The first official waterfall close-up on the trip was Bridal Veil Falls. It’s more or less a roadside view, so get there early to get a parking spot and share the short hike with lots of other park visitors. It was pretty misty as you can see, but this falls, unlike the famous Yosemite Falls, runs all year round.

Our first views of Vernal and Nevada Falls were from the Glacier Point overlook area on the first day, but we were very much looking forward to a better vantage point via the Mist Trail hike from the valley floor.

Vernal Falls on the lower left and Nevada Falls in the middle

The three hour roundtrip hike to both falls was a pretty tough uphill climb, including a series of about 600 granite steps to the top of Vernal Falls.

a rainbow beneath Vernal Falls (taken from halfway up the steep stairs), also our lunch spot on the way back down

Nevada Falls from an overlook point on the Mist Trail

Unfortunately, Yosemite Falls (both upper and lower) had dried up by the time we visited over Labor Day weekend. Eric and I have vowed to head back here in the spring to get those falls on film.