Vernal Fall
Waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park
title: "Vernal Fall" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["waterfalls-of-yosemite-national-park", "merced-river", "plunge-waterfalls", "waterfalls-of-mariposa-county,-california"] description: "Waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park" topic_path: "general/waterfalls-of-yosemite-national-park" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_Fall" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox waterfall"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Vernal Fall |
| photo | Vernal Fall, Yosemite NP, CA, US - Diliff.jpg |
| photo_caption | Vernal Fall from Mist Trail |
| location | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California |
| type | Plunge |
| coords | |
| height | 317 ft |
| <!-- | height_longest |
| number_drops | 1 |
| world_rank | 860 |
| :: |
| name = Vernal Fall | photo = Vernal Fall, Yosemite NP, CA, US - Diliff.jpg | photo_caption = Vernal Fall from Mist Trail | location = Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California | type = Plunge | coords = | height = 317 ft | number_drops = 1 | average_flow = | world_rank = 860
Vernal Fall is a 317 ft waterfall on the Merced River just downstream of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park, California. Like its upstream neighbor, Vernal Fall is clearly visible at a distance, from Glacier Point, as well as close up, along the Mist Trail. The waterfall flows all year long, although by the end of summer it is substantially reduced in volume and can split into multiple strands, rather than a single curtain of water.
TOC
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Vernal_Fall_and_Merced,_Yosemite_NP,_CA,US-_Diliff.jpg" caption="Vernal Fall and the Merced River flowing toward the Yosemite Valley"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Eadweard_Muybridge_-Pi-Wi-Ack(Shower_of_Stars),_Vernal_Fall,_400_Feet,Valley_of_Yosemite-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" caption="The waterfall, photographed in 1872 by [[Eadweard Muybridge]]."] ::
Etymology
Yan-o-pah (little cloud) was the local name of the fall before it was named "Vernal"- meaning relating to Spring - by Lafayette Bunnell, a member of the Mariposa Battalion in 1851.
Mist Trail
The trail begins at the Happy Isles trail head in Yosemite Valley and travels generally east-southeast. This is one of the shortest (1.3 mi) and most popular trails in Yosemite. The trail is mostly shaded and is progressive in incline until it reaches the base of the waterfall where mist sprays onto the hikers.
At times of high flow, mostly in the spring, hikers may be drenched by the time they pass the mist from the waterfall. The final 15 minutes of the trail is a very steep climb up rocks to the top of the waterfall. Once atop the fall there is a pool of water called the Emerald Pool around which hikers lounge and rest. There is also a 20 degree slope of rock with water flowing into the pool called the Silver Apron.
Hazards
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Yosemite_Nationalpark_Vernal_Falls_IMG_20180411_123325.jpg" caption="View from the top"] ::
Swimming above Vernal Fall carries a great deal of risk: the rocks are slippery, the river has strong undercurrents that may not be visible from the surface, and tourists have been swept over the fall to their deaths. Though swimming there is illegal and warnings to stay out of the water are clearly posted, several deaths have occurred when visitors entered the water above the fall in the vicinity of the Silver Apron and Emerald Pool. Three people died in a single day, on July 19, 2011, after being swept over Vernal Fall in this manner.
Postage stamp
The fall is shown in error on a 1932 Philippines stamp. Although the stamp indicates that it depicts Pagsanjan Falls in the Philippines, it in fact shows Vernal Fall.
References
References
- N. King Huber. "The Geologic Story of Yosemite Valley". USGS Western Region Geologic Information.
- The official name is singular, see {{Gnis. 255195. Vernal Fall
- Farquhar, Francis P.. (1926). "Place Names of the High Sierra". Sierra Club.
- Bunnell, Lafayette Houghton. (2003). "Discovery of the Yosemite and the Indian War of 1851 Which Led to That Event". Library of Congress, National Digital Library Program.
- [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43815801 NBC News]
- "Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)".
- Brad Knickerbocker. (July 21, 2011). "Yosemite waterfall accident a cautionary tale for Yosemite visitors". The Christian Science Monitor.
- (August 2007). "Scott 2008 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue". [[Scott catalogue]].
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