Yosemite Firefall, Natural light phenomenon at Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, United States.
Yosemite Firefall is a light event at Horsetail Fall on the east face of El Capitan, where late afternoon sun illuminates the narrow cascade in orange and red tones. The effect appears only under specific conditions when enough snowmelt flows and the sky remains cloudless, allowing sunlight to strike the water at a shallow angle.
From 1872 to 1968, park staff created an artificial fire cascade by pushing glowing embers off Glacier Point each evening to entertain visitors. The natural light event at Horsetail Fall became widely known only after this tradition ended and inherited the same name.
Photographers and nature enthusiasts gather annually in February to witness and document this natural display, forming temporary communities in designated viewing areas.
Visitors need advance reservations during peak viewing dates in February and should arrive at designated parking areas about three hours before sunset. Viewing depends on weather, water flow, and sunlight, so planning for multiple evenings improves the chances of seeing the effect.
The display lasts only a few minutes as the sun angle changes quickly and the glow fades rapidly. Even on cloudless days, a thin band of clouds near the horizon can block the light and prevent the event from happening.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
