Long walks in the forest, hiking up to misty waterfalls, making smores by the campfire… this is Yosemite.
I was lucky enough to do all of the above in one of America’s most beautiful national parks whilst on a Trek America tour (Westerner BLT 2). Staying at the Bug Hostel, I felt right at home in the middle of the forest surrounded by dense woodland and beautiful mountains.
The Start of the Mist Trail
We awoke early to begin our day of hiking one of Yosemite’s most famous routes. We grabbed our food and water supplies from Curry Village before heading to the Mist Trail. This hike begins at Happy Isles (shuttle bus stop 16) and offers beautiful views of the Mercad River and two of Yosemite’s stunning waterfalls.
Vernal Falls
An hour into our hike I caught my first glance of Vernal Falls and the trickling stream that ran for miles beneath the footbridge we rested on.
We carried on, climbing another 600 steps to reach the top. Half way up, I spotted a rainbow in the spray of the fall before seeing the full 317 foot length waterfall from its peak.
Nevada Falls
After a short rest, we carried on another 1.5 miles to the Nevada Falls. With beautiful views along the way, this steep hike was well worth it. Almost reaching the top, we were teased by the sight of the falls, which only made us more determined to climb on.
Standing on top of the waterfall, we sat and tucked into our packed lunches from the hostel whilst taking in the panoramic view.
Crossing the footbridge across the fall’s peak we spotted a perfect photo opportunity, a small rock pointing out onto the views. Sitting there with my feet hanging over the edge, I truly felt like being on top of the world. It was a moment of pure peace as I breathed in the mountain view before me.
The John Muir Trail
We decided to trek back down to the village through the John Muir Trail, which offered a different view of the falls, taking us on a steep rocky walk down through the sheltered woodlands.
About half way down we started to feel the rain, at first a welcomed refreshment. However we soon wished for the sun to come out from hiding, as we became completely soaked through whilst fellow hikers tried to shelter under trees nearby. I’ve never felt rain like it and was concerned for the well-being of my camera equipment.
Utterly drenched, we reached the bottom of the trail, drying off what we could, (my camera thankfully in-tact).
Hiking the Mist Trail was undoubtedly the most stunning walks I’ve encountered. Should you find yourself in Yosemite, make sure not to miss out.