The most popular hiking trails in Yosemite Valley can also be the most confusing! This short guide will help you make a good decision on your route choosing.
The Mist Trail
Yosemite’s famous Mist Trail (sort of) takes hikers from Happy Isles to the top of Nevada Fall. The Mist Trail proper is actually a sort of shortcut connecting the John Muir Trail (JMT) near the top of Nevada Fall to its continuation below Vernal Fall. It’s 1.5 miles is probably the most popular hike in the entire park and for good reason. Hiking it’s length lets you walk close by the breathtaking Merced River and experience two of Yosemite’s most spectacular waterfalls. (And by “experience” I mean actually feeling them much of the year as spray blasts the nearby route!)
Positives:
- Closeup views of the river and falls (awesome top view of Vernal Fall).
- Shortest point-to-point route between Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall.
- Can get soaked (feels great on hot hikes!).
Negatives:
- Crowded trail.
- Steepest ascent (over 600 high steps just on the Vernal Fall section!).
- Can get soaked (can be dangerous on cold hikes).
The John Muir Trail
The JMT is a California long trail 211 miles long whose last 70 miles overlap the Pacific Crest Trail through the park. The Yosemite terminus of the JMT is the beginning of this trail system near Happy Isles. If you want a higher view of the river and falls, the JMT is the route for you. It’s not just higher though – it is also longer by about a mile than the equivalent Mist Trail. However, the JMT is otherwise less challenging than the Mist Trail.
Positives:
- High, panoramic views of the river and falls (awesome top view of Nevada Fall).
- Easier terrain.
- Elevation gains are less dramatic.
Negatives:
- You can barely see Vernal Fall.
- Longer than the equivalent Mist Trail.
- Switchbacks get old fast.
The Clark Point Cut Off
Bisecting the JMT about half way along the equivalent Mist Trail section is Clark Point – a great stopping point along the JMT that overlooks Vernal Fall (you can’t see much) and a good view upriver of Nevada Fall. From this point there are actually two choices to continue: remain on the JMT to either waterfall or connect to the Mist Trail via the Clark point Cut Off (a 320′ elevation gain/loss over nearly half a mile). This is often the route required due to trail section closures.
Positives / Negatives:
Adding the Clark point Cut Off into the mix is the longest route with the most elevation gain and loss. However, since it connects to the Mist Trail near the top of Vernal Fall and right along the gorgeous Silver Apron, hikers get a great mix of the positives and negatives of both the Mist Trail and the JMT.
Conclusion
There’s not really a bad way to hike this trail system – but depending on your fitness level and desired views, each offers some excellent choices and also allows you to create a loop out of an out-and-back to see as much as possible!
To see some EPIC Yosemite hikes, click HERE!
Backcountry Pilgrim 