Ultimate Itinerary for Yosemite National Park: Vernal and Nevada Falls

A visit to Yosemite National Park is not complete without a visit to Vernal and Nevada Falls. On Day 3 of your epic 4 day itinerary for Yosemite National Park, complete one of the most popular trails in the park and visit the thundering Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Technically, you can hike to Vernal Falls and turn around, but the extra effort to see Nevada Falls is 100% worth it in our opinion. Plus, a hike along the Mist Trail is always refreshing if it’s a hot summer day!

Learn more about how to complete this epic loop and visit two of Yosemite’s most popular waterfalls. Finally, end your day with a quick visit to Bridalveil Falls and Tunnel View. Check out other posts in our 4 day Yosemite itinerary below:

• Day 1: Hike the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail to Yosemite Point.
• Day 2: Visit Tuolumne Meadows and hike to Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake.
• Day 3: Get soaked on the Vernal and Nevada Falls Loop along the Mist Trail.
• Day 4: Explore the amazing Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and hike to Wapama Falls.

Need to Know Info – Yosemite Entry 2026

• Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• Yosemite National Park will NOT use timed entry or reservations in 2026.
• Arrive as early as possible at Yosemite National Park and consider visiting on weekdays for less congestion and crowds.
• Plan to park your car and use the FREE shuttle system to get around the park. Shuttles run often and provide a convenient way to move around the park. Trust us, once you’re parked, you will regret trying to move your car.
  • Valleywide shuttle: Serving all stops in Yosemite Valley. This includes lodges, restaurants, campgrounds, and trailheads. Buses arrive every 12 to 22 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • East Valley shuttle: Serving ONLY Yosemite Village, Curry Village, Pines campgrounds, and trailheads in eastern Yosemite Valley. Buses arrive every 8 to 12 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Safety and Weather in Yosemite National Park

• Cell phone coverage at Yosemite National Park was great in the Yosemite Valley. As you head away from this area, you may have slow to no cell service.
• What’s that buzzing sound? Get our favorite bug spray here!
• Water: It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Why carry a plastic or large water bottle when you could carry a water bladder?
• Food & Gas: There are many food options in the Yosemite Valley. There are NO gas services in Yosemite Valley. Here is where you can find gas:
  • El Portal Market (west of the valley), 9 am – 7 pm
  • Crane Flat Gas Station (north of the valley), open Year-round: 24 Hr Pay-at-Pump
• Restrooms: There are restrooms located in many places in Yosemite Valley. Some have running water and some do not. These include port-a-potties.
• Weather can vary depending on your location in the park. Yosemite National Park ranges from 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet in elevation. Lower elevations will be hot in the summer months, but cooler in the higher elevation areas. The rainy season is from October to May, and the park is often covered with snow from November through May.
• Be aware of forest fires: fire and smoke may be present in the park at any time.
• Poison oak may be present. Here is what it looks like, so you don’t ruin your vacation!

Animal Safety in Yosemite National Park

• Yosemite National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Deer, black bears, big horn sheep, mountain lions, and foxes are just a few of the mammals you might see. There are also frogs, lizards, turtles, and snakes, including the one venomous Northern Pacific rattlesnake. However, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter one.
  • Review the steps to take if you encounter a black bear or mountain lion along the trail. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will encounter an aggressive animal, but always be prepared.
• Please do not leave food in your car! By storing your food properly, you can prevent a bear’s unnecessary death. Failure to store your food correctly could result in a $5,000 fine and/or the impoundment of your car. Learn more about what to do.

👉🏽 Looking for a fun tour or other things to do in Yosemite National Park? Check out the options from Viator!

Map

Use the map above to help plan your route to see Vernal and Nevada Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Tunnel View.

Mist Trail: Vernal and Nevada Falls Loop – 6.3 miles – strenuous, 2,000 ft. elevation gain

On Day 3 of your itinerary for Yosemite National Park, take a hike on the scenic Mist Trail. Visit Vernal and Nevada Falls or just visit one if you are short on time. This is a must-do hike in Yosemite Park, so expect the trail to be very, VERY crowded.

Get to the park as early as you can. We arrived to the Yosemite Valley around 8:00 am, but we still had to drive around for a bit to find parking. Pets, bikes, and strollers are prohibited on this route, so plan accordingly.

Trailhead – Happy Isles, Shuttle Stop 16

The Mist Trail is located near shuttle stop 16 – Happy Isles. The easiest way to get here is to ride the East Valley shuttle to reach this location. The Valleywide shuttle also serves this area, but depending on where you get on, you could have a long ride!

During our trip in 2024, the East Valley Shuttle was not in operation, and shuttle stop 16 was not served, so we had to get off at stop 14 and walk. This added an extra few miles to our hike. Always plan ahead with more time than you think you’ll need!

Trailhead to Vernal Falls Bridge – 0.8 mile

The first section of this trail is a moderate rollercoaster-like trail as it alternates through elevation gain and loss while following the river into the wilderness.

This area is very busy, as many hikers might choose to hike to the bridge for a view of the falls and turn back. This section of the trail is paved, and once you reach the bridge, there are restrooms here with running water. Expect lots of hikers on this part of the trail.

Bridge to Vernal Fall – 0.6 mile

From the bridge, follow the signs for the Mist Trail. Occasionally, there are park staff and volunteers here to help you with directions or to assist in answering any questions you might have. Here is where the fun begins!

