Rainbows on the Mist Trail: Your guide to hiking Yosemite's most iconic trail

anggeventure
11 hours ago
4 min read

Yosemite National Park is home to one of the world's most beautiful trail systems. From back country adventures, to day hikes, you can't go wrong exploring the park by foot. Among its many treasures is the iconic Mist Trail, the trail that leads you to picture perfect Vernal and Nevada Falls. The Mist Trail is the most popular trail in the park, so you can expect to see plenty of other hikers, but it's worth braving the crowds for a truly an unforgettable hiking experience. No matter how many times I do it, it's still one of my favorite hikes ever!! Let's talk about some tips and tricks I've learned to have the best experience on Yosemite's most iconic trail.

The Hike: Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail

Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,158 ft
Rating: Hard
Trailhead: Happy Isles, parking and shuttle access

Overview: The Mist Trail begins at Happy Isles and the ascent begins almost immediately. You will see the JMT trail sign at the beginning of this hike which shows you all of the places this trail can lead you. The trail starts off tough, and stays tough but the views keep you moving!! Leading up to the Vernal Falls bridge, you'll see the Merced river, Yosemite Valley + Yosemite Falls, Glacier point, and the Illouette gorge. Once at the Vernal Falls foot bridge, you'll get a sneak peak of the falls and mentally prepare to start your climb up the iconic mist trail steps!! You might be tempted to stop here but I personally recommend you keep going. If you do keep going, get ready to get wet, the mist is coming. The stairs are made of granite and get slippery so please be careful. This is where the real fun starts and the experience of a life time begins. DON'T RUSH IT. Take in the mist, all of the rainbows, and the incredible views as you ascend to the top of Vernal Falls. The top of Vernal Falls is beautiful and is a great rest + snack spot. A lot of people use this as a turn around spot and head back down. The trail stats to the top of Vernal Falls are: 2.4 miles round trip, 1000 ft elevation gain. If you decide to continue on to Nevada falls, you'll be met with steep switch backs that bring you to the top of the waterfall for a stunning view of the canyon you just hiked through and beyond. The hike to the top of Nevada Falls is tough but is incredibly rewarding and is seriously just so beautiful. The Mist Trail technically continues on to Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome permit required, and even Clouds rest, but are not typically done as part of the day hike to the falls. Please remember to recreate safely and responsibly and to leave no trace. If visiting the park in the spring time, remember the dangers of swift water and recreating near waterfalls + rivers.

Best Time of Year: Spring

Overall, the best time to experience Yosemite National Park is in the spring time. Waterfalls are flowing, the meadows are green, and the park feels soo alive. If you're planning on hiking the Mist Trail, Vernal and Nevada falls are typically at peak flow from April-May. The rainbows and lightrays near Vernal Falls appear as a result of the mist pouring off of the falls so once they dry out for the season, you no longer get the full Mist Trail experience!! The falls typically start to try out in June, and stay pretty dry until the rain returns in the winter time.

Best Time of Day: Early-Mid Day

Early bird pretty much always gets the worm in Yosemite. The rainbows on the mist trail appear from morning-mid afternoon when the sun hit's the mist coming off of the falls. Light rays will only appear early morning as the sun is coming up because it peaks through the trees and hits the mist. I personally think these are part of the magic and are worth getting up early and starting a little cold. Doing the Mist Trail in early-mid Spring means it'll be a little chilly when you start your hike early morning, but will likely be pretty warm-hot by the end of it. During the summer it's hot most of the day and the mist coming off the falls will be minimal! Even in the spring time, the trail will be warmer and much busier later in the day so that is something else to consider. I've done the Mist Trail multiple times but my most recent experience was the best one so I will include time stamps below:

Left camp: 8:05am (Lower Pines Campground)
Arrived to Happy Isles Sign: 8:18am
Arrived to JMT Trail sign: 8:24am
Vernal Falls Bridge: 8:46am
Vernal Falls stairs: 9:00am
Vernal Falls rainbows: 9:08-9:40am
Vernal Falls light rays: 9:30am
Top of Vernal Falls: 9:45am
First sight of Nevada Falls: 10:26am
View of Nevada Falls: 10:40am
Nevada Falls Switchbacks: 11am
Top of Nevada Falls: 11:34am
View of Vernal Falls from above: 1:57pm
Back at camp: 3:30pm

You don't have to follow this exact timeline to experience magic on trail but I thought it might be resourceful for anyone looking for specific lighting!

Where to spot rainbows:

Vernal Falls
Top of Nevada Falls
View of Vernal Falls from above

Other tips:

Check the weather. Make sure clear sunny skies are in the forecast!
Plan your trip during mid-week. This only applies to those trying to avoid crowds.
Download AllTrails so you can see the different view points like #3 above.

What to Bring

Waterproof jacket or poncho to stay dry from the mist near the falls. If you do this on a hot day and want to embrace the mist you might not need a jacket!
Good hiking shoes with grip for wet and slippery rocks. Trekking poles are nice too.
Plenty of water and snacks to stay fueled for the day on trail. I would bring a water filter if you have one, there are multiple opportunities to filter water.
Camera or smartphone to capture the rainbows and stunning views. Make sure to bring a waterproof bag or container to protect your camera gear.
Sun protection such as a sun hoodie, hat, and sunscreen.