Private Vernal & Nevada Falls
Yosemite Valley, CA
4.9 (16 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Stunning Waterfalls
- Amazing Views
- Iconic Yosemite Valley Hike
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
This is the absolute must-do hike in Yosemite. The Incredible views of two of Yosemite National Park’s most spectacular cascades are most popular in spring and summer but are also worth visiting in autumn for the brilliant fall foliage. Beginning at Happy Isles in the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, our trail climbs above the cataracts and rapids of the Merced River to a bridge over the river with excellent views of 317 ft. tall Vernal Fall. The next half mile is where the Mist Trail earns its name. Steep and slick, the trail ascends a virtual granite stairway through the thundering mist of Vernal Fall. In spring and early summer rain gear is recommended. Once above the fall, the crowds thin out and the trail dries out as it continues past beautiful Emerald Pool and the Silver Apron to a final steep climb to the top of Nevada Fall, the taller of the two at 594 ft. From this point, we can backtrack to the trailhead or take the John Muir Trail back for a drier and less crowded return.
In July and August we access these waterfalls from the John Muir Trail to enjoy more solitude, as this is the peak tourist season in Yosemite.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$225-$620 Per Person
Season: Mar-Oct
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trek is follows a well maintained trail that includes 2000 feet of gain/loss in roughly 6 miles round trip. The tops of both waterfalls are exposed to vertical drops less than 3 feet away and guarded by a simple railing system.
Hiking Distances:
6 miles
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2100 ft
Heights Exposure:
Significant
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 4-6 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
- Hiking with occasional, significant heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 1
- Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
- Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
- Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
- Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
- Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsRates
- 1 person: $620
- 2 people: $350 per person
- 3 people: $310 per person
- 4-5 people: $260 per person
- 6-7 people: $225 per person
- 10 and younger: $155 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include guide gratuity
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Tour dates reflect general availability. You will select your desired hike during the registration process. The season for this hike is March-October.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- A professional, knowledgeable, medically trained, friendly wilderness guide.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yosemite
What's Not Included (Required)
- Lightweight hiking shoes or hiking boots
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm wool or fleece top (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Warm hat and gloves (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Water bottles or bladder (2 liters total capacity)
- Sunhat
What's Not Included (Recommended)
- A cold or frozen bottle of water or Gatorade (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Sunglasses
- Knee braces (if needed)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Gratuity for your guide
Food: What to Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
This hike meets at Curry Village. Your guide will contact you approximately 7 days prior to coordinate the rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Sierras
Being a high mountain environment, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in the mountains. On trips in June, snow is a possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
|
Month
|
Valleys
|
Alpine
|
||||
|
hi
|
low
|
hi
|
low
|
|||
|
January
|
49°
|
26°
|
45°
|
25°
|
||
|
February
|
55°
|
28°
|
46°
|
26°
|
||
|
March
|
59°
|
31°
|
48°
|
27°
|
||
|
April
|
65°
|
35°
|
54°
|
30°
|
||
|
May
|
73°
|
42°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
June
|
81°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
July
|
89°
|
57°
|
77°
|
50°
|
||
|
August
|
89°
|
56°
|
81°
|
53°
|
||
|
September
|
82°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
October
|
74°
|
39°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
November
|
58°
|
31°
|
51°
|
29°
|
||
|
December
|
48°
|
26°
|
46°
|
25°
|
||
Trip Reviews
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Adam W
Amazing
The hike was amazing and Tashi was an excellent guide!!! Couldn’t have been a better day spent at Yosemite!!
Patrice C
Very Professional
I did 3 hikes in Yosemite with my guides Carm and Tashi. Very welcoming, very professional and they taught me a lot of things about the Park, the life here, the animals, flowers and trees
Jennifer L
Excellent!
Cody is an excellent guide. He thought of everything we may need. The hike was the perfect level of difficulty and the sights were amazing. Lunch was delicious. Cody makes an excellent wrap and the snacks were healthy and delicious. He also told great stories we were enjoying the hike and conversation so much we didn't even realize we had gone over six miles! Thanks Cody!
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