A climb of 375 feet takes us to ~Panorama Point~ (Alt. 6224), from which is an imposing view of the upper end of the valley and the mouth of ~Tenaya Canyon~. To the right is the sheer edge of ~Panorama Cliff~, along which our trail now follows almost level for about a mile. In the canyon below can be seen our route of about two hours hence. At a trail forks the ~Mono Meadow~ and ~Merced Pass Trail~ (Trail Trip 23) turns right into the ~Illilouette Creek Basin~.
Now begins an abrupt descent of 700 feet by switchbacks to the ~Merced River~ which, above this point, was called by the Yosemite Tribe the Yo-wy-we-ack or "twisting rock" branch. A few steps from the bridge is the top of ~Nevada Falls~ (Alt. 5910, Drop 594 ft.). Nevada is Spanish for snow and replaces the old Indian name Yo-wy-we. Many claim that the view from the overhanging ledge is the most fascinating water-vista of Yosemite. Note especially the shooting spray rockets. These are most wonderful when painted by the first rays of sunshine at 7:30 to 8 a.m.
About a quarter of a mile upstream the trail crosses a small bridge and is joined by the ~Clouds Rest~, ~Sunrise~, ~Lake Merced~ and ~Little Yosemite Trail~ (Trail Trips 5, 8, 7 and 13). Here is a government telephone (Central 1 ring). Fishing is good about two miles upstream in ~Little Yosemite~. In the following abrupt 500-foot descent by zigzags some fine profile views of ~Nevada Falls~ are obtained. When white men first visited Yosemite part of the Merced cascaded down the steep slope where the trail is now built. As the trail crosses ~Snow Flat~ at the foot of Nevada Falls, the ruins of the old "La Casa Nevada," or "Snow House," are seen at the right of the trail. The old register, which dates back to 1871, is in the Yosemite Museum. ~Liberty Cap~ (Alt. 7072), which the Indians called Mah'ta or "Martyr Mountain," towers above to the right. It may be ascended from the east and good rock climbers will find an interesting scramble up the deep defile between this dome and ~Mount Broderick~ (Alt. 6705) just northward. The talus of huge rocks above the trail fell from the face of Liberty Cap in 1918.
A bridge across the Merced takes us directly over the ~Diamond Cascade~. Below is the ~Silver Apron~. From the bridge upstream is fair fishing. A short distance beyond the crossing is a fork where the main or "horse trail" turns to the left and climbs 350 feet up the canyon wall in order to pass Vernal Falls. Pedestrians should turn to the right and take the far more scenic ~Mist Trail~, thereby saving a half hour and several hundred feet climb. Following down the river we pass the ~Silver Apron~ and ~Waterwheel~, below which is a perfect glacial tarn called ~Emerald Pool~. Near its mouth is the rim of ~Vernal Falls~ (Alt. 5049, Drop 317 ft.). From behind the natural breast-high granite parapet we have another excellent outlook. The fall was called by the Indians Yan-o-pah, or "water cloud," which term was also applied to the canyon below. By climbing along the rim southeast of the falls we find a ladder and hanging trail descending to a ~grotto~, from which is a good view of ~Glacier Point~.