Sooner or later, every hiker comes to a fork in the trail.

On one of Yosemite‘s most popular hiking routes, that choice can completely change the experience you’re about to have.

One direction takes you onto the Mist Trail, where granite steps climb alongside Vernal Fall and, depending on the time of year, you may find out exactly how the trail got its name.

The other sends you along the John Muir Trail, taking a different route and offering a different perspective.

So…which way do you go?

I think the answer might depend entirely on the day.

If Yosemite’s waterfalls are roaring and you’ve never experienced the Mist Trail, there’s something pretty incredible about getting that close to Vernal Fall. You hear the water. You feel the mist. You climb the granite steps with the waterfall seemingly right beside you.

And yes…

You might get wet.

Really wet.

That’s part of the adventure.

The Mist Trail is shorter and steeper than the John Muir Trail route, and those famous granite steps can also be wet and slippery. Add in the crowds on a busy summer day, and there’s no question that you’ll be sharing the experience with plenty of other hikers.

Then there’s the John Muir Trail.

It’s longer and takes a more gradual route, trading some of that up-close waterfall experience for a different look at this spectacular corner of Yosemite.

It isn’t the “better” trail.

Neither is the Mist Trail.

They’re simply different.

And that’s what makes standing at a trail junction interesting.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to climb those granite steps beside Vernal Fall and feel the mist hitting your face.

Take the Mist Trail.

Maybe you’ve already experienced the Mist Trail and you’re ready to see the area from another perspective.

Try the John Muir Trail.

Maybe the trail is crowded, you’re hiking with someone who isn’t comfortable on wet granite steps, or your legs are quietly reminding you that they also get a vote in this decision.

Fair enough.

Choose the trail that fits the day you’re actually having.

That’s one of the things I’ve come to appreciate about hiking Yosemite. You don’t always have to do something the same way simply because that’s how you did it last time—or because that’s the route everyone else seems to be taking.

Sometimes taking a different trail is part of the fun.

You see something you haven’t seen before.

You experience a familiar place from a different angle.

And occasionally, you discover that the route you almost didn’t take becomes one of your favorite parts of the day.

There’s also an important practical note for anyone planning this hike during the 2026 season. Trail-repair work is affecting access along portions of the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail, including scheduled weekday restrictions on the Mist Trail above the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Depending on when you hike, your choice may temporarily be made for you, so check Yosemite National Park’s current trail conditions before heading out.

But when both options are available, I like the idea that the trail gives you a choice.

The next time you find yourself standing at that junction, take a moment before you choose your direction.

Not because one trail is necessarily better than the other.

Because that simple decision is part of the adventure.

Trail Truth

Sometimes it’s fun to take the trail you didn’t plan on taking.

You might see Yosemite from a different perspective.

You might find a new favorite route.

Or you might simply end the day knowing which trail you’re going to take next time.

And remember, the trail doesn’t end here.

So until next time, get outside, take the scenic route, and make a few memories. After all, that’s what the best adventures are really about. We’ll see you in the next edition of Hiking Yosemite.