Vernal Fall
Vernal Fall
4.5
About
Though not as tall as Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall is popular for the green foliage that surrounds it year-round and the rainbow mist it produces as the water cascades.
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,405 reviews
Excellent
1,081
Very good
279
Average
35
Poor
7
Terrible
3

Paul Smith Palliser
Peru302 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Went in September so the crowds were not that heavy but still recommend arriving there around 6 am to fully enjoy the falls without the crowds.
Written 18 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Waddler
York, UK10,403 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
Unfortunately the Mist Trail was closed until 3.30 on the day I was there. You really need the Mist Trail to get the full effect of these falls. You can see the falls from a distance on the JMT or else from a top down angle at the top of the falls by heading down from Clark Point, but I couldn't really get the full appreciation.

Flow was good but 2023 was an unusual year with record snow melt and also Storm Hilary dumping unusual levels of August rain.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

trazi
New York65 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Spectacular falls, beautiful views. Suggest you don’t just do the short out-and-back to the Vernal fall. Instead go up on the John Muir Trail and come back on the Vernal Fall mist trail. That way you also see the Nevada fall, from Clark Point, and you arrive at the top of the Vernal Fall, totally surprised and awe struck. You will also lose some of the crowd on the way up.
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NewarkGin
Newark, DE106 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
We took the shuttle to this trail fairly early on a Friday morning. Although the trail up to the foot bridge of vernal falls is only 8/10 of a mile, we learned from one of the Yosemite Conservancy guides that the gain in elevation is about 400 feet. This translates into a very steep hike up 95% of the way, but also a very uncomfortable hike down as well. There is some dirt on the inside edge of the path as you come down, which is to be expected because it’s right next to the rocks. But because the trail is so packed with people, when you’re coming down, you’re stuck kind of hugging that wall so you’re on that dirt, which makes you slide.

That being said, the view from the foot bridge is beautiful and I’m glad that we did it. It was fairly early in the morning and still cool, and there was a lot of shade; if it had been hotter or sunnier, I personally would not have been able to do it . Of course if you set out to reach the foot bridge, and it’s too steep for you, you can always turn around!
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

2BEis2SKI
Charlotte, NC1,389 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Falls were beautiful but not at full strength as it was October. For me, it was as much or more about the vistas and the exercise.

These trails are strenuous. There are very few places where there is flat ground and many places where there are at least 20-25 degree inclines as well as countless steps.

Once you reach Vernal Falls though, there is room to rest, take in the beauty and catch you breathe.

A word of caution too that a lot of people attempt this hike and you have to pass many that are moving more slowly. There were definitely some traffic jams on the way up and back.
Written 28 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ron c
Finksburg, MD713 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Well we loved seeing the falls from the bridge, but really disappointed the Mist Trail was closed during the day. After the brutal climb up theJohn Muir trail, it was disappointing to not get that close to the falls. Maybe next time !
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lizpeth B
Chino Hills, CA6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Friends
Vernal Falls is just as beautiful from last time we visited . However, at this time, the water level was low and not misty as the trail was named towards the falls.
We did not bother to go to the Lower Yosemite Falls after the ranger advised us that the falls was dry .
We enjoyed the Mariposa Grove and learned a lot of things about the trees, thanks to a knowledgeable ranger who gave us an inspiring talk about the place.
Written 1 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lou181818
Bath, UK2,170 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
This trail starts moderate but gets tougher with steep unsteady path and steps. You need sensible walking footwear and a level of fitness to get to the top of the waterfall and come back down the same way. We set off 8am and there were flies around but cool, returning 1-2pm it was much hotter, busier and no flies.
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jack R
New York City, NY31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022 • Family
This trail is good. The terrain isn’t anything extremely hard (wait until the end) at the beginning, and you can see the waterfall from a bridge halfway through! But if you want to go to the top, you have to go up strenuous steps and hard terrain! But the view is worth it! And on my trip we even saw a bear family from a safe distance!
Written 11 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AFischer3
Grandville, MI14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022
We started just after 7am and had few others with us on the trail. It was a steep incline, but most people can do this very popular hike. I wouldn’t have wanted to be starting this hike later in the day like the people we saw on our way back down from Nevada Fall.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Vernal Fall - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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