Start the climb up the steep and slippery granite stairs. When Vernal Falls is roaring, expect to get drenched! As you traverse the stairs, pay attention to oncoming traffic and try to stay to the right as you climb.

This section of the trail is very crowded. At the top of the stairs, you’ll have tremendous views of Vernal Falls. Additionally, if the sun is shining, you’ll be treated to a beautiful rainbow!

Finally, continue your climb up the narrow trail to the top of Vernal Falls where you can look directly down over the waterfall below. Be sure to heed all warnings here – crossing any barriers is illegal and a fall will result in death.

This is a great location to stop for a lunch break or have a snack. You will need the energy for the next section of the trail. Just past the waterfall to your right (east) is another restroom stop for those in need.

Vernal Falls to Top of Nevada Falls – 1.4 miles

Following your visit to Vernal Falls, continue along the trail to reach Nevada Falls. Enjoy the nice flat trail here, because the switchbacks are coming! After about a half mile past the restroom, you will reach a great overlook to view Nevada Falls. It’s right out of a movie set!

From here, continue along the trail and begin your ascent on the rocky switchbacks. Take your time here and be sure to turn around and soak in the great views of Yosemite National Park. You’ll likely be out of breath anyway!

When you arrive at the top of this section, you have made it through the hardest part of the hike. It’s smooth sailing from here. Unlike most trails at Yosemite National Park, there is another restroom here at the top. At the trail junction near the restroom, head toward Nevada Falls using the John Muir Trail. There are some amazing viewpoints here, but be careful near the edge of the cliff.

Top of Nevada Falls to Merced River Bridge – 2.6 miles

After you are finished taking in the amazing views, continue on the John Muir Trail and cross the Nevada Falls footbridge over the river. Remember, do not get in the water here, or you’ll end up downstream and well….you know!

Continue on the John Muir Trail and be sure to take your time here as this section of the trail may also be slippery during the wet season. Along this part of the trail, the views of Nevada Falls and Liberty Cap are absolutely amazing!

Finally, you will reach Clark Viewpoint. From here, continue down the switchbacks until you reach the restroom. Finally, take the Mist Trail about 1 mile back to shuttle stop 16 to conclude your epic hike to Vernal and Nevada Falls.

Hop on the Shuttle and Return to Your Car

You did it! This was one of our favorite hikes in Yosemite. Even though it was super crowded, we really enjoyed the amazing waterfalls and scenery. If you have some time to spare, next up on your itinerary for Yosemite National Park is a quick stop at Bridalveil Fall and Tunnel View. Shuttle service is not available for the next stops. We took a gamble, and parking worked in our favor.

Bridalveil Falls

Your next stop at Bridalveil Falls is located along Wawona Road, just past Southside Drive. There is a small parking lot here, but with high visitation during the summer months, it may be hard to find a spot, and traffic jams can happen as well.

We got lucky with a spot right along the road across from the parking lot. Bridalveil Falls is a short half-mile round-trip walk from the parking area. This is a super quick stop, but if the parking lot is full, we suggest continuing your journey, as it’s a bit underwhelming compared to Vernal and Nevada Falls!

You can always come back after visiting Tunnel View. Don’t get us wrong, it’s worth a stop if you can do so! Plus, you’ll see Bridalveil Falls from Tunnel View anyway!

Tunnel View

Ah, yes, Tunnel View! The final stop on Day 3 of your itinerary for Yosemite National Park! This is located just past Bridalveil Fall along Wawona Road, just before the Tunnel. Park in the lot here and enjoy the amazing scenery as you peer into the gorgeous Yosemite Valley. It truly looks unreal!

Where to Stay

Our home base for this leg of the trip was Midpines/Mariposa, CA. It may sometimes be hard to secure accommodations in Yosemite Valley. Mariposa is a great place to stay, within 1 hour of Yosemite. Check out some of the best options below:

• Miners Inn – breakfast included, as well as a pool.
• Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station Motel – clean and comfortable with a variety of breakfast options.

Want to stay in Yosemite Valley and be close to it all? Check out your options here!

• Wawona Hotel – One of California’s original mountain resorts with hotel dining, a piano, seasonal swimming, and golf. Beginning December 2, 2024, the historic Wawona Hotel will close to allow the National Park Service to conduct a comprehensive condition assessment of the hotel complex.
• The Ahwahnee – on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark with nature views. This location includes a heated pool, dining, and shuttle access.
• Yosemite Valley Lodge – perfect for families and large groups.
• Curry Village – hotel rooms, cabins, and tents with plenty of nearby food options.
• Housekeeping Camp – canvas roof tents with unmatched views and campfire rings.

Final Thoughts

Day 3 on our epic itinerary for Yosemite National Park left us in awe of the amazing scenery that Mother Nature provides. Hiking along the Mist Trail to see Vernal and Nevada Falls was definitely a highlight of our trip to Yosemite.

The trail was super crowded up until just past Vernal Falls, so be prepared for a Disneyworld-like crowd here. Luckily, as we continued to Nevada Falls, the crowds began to thin out, and we finally had some peace. The views along the Mist and John Muir Trails are breathtaking! Ending our day with a panoramic view of the valley at Tunnel View was icing on the cake.