View source for Happy Isles

{{Short description|Small group of isles in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park}}
{{about|the small group of isles in the Merced River , US|the earthly paradise inhabited by the heroes of Greek mythology|Fortunate Isles}}
{{Infobox islands
|name=Happy Isles
|image_name=Happy Isles.jpg
|image_caption=The Merced River in Happy Isles
|image_map=Happy-Isles-topo-map.jpg
|image_map_caption=Topographic map of Happy Isles area
|coordinates={{coord|37.73171|N|119.558694|W|display=inline,title}}
}}
{{Onesource|date=December 2022}}
'''Happy Isles''' is a group of small isles in the [[Merced River]] in [[Yosemite National Park]], [[California]], USA. They are located at the easternmost end of the [[Yosemite Valley]] floor. This scenic spot is the starting point for the [[Mist Trail]], and is also the northern trailhead for the [[John Muir Trail]].<ref name=jmt>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/jmt.htm|title=John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails|access-date=2008-05-08|website=NPS.gov}}</ref> Happy Isles is also the trailhead for popular hiking destinations along the Mist Trail (including [[Vernal Falls]] and [[Nevada Falls]]) and [[Half Dome]].

Happy Isles is located where the slope of the Merced River changes from the much steeper upper main stem to the essentially flat Valley floor. At Happy Isles, the river [[grade (slope)|gradient]] is approximately 2%. The gradient of the Merced River at Happy Isles is steeper than in the Valley floor, and the channel of the river is cut into [[erosion]]-resistant [[granite|granitic]] boulders and [[Scree|talus]] materials, compared to channel deposits of sands and gravel present on the Valley floor. The steeper gradient and composition of [[streambed]] materials together impede [[meander]]ing patterns from developing in this area.<ref>{{NPS|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning/hi/web/3affected.htm|title=Happy Isles Bridge Removal Project Environmental Assessment|access-date=2009-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816202521/http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning/hi/web/3affected.htm|archive-date=2009-08-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The area near Happy Isles [[1996 Yosemite Valley landslide|sustained damage in 1996 during a rockslide]].  A number of signposts near the Isles are dedicated to the rockfall.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://ca.water.usgs.gov/webcams/happyisles/ USGS: Happy Isles Webcam]

{{Yosemite National Park}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Merced River]]
[[Category:Landforms of Mariposa County, California]]
[[Category:Landforms of Yosemite National Park]]
[[Category:River islands of California]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of California]]


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{{MariposaCountyCA-geo-stub}}