Mist Trail and Vernal Falls

One of the most popular hiking trails in Yosemite, the Mist Trail serves as a gateway to many of the park's premiere sights, including Half Dome. The trail attracts the hardcore, 12-hour hiker but also accommodates shorter half-day hikes. Consider taking the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall: The challenging hike requires you climb 500 rocky stairs to the top of the waterfall, allowing for a unique vantage point of the waterway and the surrounding park. One Lonely Planet reviewer says that "even if it was an extraneous trek there was something magical about it: hiking right next to the Vernal Fall covered with mist (no doubt where the trail got its name) and where it seemed we could almost touch a perfect rainbow drew our minds away from the hard work." When hiking the Mist Trail -- or any trail in Yosemite -- be sure to wear proper footwear and beware of slippery rocks.