The Great Outdoors

Day Six

Wild Gate Campsite to Moonbow Falls at Alexandria Flat

Seasoned hikers will want to pay attention to the lunar phases when timing a visit to Moonbow Falls.

A full moon is best for optimal moonbow visibility—the more light refracting from the mist of the falls, the stronger the phenomenon will be.

For hikers visiting during a new moon, however, the stargazing at Alexandria Flat is second to none.

Time your visit accordingly, but rest assured: you cannot go wrong with either option.

—Henry Herrington, Backpacking the Sierras: A Beginner’s Handbook (Fourth Edition)