Mist Trail Guide

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The trail splits, hike to the left.

Once you’re over the bridge, make the hard right onto the Mist Trail.

These people are standing on wet granite, about 1 foot away from a fall down all 594 feet of Nevada Falls. Here’s an example of what not to do.

People die every year because they did not heed warnings on signs like this. Don’t be one of them.

The route climbs the granite steps of the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, then returns via the John Muir Trail loop.

Once you get to the Happy Isles shuttle stop, walk down the road, across the Happy Isles Bridge, and then right onto the trail. More in the video and turn-by-turn directions below.

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The trail is pretty much all uphill. The good news is that thousands of people of all shapes and sizes do this hike, and you can too. The steepest sections are right before Vernal Falls and the last stretch up to Nevada Falls.

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Once you get to the Happy Isles shuttle stop, walk down the road, across the Happy Isles Bridge, and then right onto the trail. More in the video and turn-by-turn directions below.

Here’s the Yosemite shuttle bus map. Take the bus to Happy Isles and start hiking from there. You can also park close in one of the lots if you can find a spot.

Here’s the Vernal Falls Bridge at 9am on a Monday in July. At 11am this will be like a packed New York subway car. Not fun. Do your hike early, and if you can’t make it early, go later in the afternoon.

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