Photo of Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park

Photo of Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, Natural History Photography Blog

Photo of Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park

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Latitude: 37° 44' 48.95" N, Longitude: 119° 34' 53.41" W, Coord: 37.746933°, -119.5815°
Filed under: Landscape, National Parks, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite on 5/23/2005

Spring is the time to visit Vernal Falls and the famous Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park. Vernal Falls is at peak flow in late May and June, the weather is usually pleasant and the dogwoods are in bloom on the valley floor. We try to make a springtime visit to Yosemite each year to hike the Mist Trail with our daughters. We get soaked by the falls on the way up, soak in the sun and dry off at the top, enjoy a lunch of trail mix and Clif bars alongside other hikers, and leisurely make our way back down the trail later in the afternoon. If one times his visit to Vernal Falls at midday, a rainbow is often visible in front of the falls when viewed from the trail just 100 yards away.

Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls, viewed from the Mist Trail., Copyright Phillip Colla, image #12634, all rights reserved worldwide.

Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls, viewed from the Mist Trail. Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA.
Image: 12634
Location: Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River., Copyright Phillip Colla, image #12650, all rights reserved worldwide.

Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River. Fern Springs, Yosemite National Park, California, USA.
Image: 12650
Location: Fern Springs, Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring. Hikers are seen at the precipice to Vernal Falls, having hiked up the Mist Trail to get there., Copyright Phillip Colla, image #12635, all rights reserved worldwide.

Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring. Hikers are seen at the precipice to Vernal Falls, having hiked up the Mist Trail to get there. Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA.
Image: 12635
Location: Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley., Cornus nuttallii, Copyright Phillip Colla, image #12686, all rights reserved worldwide.

Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California, USA.
Image: 12686
Species: Cornus nuttallii
Location: Yosemite National Park, California, USA