July 15, 1999: The Napa Valley/San Francisco
	July 13, 1999: The Mariposa Grove/Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks
	Return to the Index for Our California Trip

Today, we'll leave Fresno and return to the Yosemite Valley to hike to two waterfalls at the east end of the valley- Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. We will drive around the valley a bit more before heading west out of the park to stay the night back in Modesto, California.

Getting back to Yosemite National Park

We got up fairly early in Fresno, checked out of our motel, and began our drive back to the Yosemite Valley. We simply took California Highway 41 north out of Fresno, and followed it all the way back into Yosemite National Park.

On the way, we passed the Mariposa Redwoods that we had seen yesterday. By about ten-thirty we were coming back into the valley from the southwest. Once again, we followed the park road east, all the way around the boundary of the valley, until we came to the parking area for the Nature Center at Happy Isles. The trailhead for our hike was just across the Merced River from the Nature Center.

The Hike to Vernal Falls

As it turned out, the hikes to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls were part of the same trek- as you can see from the park map above. One hikes first to the top of Vernal Falls, then from there to Nevada Falls and finally back to the starting point via Vernal Falls again.

Vernal Falls Footbridge

The distance from the parking area to the Vernal Fall Footbridge was about 3/4 mile, and we climbed about 400 feet to get to it. This is a very popular hike, offering up-close views of the two large waterfalls, enjoyable scenery along the Merced River, and unique views across Yosemite Valley. This first paved mile of trail is busiest and accesses the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Almost entirely uphill, one can appreciate the views along the way, and during spring, when the water levels are at their peak, you can also glimpse Illillouette Fall from this first section of trail (although now, later in the summer, we did not get to see it.

After the first 3/4 mile we arrived at the footbridge, where we were treated to excellent views of Vernal Fall and the Merced River. You can click on the thumbnail images below to see some of these views:

Right near the footbridge, Fred also got a picture of one of the local residents before we headed on up the trail to the top of Vernal Fall.

From the footbridge, it was another half mile to the top of Vernal Fall. This part of the hike was somewhat more strenuous, as the trail was much steeper- gaining another 600 feet in that half mile.

The hike up was very enjoyable, for we were able to follow the Merced River as it flowed through the forest on its way down into the Valley. And just before we reached the stone stairway, we got a really beautiful view of Vernal Fall through the trees.

Me at the Top of Vernal Fall

About two-tenths of a mile beyond the bridge, the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail diverged. To proceed directly to the top of Vernal Fall, we followed the Mist Trail a half mile up a steep granite stairway of over 600 steps. The little trail guide advised us to prepare for slippery footing and a tremendous amount of waterfall spray in spring and early summer (hence the name for this trail), but there wasn't so much now in mid-July. We did get those great views of the falls all along this stretch of trail.

At the top of Vernal Fall, we were treated to jaw-dropping views straight down the length of the 317-foot waterfall. A number of people have fallen to their deaths over the years from here- most of them who tried swimming in the pool just above the fall. For that reason, railings have been installed, and there are caution signs all around advising visitors not to go beyond them and not to step anywhere where the rock is wet.

We took two amazing shots from the top of the fall, and you can click on the thumbnail images at left to have a look at them.

Our Hike to Nevada Falls

We had the entire day to spend here in Yosemite, and so we naturally wanted to hike as much as possible, so continuing on to the top of Nevada Falls was a no-brainer.

The View from the Nevada Fall Trail

The trail to the top of Nevada Fall added another three miles to the two and a half mile roundtrip to the top of Vernal Fall, and we experienced another 1000 foot gain in elevation. Taking this section of the hike also turned the total hike into a five-hour excursion, counting the time that we spent at the tops of both of the falls.

From Vernal Fall, we just continued uphill on the Mist Trail to the top of Nevada Fall. The trail took us up the west side of the fall and then down the east side, and we had to share the trail with other hikers and equestrians. There were many spots along the trail where we could see ahead and get great views of Vernal Fall, and you can see one of the nicest views here.

As we ascended, and got closer to the Fall, the views got better and better, and you can click on the thumbnail images below to see some of them:

The hike to the top of Nevada Fall took us another ninety minutes or so; we could have gotten there quicker, but the day was beautiful and the hiking conditions ideal, and we were just enjoying our leisurely pace.

Vernal Fall from the Mist Trail

Just past Vernal Fall, we passed a couple of small pools formed in the river. They certainly looked inviting, but as the trail guide pointed out, it is both illegal and dangerous to swim here due to the extremely hazardous current. The people who have died at Vernal Fall undoubtedly ignored those warnings.

The trail was level for short stretches, but most of it considted of steep, rocky switchbacks, and, eventually, we found ourselves at the top of Nevada Fall.

I must say that the views from here, at the top of Nevada Fall, and after a two-hour trek to get here, were so very much well worth it that deciding to do this hike was probably the best decision we made on the whole trip.

Looking Straight Down Nevada Fall

Crashing down 594 feet, this thunderous waterfall is fullest in spring and early summer, but even now there were terrific photographic opportunities from all around the top of the falls. As I said, we came up one side of the falls and went down the other, crossing the Merced River on the Nevada Fall Footbridge. We got wonderful views from the bridge, and from the bare rock all around both sides of the falls. (We certainly paid attention to the admonition to stay off wet rock and to certainly not get in the rapidly-flowing water. Click on the thumbnail images below to see some of the amazing views from here:

We spent the better part of an hour at the top of Nevada Fall, just reveling in the day and the views. Instead of heading back down the way we came, we continued over the bridge to the John Muir Trail.

The John Muir Trail Down

We knew that taking the Muir Trail back would be longer, but we had plenty of time and wanted to see different views. In the first part, a steep descent, we were treated to great views of Nevada Fall from its east side. You can click on the thumbnail images below to see some of these:

The Muir Trail leveled out a bit once we got to the level of the base of Nevada Fall, and it also opened out for a ways, offering us really spectacular views looking back up at the fall. You can click on the thumbnail images below to see some of these tremendous views:

One nice thing about the return trail is that we were closer to the Merced River as it flowed down to the top of Vernal Fall, and we got a couple of really nice pictures of it along the way. Below, you can see those views, along with a final picture we took when we reached the footbridge below Vernal Fall again two hours later:

The Merced River

The Merced River

Vernal Fall

We reached the car in the parking area about five o'clock, and began to make our way out of Yosemite. This place is really beautiful, and I hope we can return here to do some of the hikes that take you to the top of Half-Dome and into the backcountry. For now, though, we retraced the route we'd driven two days ago to head back west towards San Francisco. We planned to stop in the Napa Valley, but it was too late to do that today, so we stayed overnight northeast of Modesto.

You can use the links below to continue to another photo album page.

	July 15, 1999: The Napa Valley/San Francisco
	July 13, 1999: The Mariposa Grove/Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks
	Return to the Index for Our California Trip