Spectacular ‘firefall’ returns to Yosemite soon. Your guide to reservations, parking and more
For a few weeks in February, a spectacular sight draws crowds of visitors to Yosemite National Park.
Each day, just before sunset, Horsetail Fall on the eastern edge of El Capitan gets a back-lit glow, seemingly transforming from an ordinary waterfall to a stream of flame.
Tourists refer to the natural phenomenon as the “firefall,” although park officials reserve that term for the days when people used to push bonfires off Glacier Point.
According to Yosemite National Park, the event’s popularity has led to significant overcrowding, resulting in traffic congestion, parking issues and safety concerns.
That’s why the park started requiring reservations in 2021, according to National Park Service officials.
Officials have also designated viewing areas and established special rules for visitors.
Here’s what you need to know before visiting the firefall in February, from reservations and parking to tips to taking the best photos.
What was the original Yosemite firefall?
The original Yosemite firefall stemmed from Mountain House hotel owner James McCauley’s efforts to entertain his guests, according to the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.
From 1873 to 1897, McCauley built campfires at Glacier’s Point before pushing the glowing embers over the edge of the cliff.
Husband-and-wife team David and Jennie “Mother” Curry, who established Camp Curry in 1899, revived the firefall tradition in the early 1900s.
Over the years, the fires — built “using red fir bark, known for its superior glow” — grew larger and the ritual become more elaborate, the Yosemite tourism board said on its website.
The National Park Service ordered an end to the practice in 1968 after “the sheer number of visitors attempting to view the spectacle led to meadows being trampled, increased car traffic and the persistent threat of fire in such a wooded environment” the board said.
The last human-made firefall was on Jan. 25, 1968, according to the tourism board’s website.
What is the firefall like now?
“Horsetail Fall can glow orange when it’s backlit by sunset, which can make it appear to be on fire,” Reservation.gov said.
“This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing and when the sun is at the right angle in mid– to late February,” the federal park reservation website said.
The natural phenomenon is known as the firefall “due to its vibrant, incandescent color,” according to The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park.
“The sun sets at just the proper physical degree to refract light in brilliant yellows, oranges and reds in the cascading water rolling off of El Capitan’s eastern buttress,” the gallery said on its website.
Wilderness photographer Galen Rowell helped popularize the annual event, taking a radiant color photo of the glowing waterfall in 1973.
When’s the best day or time to see firefall at Horsetail Fall?
There are no set dates for the Horsetail Fall firefall but it usually happens in mid- to late February, according to YosemiteFirefall.com.
The phenomenon happens for 10 minutes or so as the setting sun hits the 2,130-foot waterfall.
According to former Modesto Bee photographer Al Golub, getting a good glimpse of the firefall comes down to “pure luck.”
The seasonal waterfall has to be flowing and the sun has to hit it at the right angle, he said.
“It (needs) to be a fairly wet season, so there’s a lot of water coming over” and reflecting the sunlight, Golub explained. “When it’s real dry, it doesn’t work very well.”
In addition, Golub said, the sky must be mostly clear.
“If it’s cloudy ... you see nothing,” he explained.
According to the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, chances of seeing the firefall are “higher this month” due to rain and snow in the weather forecast.
Where is Horsetail Fall?
Horsetail Fall flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley.
“Park rangers will guide visitors to parking areas and viewing areas at the base of El Capitan,” National Park Service officials said.
Where can I park?
Yosemite National Park recommends parking at Yosemite Falls just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge and walking 1.5 miles to the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area.
If this parking area is full, you can park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and use the free shuttle to get to Yosemite Falls parking or Yosemite Valley Lodge, according to the park’s website.
Do I need a reservation to visit firefall?
In 2025, a reservation is required to drive into Yosemite National Park 24 hours a day on select days.
According to the park, 24-hour vehicle reservations are required on these dates:
- Saturday, Feb 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9
- Saturday, Feb. 15; Sunday, Feb. 16 and Monday, Feb. 17
- Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23
The first 50% of vehicle reservations for all required dates became available on Nov. 18, the park said, while the remaining 50% of reservations will be available two days prior to the reservation date.
Canceled reservations become available immediately on Recreation.gov.
“Visitors who first arrive Mondays through Fridays (excluding Feb. 17) won’t need a reservation,” Recreation.gov said.
Day-use reservations are valid for seven consecutive days for unlimited entries, the park reservation website said.
If you have a campground reservation for Upper Pines, Camp 4, Wawona, or Hodgdon Meadow Campgrounds during those dates, you don’t need an additional reservation, Yosemite National Park said on its website.
How much do vehicle passes cost?
It normally costs $35 per vehicle to enter Yosemite National Park, unless you have an annual or lifetime pass.
That $35 entrance fee is “valid for entry for seven days, regardless of day of arrival,” Reservation.gov said.
Those visiting the park on select days must pay an additional, non-refundable reservation fee of $2.
Only one reservation is needed per vehicle, and the reservation holder needs to bring a photo ID.
What are the rules for visiting the firefall?
Yosemite National Park has specific rules for visitors hoping to see the firefall in 2025:
- Visitors cannot park, stop or unload passengers on Southside Drive.
- Viewers cannot stand near the river on Southside Drive. They must view the firefall from Northside Drive.
Parking, stopping or unloading passengers is prohibited between Lower Yosemite Fall and El Capitan Crossover.
Pedestrians are prohibited from traveling on or adjacent to the road from Cathedral Beach Picnic Area to Sentinel Beach Picnic Area and the area between the road and the Merced River
On busy weekends, Northside Drive may close completely for about a half hour immediately after sunset, park officials said.
Golub hopes these regulations will help cut down on crowds.
“A while ago (when) there wasn’t any control, you’d go up there and it was like being in downtown (Los Angeles),” Golub said, with roads choked with cars and people. “It was quite a mess.”
What should I bring to the park?
Park visitors should wear warm clothes and footwear with traction devices for boots, Yosemite National Park said on its website.
You should also bring a headlamp or flashlight for each person, park officials said, since you’ll be returning to your car in the dark.
“Expect snowy and icy conditions,” the park said, and be prepared to walk to and from the viewing area.
You should also stay out of burned areas and watch for burned snags and branches that may fall unexpectedly, the park said.
What are tips to take the best firefall photos?
Golub recommends heading to the El Capitan Picnic Area for the best view of the firefall at Horsetail Fall.
Any single-lens reflex camera will work as long as you have a 100- to-200-millimeter lens, Golub said.
You’ll also need a tripod to line up the perfect shot, he said.
%20Cropped.jpg)