Vernal Fall (Mist Trail) rainbow: when and where to stand
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: Best rainbow from Mist Trail below the fall, 11:20–15:30 (strongest around 15:20), if the sun is out.
The Mist Trail climbs beside Vernal Fall through a permanent cloud of spray in spring and early summer. It is one of the most reliable rainbows in the Sierra.
Fri 6 November 2026 · sunrise 06:31, sunset 16:56
Mist Trail: rainbow 11:20–15:30
Best rainbow from Mist Trail below the fall, 11:20–15:30 (strongest around 15:20), if the sun is out.
| Mist Trail below the fall looking east up at the fall | A big, bright arc | 11:20–15:30 Best 15:20, high, arching over the falls |
|---|
Hour by hour
| Time | Mist Trail |
|---|---|
| 06:30 | |
| 07:00 | |
| 07:30 | |
| 08:00 | |
| 08:30 | |
| 09:00 | |
| 09:30 | |
| 10:00 | |
| 10:30 | |
| 11:00 | |
| 11:30 | |
| 12:00 | |
| 12:30 | |
| 13:00 | |
| 13:30 | |
| 14:00 | |
| 14:30 | |
| 15:00 | |
| 15:30 | |
| 16:00 | |
| 16:30 | |
| 17:00 |
Plan it
The granite steps are wet and slippery. Flow peaks in May and June; by September the fall is a thin ribbon and the mist has gone. A rainbow needs direct sun on the spray: on an overcast day there is none.
Through the year
| 15th of | Mist Trail |
|---|---|
| January | 11:35–15:30 |
| February | 12:05–16:15 |
| March | 13:40–17:50 |
| April | 14:55–18:20 |
| May | 15:30–18:40 |
| June | 15:45–19:00 |
| July | 15:45–19:00 |
| August | 15:20–18:35 |
| September | 14:00–17:50 |
| October | 12:50–17:00 |
| November | 11:15–15:20 |
| December | 11:15–15:05 |
Vernal Fall (Mist Trail) rainbows by month
Questions
What time is the rainbow at Vernal Fall (Mist Trail)?
6 Nov 2026: Best rainbow from Mist Trail below the fall, 11:20–15:30 (strongest around 15:20), if the sun is out. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
Which side of Vernal Fall (Mist Trail) has the rainbow in the morning and which in the afternoon?
Mist Trail below the fall: afternoons.
Why is there no rainbow at midday?
When the sun is higher than about 42°, the whole rainbow circle sits below the horizon. You can then only see it low down, in spray below you, if at all. In summer that rules out the middle of the day at most falls closer to the tropics.
How do you calculate the rainbow times?
A rainbow is a circle of about 42° around the point exactly opposite the sun. You only see the part of that circle that falls on sunlit spray, so it needs the sun behind you and lower than about 42° above the horizon. For every 5 minutes of the day we place that circle in the sky and check how much of it lands on the spray seen from each viewpoint.
Calculated from the sun's position at each viewpoint. The spray extent is an estimate for normal flow; wind pushes the mist around and can move the rainbow by a few degrees. Times are local (America/Los_Angeles).