California Trip - Day 3: Vernal & Nevada Falls

On our third day of the trip, we drove into Yosemite Valley. We stopped at Tunnel View (right after passing through the tunnel) to take in the views and then walked up to Bridalveil Fall which was a very short walk. Then we parked at Yosemite Village and took the shuttle to the start of the Mist Trail. The Mist Trail takes you across the Vernal Fall Footbridge and up the "Giant Staircase" along Vernal Fall (317 feet tall) and then up alongside Nevada Fall (594 feet tall). The entire hike has a 2200 foot increase in elevation and was about 6.5 miles round trip.  We were drenched from the mist off the Merced River! After making it to the top, we had amazing views of the valley and then took the John Muir Trail back down to the bottom.

Entering the Valley

Tunnel View

Tunnel View

Tunnel View

Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall

Vernal Fall Footbridge over the Merced River

View looking down from the Footbridge

Rainbow over the Vernal Fall

Vernal Fall from the Giant Staircase

Rainbow near the top of Vernal Fall

After the Giant Staircase but before the Final Push to the Top

View from the Top of Vernal Fall

Resting at the Top of Vernal Fall

View from Vernal Fall

Climbing Nevada Fall

Nevada Fall

The Very Top of Nevada Fall

Top of Nevada Fall

View from the John Muir Trail

Hiking Down the John Muir Trail

Looking Back at Nevada Fall

John Muir Trail with Nevada Fall in the Background

John Muir Trail with Nevada Fall in the Background

John Muir Trail with Nevada Fall in the Background

View of the Valley from the John Muir Trail

Steep Granite Cliffs Along the John Muir Trail

The Boys Earned Their Ice Cream