Vernal Fall during spring runoff, Yosemite National Park

Vernal Fall

Why are people in this photo wearing rain ponchos under a clear sky? Because they've hiked the Mist Trail in the spring before and they know what to expect. During peak waterflow, this hike is a truly immersive experience. If you love your camera, bring a backpack to tuck it into for the misty stretch beside Vernal Fall.

If you make it all the way to the top of the falls, you'll reach an overlook just to the right edge of the lip of the fall. Here's a photo taken from that overlook. Find the big dead tree in that photo, near the lower center, to help you locate where this photo was taken.