CALIFORNIA

 Distance from Trailhead: 1.5 miles, trailhead is East of Shuttle Stop 16

Elevation Gain: 1000 ft

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Vernal Fall is a 317 ft tall waterfall that is not visible from the main valley. It can be seen from afar with little hiking from Washburn or Glacier Point. However, seeing the waterfall from there is just too far. It can be best experienced hiking alongside this waterfall. The trailhead for Mist Trail is at Happy Isles, Shuttle Stop 16. The trailhead is east of stop 16 across the bridge crossing the Merced River. It is not difficult to find the trailhead with too many others also hiking this trail, obviously, this is a very popular trail. But the crowd was progressively thinning out after the footbridge and after Vernal Fall. The trail to Vernal Fall meanders uphill through a thick forest along Merced River. Both Yosemite and Illouette Falls can be seen from afar at the trail to Vernal Falls. But the best way to experience Illouette Falls is by way of the Panorama trail, which also merges on this trail. After 0.8 mile hike and 400 ft elevation gain, you will reach the footbridge, supposedly a viewpoint for Vernal Fall. However, the view of the waterfall at the footbridge was obstructed by the trees when we were there.

There were a few we met in the trail who turned around from the Footbridge saying, “not worth it”, referring to the obstructed view they got at the Footbridge after probably a decent hike for them. Am sure, if they continued hiking to the waterfall, they would have an entirely different experience and will not turn around disappointed. But then, not a lot of people would want to labor for that priceless experience.

 For those who continued their hike to the Mist Trail, or even to the top of waterfall were surely rewarded by magnificent sight and unforgettable experience.

 First, the power of Vernal Fall sprays mist into the trail giving the hikers a nice cool shower. That “almost like taking a shower” experience as we climbed up the stairs cut into cliff was so much fun, being up close to the full power of Vernal Fall.

 Then, there was a huge rainbow at the base of the waterfall. The wonderful gift of water and sun.

After 1.5 miles of hike with 1,000 ft elevation gain, we reached the top of Vernal Fall. We followed the 500+ steps granite staircase that were cut into the edge of the cliff in the Mist Trail to bring us to the top of Vernal Fall. 

from the top of Vernal Falls

We did not stop our hike at Vernal Fall, instead, we continued to Nevada Falls which is 2 miles further East and gaining another 1000 ft from the top of Vernal Falls.

I know, I have been loading this blog of posts about Yosemite National Park. But then, I am not done yet, before I leave Yosemite, I would like to share all the features that I’ve experienced in the park. And let me warn you, there would still be about 3 more posts about Yosemite, after this one.

When you are entering Yosemite Valley from the South, you will pass through Wamona Tunnel. As soon as you emerge from Wamona Tunnel, slow down and find parking to your right or left immediately or you will pass this spectacular viewpoint. In front of you is probably the most photographed viewpoint of Yosemite National Park, the Tunnel View.  

The Wamona Tunnel was constructed in 1933 to provide easier access to the hoards of tourists coming into Yosemite Valley. It took 2 years to drill the tunnel, using 275 tons of blasting power progressing to 20 ft a day.  The tunnel is about a mile long and of solid rock. Some parts of the tunnel are concrete, but the other parts appear to be part of the rocky hillside.  The viewpoint after you emerge from the tunnel is probably one of the most well known views in the world. It has beautiful view of Yosemite Valley and its major features.  To quote Ansel Adams, 

 ” Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.” 

  Ansel Adams iconic images of Yosemite are great art; excellent photographs of a very important landscape. Yosemite, and all of the Sierra is overwhelming. There is no clear feature to describe the Sierra, but it testifies to nature’s beauty and diversity: immense mountains and valleys, rugged foothills, glacial-polished giant granite rocks sparkling under the sunlight, glacial lakes, tall waterfalls and world’s largest trees.  But I don’t want to shrink the Sierra to these group of majestic features, it feels more than that. 

  The features at Tunnel View includes El Capitan, the largest granite monolith in the world, that rises 3000 ft. Rising 3000 ft, this height is the elevation of some mountains already! From a distance and to the right of El Capitan, the Half Dome can be seen, and then,

 the Cathedral Rocks on the rightmost with the 620 ft tall Bridalveil Falls. And the forested valley is beneath all these geological features. This is a popular viewpoint, there are plenty of cameras out and clicking. Worth the stop to take in some of the wonders of the park.