The Mist Trail The Mist Trail, one of the most popular trails in Yosemite, takes you past two waterfalls that run year-round: Vernal and Nevada Falls. The terrain is all uphill for the first mile, turning into steep steps up to the top of Vernal Fall. At the top of Vernal, the trail turns into a gentle uphill for a short distance, then changes into challenging switch-backs up to the top of Nevada Fall. Plan 5 to 8 hours to hike to the top of Nevada Falls and back to the trail head. For an easier (yet still tiring) hike, take the John Muir trail to the top of Nevada Falls, then to take the Mist Trail down. Though the Muir trail is a mile longer, its gentle switchbacks are much easier on the legs than the Mist Trail. The trail head for the Mist Trail and the John Muir trail is located in Happy Isles. The John Muir trail branches off the Mist trail about a mile into a hike, just past the bridge that crosses the Merced River. Pack water and rain gear--the waterfalls tend to soak hikers.