Mist Trail

The busiest and wettest trail in Yosemite Valley, climbing granite steps beside two waterfalls. The lower half is named for the spray off Vernal Fall, which soaks the staircase cut into the cliff next to it; above that the path crosses the Emerald Pool and the Silver Apron and climbs again to the top of Nevada Fall, with Liberty Cap overhead. [Route details] Start: Happy Isles (1,236 m) · End: top of Nevada Fall (1,842 m) 4.3 km one way · climbing about 600 m [Along the way] - Vernal Fall footbridge 1.3 km · top of Vernal Fall 2.3 km - Emerald Pool and Silver Apron 2.6 km · top of Nevada Fall 4.3 km [Good to know] - The steps are wet and slippery when the falls are full, in late spring; the stretch beside Vernal Fall closes in winter. - Most walkers return by the John Muir Trail, which is longer but gentler and looks back at Nevada Fall from across the canyon. - Elevation is sampled from a terrain model, not recorded on the ground.