# Mist Trail > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mist_Trail > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mist_Trail.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist_Trail > Source revision: 1314348828 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Hiking trail in Yosemite National Park, California Mist Trail The Mist Trail, looking west from the top of Vernal Fall (Photo taken in 1983) Length 7 miles (11 km) out and back Location California, United States Trailheads Happy Isles trailhead, Yosemite Valley Use backpacking, hiking, trail running Elevation change 2,900 ft (880 m) gain Highest point Nevada Fall Lowest point Happy Isles trailhead, 4,000 feet (1,200 m) Difficulty Moderate to strenuous Months Spring to Fall Sights Vernal Fall, Emerald Pool, Nevada Fall Hazards Snowmelt, icy slopes early season, altitude Trail map The **Mist Trail** is one of the most popular short hikes in [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), [California](/source/California), USA. The steep hike follows the [Merced River](/source/Merced_River), starting at [Happy Isles](/source/Happy_Isles) in [Yosemite Valley](/source/Yosemite_Valley), past [Vernal Fall](/source/Vernal_Fall) and [Emerald Pool](/source/Emerald_Pool_(Yosemite_National_Park)), to [Nevada Fall](/source/Nevada_Fall). ## Description Along the trail, the Merced River is a tumultuous mountain stream, lying in a [U-shaped valley](/source/U-shaped_valley). Enormous boulders, some the size of a house, are dwarfed by the sheer faces of [exfoliating granite](/source/Exfoliating_granite), which rise 3000 feet (914 m) from the river. Through it all, the Merced River rushes down from its source in the [High Sierra](/source/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)), and broadens on the floor of Yosemite Valley. A trail which links to the [John Muir Trail](/source/John_Muir_Trail) starts after crossing from the Happy Isles. Depending on one's conditioning, a bridge which re-crosses the river - the halfway point of a hike to the foot of [Vernal Fall](/source/Vernal_Fall) - can be reached in 15 to 30 minutes. Hikers stop briefly just below the lower margin of the mist from Vernal Fall To the side of Vernal Fall, the mist from the river blankets the trail, which was improved during the [WPA](/source/Works_Progress_Administration) projects of the 1930s. Here is where raingear becomes handy: in the spring, hikers often become completely drenched from water sprayed off Vernal Fall. This is one of the few places where a complete circular [rainbow](/source/Rainbow) can be viewed. A photo showing mist on the Mist trail The trail now crosses a sheer face which is made somewhat easier by a single guard rail. At the top of Vernal Fall, the Merced River traverses a shelf of granite, and the hikers frequently sun themselves to dry off. The [Emerald Pool](/source/Emerald_Pool_(Yosemite_National_Park)) is named for the color of the river here. Up the trail, Nevada Fall, a waterfall that is almost twice the height of Vernal Fall, awaits the hiker, although there is no cascade of mist over the trail at that waterfall. Behind Nevada Fall is [Liberty Cap](/source/Liberty_Cap_(California)), an impressive lump of granite. The Mist Trail then rejoins the John Muir Trail: the hiker can travel in [Little Yosemite Valley](/source/Little_Yosemite_Valley), or take a side trip to the top of [Half Dome](/source/Half_Dome), using cables to climb the rock. Permits must be obtained in advance to hike Half Dome, and back country permits are required to stay overnight along the John Muir Trail. The distance from Happy Isles trailhead to the Vernal Fall foot bridge is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) with an elevation gain of 400 ft (120m); to the top of Vernal Fall is 1.2 miles (1.95 km ) with an elevation gain of 1000 ft (300m); and to the top of Nevada Fall is 2.7 miles (4.35 km) one way with an elevation gain of 1900 ft (610m)( data per NPS information[1]). ## Related hikes - The Mist Trail is commonly used as the first leg of the hike up [Half Dome](/source/Half_Dome). Half Dome can also be reached by the [John Muir Trail](/source/John_Muir_Trail), but this route is longer and less scenic. However, it is less steep than the Mist Trail, which makes it more commonly used for descent. The mist from Vernal Falls can be a significant factor governing the choice between the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail while climbing Half Dome. For instance, the Mist Trail might be very inviting on warm days or something to be avoided on cool days. Also, the Mist Trail is usually more inviting on ascent, as the mist helps to cool hikers while climbing the steep trail. - The [High Sierra Camps](/source/High_Sierra_Camps) provide a loop through the Yosemite backcountry, with tent cabins spaced one day's hike apart. These require reservations. - A panoramic view of the Mist Trail can be had from [Glacier Point](/source/Glacier_Point), 3000 feet (900 m) above, looking north. During the summer, shuttle buses from the floor of the valley will take an hour to arrive at Glacier Point. Hikers have the option of taking a shuttle bus one-way from the valley floor to Glacier Point, then hiking on the [Panorama Trail](/source/Panorama_Trail) from Glacier Point down to the top of the Mist Trail at Nevada Fall. - The [John Muir Trail](/source/John_Muir_Trail) starts at the same trailhead as the Mist Trail. ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)"](https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/vernalnevadatrail.htm). *www.nps.gov*. Retrieved July 24, 2017. ## External links [Wikimedia Commons](/source/Wikimedia_Commons) has media related to: [Mist Trail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mist_Trail) ([category](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mist_Trail)) - [Hiking up the Mist Trail - a short video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSAuOLzG_iE) - [The Mist Trail - Hiking Info & Route](http://alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-mist-trail) - [Hiking the Mist Trail](http://www.timberlinetrails.net/YosemiteMistTrail.html) - [Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls - Hike Directions & Video](https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/yosemite-hikes/mist-trail-to-vernal-falls-and-nevada-falls/) v t e Yosemite National Park Attractions Yosemite Valley Yosemite Village Hetch Hetchy Glacier Point Badger Pass Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Tuolumne Meadows Tioga Pass Wawona Tree Chilnualna Falls Valley attractions Half Dome Yosemite Falls El Capitan Films: El Capitan, The Dawn Wall, Free Solo, To the Limit Bridalveil Fall Happy Isles Mirror Lake North Dome Vernal Fall Nevada Fall Little Yosemite Valley LeConte Lodge Bracebridge Dinner Yosemite Firefall Yosemite Valley Chapel Hiking trails John Muir Trail Mist Trail Panorama Trail McGurk Meadow Ostrander Lake Taft Point Sentinel Dome Alder Creek Mariposa Grove Wapama Falls Lembert Dome Rock climbs Fairview Dome, North Face Half Dome, Northwest Face Lost Arrow Spire Midnight Lightning Royal Arches Route Salathé Wall (El Capitan) Steck-Salathé Route (Sentinel Rock) Separate Reality The Nose (El Capitan) People John Muir Stephen T. Mather Galen Clark Shelton Johnson Buffalo Soldiers Chief Tenaya Ahwahnechee people Lodging and camping Yosemite Lodge at the Falls The Ahwahnee Curry Village Wawona Hotel Housekeeping Camp High Sierra Camps Camp 4 Natural disasters 1938 Yosemite TWA crash 1996 Yosemite Valley landslide 1997 Merced River flood 2013 Rim Wildfire 2022 Washburn Wildfire Transportation Nearby airports FAT RMY MMH YARTS Route 140 Route 41 Route 120 Nearby municipalities Foresta El Portal & Arch Rock Entrance Yosemite West & Chinquapin Wawona Bootjack Mariposa Briceburg Oakhurst Midpines Lee Vining Additional information History of the Yosemite area Geology of the Yosemite area List of historic places List of waterfalls Yosemite Category California Portal v t e Hiking trails in California Interstate American Discovery Trail Great Western Loop Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Pacific Crest Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Pyramid Trail Bay Area Alameda Creek Regional Trail Barbary Coast Trail Bay Area Ridge Trail Contra Costa Canal Coyote Creek Trail Guadalupe River Trail Iron Horse Regional Trail John W. Christian Greenbelt Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail Los Gatos Creek Trail Ohlone Greenway Philosopher's Way Richmond Greenway San Francisco Bay Trail Santa Cruz Trail Sawyer Camp Trail Spur Trail Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail Stevens Creek Trail Three Creeks Trail Sierra Nevada Four Mile Trail Hetch Hetchy to Lake Vernon Trail High Sierra Trail Independence Trail John Muir Trail Lower Sagehen Creek Hiking Trail Mist Trail Mount Whitney Trail Sierra High Route Silver Knapsack Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Tahoe–Yosemite Trail Theodore Solomons Trail Trail of 100 Giants Southern California Backbone Trail Cactus to Clouds Trail Gabrielino Trail Lost Palms Oasis Trail Mount Wilson Toll Road Sam Merrill Trail Bradshaw Trail Santa Clara River Trail Silver Moccasin Trail Trans-Catalina Trail Ventura River Parkway Trail Windy Gap Trail Other Bigfoot Trail Brad Freeman Trail California Coastal Trail Hammond Trail Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail Joe Rodota Trail Kortum Trail MacKerricher Coastal Trail Nobles Emigrant Trail Pine Ridge Trail Pinnacle and Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trails Prince Greenway [37°43′37″N 119°32′40″W / 37.72694°N 119.54444°W / 37.72694; -119.54444](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Mist_Trail¶ms=37.72694_N_119.54444_W_type:landmark_region:US) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mist Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist_Trail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist_Trail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.