.2-mile wooden boardwalk from the parking area.
Camp, Hot Springs
Crowley Lake Campground
Crowley Lake, California
44.7 miles ENestled in the stunning Eastern Sierra near Crowley Lake, this BLM campground offers first-come, first-served sites for tents, RVs, and trailers with breathtaking high-desert views.
Camp
