Every year in February, visitors flock to Yosemite National Park and hope the elements align just right for the perfect picture.
If enough water is flowing and the sun isn’t blocked by clouds, these visitors might be able to capture a photo that won’t disappoint. If the light hits just right, it can look like lava or fire racing down the cliff at Horsetail Fall.
What is the Yosemite Firefall?
The Yosemite Firefall is a natural phenomenon that appears for a couple of weeks in February and can’t be seen during any other time.
But the conditions have to be perfect to see the stunning spectacle.
“If there’s no clouds, if the sun is in the right location and if there’s enough water, you have this beautiful waterfall cascading off the edge of El Capitan that turns an orange, glowing waterfall at sunset,” Yosemite National Park Public Affairs Specialist Jamie Richards said. “But it only lasts about three minutes.”
Even if conditions seem to be perfect, sometimes the firefall decides not to make an appearance. Richards says she has been disappointed at the event several times when the elements seemed perfect, but clouds would roll in at the last second, preventing the water from glowing orange.
It can be disappointing, she says, so if you make the trek to see the firefall, plan extra opportunities to be at Horsetail Fall.
Is it humanmade or natural?
Some might confuse the natural phenomenon with a humanmade event that also used to take place in Yosemite National Park.
From 1872 to 1968, a sensation at Horsetail Fall was discovered, and hotel owners at Glacier Point would entertain guests and others in the valley by having a ceremony.
“At dusk, there was a ceremony to push the fire over the edge of the cliff, and when the people would call up and shout, ‘let the fire fall,’ they would push the red-hot embers over the side of the cliff and you would see cascading, manmade waterfall effect made out of fire ash,” Richards said.
Due to fire hazard and the overconsumption of trees, the event was eventually stopped to better fit the mission of the national park to protect the natural wonders of Yosemite.
But only five years later, a substitute firefall was discovered.
Adventure photographer named Galen Rowell stumbled across the new firefall while driving out of the valley, according the park’s website.
He jumped out of his car and ran to capture a picture of the lava-like waterfall — it became the first widely circulated photograph of the natural phenomenon.
The natural phenomenon became the new, hazardless tradition in Yosemite National Park.
When can you see it?
As mentioned, there is only a chance of seeing the firefall for two weeks in February at sunset. It’s expected that Feb. 26 will be the last opportunity in 2026.
Concerning the elements, water is obviously vital. The waterfall often dries up during the summer, so the peak needs snowfall and temperatures to be right for a steady flow of water to be present when the sun is hitting just right.
As recently as 2021, a combination of a dry year and early warm weather caused there to be no water running off the side of the mountain, resulting in no firefall.
What are people saying about it?
Every year, the firefall phenomenon attracts large crowds who arrive hours early to set up their tripods at the perfect angle to capture the natural event.
Even this year, despite a snowstorm that left 4 feet of snow in viewing areas and a closure from Feb. 19-21, tourists still showed up. Following the closure, the park reported a high influx of visitors who came to see the firefall, despite parking and traffic difficulties.
What to you need to know if you go
If you end up deciding to see the firefall at Yosemite, the park wants you to know a few things:
- You don’t need a permit
- Anticipate a long walk
- A red LED is ideal, but you also can use red saran wrap to cover your light to avoid interfering with others’ night vision adaptation
- Bring a chair
- Don’t forget food and water
- Dress warm and be prepared for snowy conditions