Mist Trail to Nevada Fall

Sample trip — replace with your own write-up.

Up before the crowds and on the trail from Happy Isles by 7 a.m. The Mist Trail earns its name fast: by the granite steps beside Vernal Fall the spray was soaking everyone coming down. Pushed on to the top of Nevada Fall, where the Merced River comes over the lip in one clean 594-foot drop.

Looped back down the John Muir Trail for the classic view of Nevada Fall with Liberty Cap behind it. Knees were done by the valley floor, but this is still the best half-day in Yosemite.

• Highlight: standing in the rainbow at the base of Vernal Fall.
• Note to self: start early, the granite steps are a bottleneck by 10 a.m.