We caught a shuttle and hiked the SUPER steep Mist Trail.
We only went about a mile to the first bridge, but the trail continued on much farther to both falls and eventually the John Muir Trail.
The Merced River ... and the gaging station at Happy Isles Bridge, established in 1915. The station measures water temperature, quantity and quality (dissolved minerals and gases, trace metals, bacteria and suspended sediment).
A view upstream of Vernal Fall with its thin trickle of water. In the spring, the entire ledge becomes a waterfall.
We sat for a while, having some lunch. This area was set up nicely as a rest spot.
This California ground squirrel was not timid!
The hike back down...
We then caught the shuttle to the short walk to Mirror Lake. Technically, in the spring during high water, it's a lake. For the rest of the year it is "Mirror Meadow."
Mt. Watkins .... Ahwiyah Point
Ice cutters circa 1901. Both the lake's ice and sand were harvested.
