Time is running out to see Yosemite’s famed firefall. What to know before you go
Time is running out to see one of Yosemite National Park’s most famous — and most fleeting — natural spectacles.
For a few weeks in February, Yosemite visitors can catch a glimpse of the “firefall,” a natural phenomenon that occurs when the setting sun lights up Horsetail Fall on El Capitan’s eastern edge in a fiery glow.
“This small waterfall usually flows only during winter and is easy to miss,” the National Park Service said on its website. “On rare occasions during mid- to late February, it can glow orange when it’s backlit by sunset.”
“This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing,” the agency added. “Even some haze or minor cloudiness can greatly diminish or eliminate the effect.”
The rare spectacle attracts thousands of visitors to the California park each winter.
When are best days to see Yosemite firefall in 2026?
According to the National Park Service, the ideal viewing window to see Yosemite’s firefall closes Thursday, Feb. 26.
Catching a glimpse of the firefall can take some detailed planning — especially this year without a reservation requirement in place, which officials expected to draw even bigger crowds, The Bee previously reported.
“Because the effect depends on natural conditions — including water flow, clear skies and the angle of the sun — travelers may wish to plan for multiple evenings,” Yosemite National Park said.
How did winter weather affect viewing?
In 2026, the peak firefall viewing period coincided with winter storms, with cloudy conditions making the phenomenon less frequent, The Guardian reported.
Yosemite National Park temporarily closed due to “heavy snowfall and falling trees,” park representatives said in a Feb. 19 Facebook post, reopening to the public on Feb. 21.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, Tioga Road, Mariposa Grove Road and Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass remained closed for the season due to snow, Yosemite National Park said on its website.
Some visitors who visited during the early half of the viewing period were disappointed by the views of display.
“Well, firefall at Yosemite was a bust this year, though it is still a beautiful place to freeze your butt off,” Instagram user gravykev wrote in a Feb. 19 post, sharing photos and video of fresh snowfall at the national park.
However, Yosemite visitors who arrived later had better luck, social media posts indicated.
“After this week’s storms, conditions aligned and there is currently water flowing,” a Facebook user identified as Flyingdawnmarie wrote in a Tuesday, Feb. 24, post, sharing video of the firefall captured on Feb. 21.
“This is what Firefall actually SOUNDS like,” the travel and lifestyle content creator said. “Thousands of park visitors and photographers lined up. Quiet silence. Then growing cheers as the light hits.”
Reddit user flame0h0tman shared a photo of the firefall in a Feb. 22 post, inspiring a flurry of compliments from commenters.
“Looks awesome,” Reddit user erikfournier wrote in a comment.
Reddit user ATPAllThingsPossible called the view “absolutely beautiful.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 3:12 PM.
