Firefall in Yosemite: ten minutes of February and how not to miss them

Horsetail Fall in Yosemite glows for about ten minutes and only on a few evenings a year. In mid-February, the setting sun hits the thin streams on the east face of El Capitan, and the waterfall turns into a flow of orange light right before your eyes (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

The window is short. In 2026, the National Park Service expected the display from February 10 to 26, and no reservation was required to enter on those days (as of 09/2026, NPS press release). At the same time, there are more people than convenient viewing spots: on February 19, 2022, 2,433 people gathered at the waterfall (as of 09/2026, NPS page on Horsetail Fall).

Below, we break down how the effect works, the viewing points, the entry cost, and the list of things you'll freeze without on the way back.

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What the "firefall" in Yosemite is

💡 In short:

• Horsetail Fall lights up before sunset only on a clear evening.
• The effect is visible from the valley, from the viewing area at El Capitan Picnic Area, not from the surrounding peaks.
• Plan for several evenings: one cloudy evening gives you no guarantees.
• Prices and hours: 09/2026, verified on the official NPS website.

Horsetail Fall translates as "horse tail." The waterfall drops from the eastern edge of El Capitan and stays dry for most of the year, because it depends on rain and snowmelt: its season is winter and early spring (as of 09/2026, waterfall description).

Its height is serious. The western stream drops 480 meters, the eastern one 470 meters, and below, the water gathers and slides down sloping slabs for another 150 meters. In total, all the tiers add up to about 650 meters, making it the second-highest free-leaping waterfall in Yosemite after Ribbon Fall (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

On ordinary days, it looks modest: a narrow trickle that's easy to miss from the road. Everything changes at sunset, when the sun lights up the water while the rock behind it is already falling into shadow.

© Tuxyso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

When the "fire" waterfall lights up

The dates shift every year along with the weather. There is one reference point: the middle and second half of February, and the park publishes the exact window at the beginning of the month.

Three conditions must all be met. You need water, meaning snow on top of El Capitan and warm days to melt it. You need a clear sky, because even light haze kills the effect. And you need the right angle of the setting sun, which only happens during these two weeks (as of 09/2026, NPS). The effect is brief, so being a minute late costs you the whole show.

In some years the waterfall doesn't flow at all, and then there is nothing to see (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). So the tactic is simple: plan for two or three evenings in the valley, not one. If you're going for the fire, stay overnight in the park or right next to it.

• The catch: the window lasts two weeks, the effect is very brief, and nobody promises you a clear sunset.

Where to watch and how to get there

The viewing area is next to El Capitan Picnic Area. The classic route is this: you leave your car at Yosemite Falls parking, just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge, and walk 1.5 miles, or about 2.4 km, one way (as of 09/2026, NPS).

If the lot is full, park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and use the free shuttle: it stops at both places and takes you to Yosemite Falls parking. This is a workable option for February, when the valley is packed with cars (as of 09/2026, park guide).

Traffic is rerouted on these days. One lane of Northside Drive is closed: pedestrians use it. Stopping and dropping off passengers is prohibited between Lower Yosemite Fall and El Capitan Crossover. On Southside Drive, parking is not allowed between El Capitan Crossover and Swinging Bridge, and the section from Cathedral Beach to Sentinel Beach is closed to people entirely (as of 09/2026, NPS rules).

There are restrooms and trash containers at El Capitan Picnic Area. On busy weekends, Northside Drive may be closed for about half an hour right after sunset, so plan your way back in advance (as of 09/2026, park data).

• Who it's for: people willing to arrive early, walk 2.4 km, and wait in the cold.
• Not for: people who need a guaranteed view and a warm viewing area.
• The catch: a crowd at the waterfall on these evenings is the norm, not the exception.

© Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ) · CC BY-SAPhoto: Steffen Schmitz ( more photos ), CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

History: 1940, 1973, and the old Firefall

The name Firefall came from a different event. Until 1968, burning embers were pushed off Glacier Point, and the waterfall of fire below was man-made: the tradition was run by a hotel, and it was ended by decision of the park service (as of 09/2026, Firefall history). Today's spectacle is entirely natural, but the name stuck.

Photographers noticed the waterfall long before social media. Ansel Adams shot it in 1940, and the image gained wide recognition through Galen Rowell's work for National Geographic in 1973 (as of 09/2026, photo timeline).

Then the internet era began. The flow of visitors grew so much that in 2020 the park closed two of the three best viewpoints to protect the vegetation along the Merced River (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia).

Entry and passes: how much the trip costs

Park fees depend on how you arrive. Rates as of 09/2026 are as follows:

Amounts and terms: official NPS fees page, checked 09/14/2026 (as of 09/2026, official NPS fees page).

For readers from Europe, there is an important line. Foreigners over 16 pay an additional $100 per person on top of the entry fee if they do not have an annual America the Beautiful pass (as of 09/2026, park price list). You calculate this amount for all members of your party at once.

The park operates cashless: cards and mobile payments are accepted (as of 09/2026, payment rules). Entrances are open around the clock, except Hetch Hetchy. Free days apply to citizens and residents of the US, and one of them, February 16, falls within the "firefall" window (as of 09/2026, free days calendar).

If you want to see the park with a guide and without parking hassle, here is a selection of Yosemite tours below.

What to bring in February

February in the valley is cold and icy. Bring warm clothes and a headlamp for each person, shoes with good tread, and ice grips. The park warns you directly: you will be walking back in the dark and on ice (as of 09/2026, NPS tips).

You will almost certainly leave your car far from the viewing area. Extra time and warm socks matter more here than a tripod.

The rules are simple. Stay out of the meadows, keep to the trails, do not step over barriers, and avoid burned areas: dry branches fall without warning (as of 09/2026, park recommendations). Either carry your trash to the bin at El Capitan Picnic Area or take it with you.

Firefall on the map

The waterfall lies on the east face of El Capitan and is visible from the valley at the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area. Waterfall coordinates: 37°43′45″ N, 119°37′42″ W (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). Look west toward the rock face and arrive at least an hour before sunset.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to go for the "firefall"?

Mid to late February. Plan for several evenings, because clouds on any single evening can easily cancel the whole show.

Do I need a reservation or entry permit?

As of February 2026, no reservation was required for the park or the viewing area (as of 09/2026, NPS data). Restrictions apply to parking and traffic: the Northside Drive lane is given over to pedestrians, and there is no parking at the falls. Your job is to arrive early and park once.

How much does it cost to enter Yosemite?

A car pays $35 for seven days, and passengers pay nothing extra (as of 09/2026, official NPS fees page). Foreign visitors over 16 pay an additional $100 per person, so if you're traveling from Europe, factor that fee in from the start (as of 09/2026, park fees). The park does not accept cash; you need a card.

Can you see the falls from Glacier Point?

No, the modern effect is viewed from the valley, from the area near El Capitan Picnic Area. The historic Firefall was pushed off Glacier Point, and that is a different event (as of 09/2026, NPS reference). From Yosemite Falls parking to the viewing area is 1.5 miles, and you walk back in the dark with a flashlight.

What if the falls have dried up?

In summer and during warm winters they don't flow at all, and then there is no effect (as of 09/2026, waterfall data). Check conditions on the park website before your trip. The valley is still worth it regardless: El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and winter trails are available to you either way.

In short: what's worth booking

If you have one free evening, arrive early and keep the worst-case scenario in mind: there's a chance, but a small one. If you can give it two or three evenings, your odds improve along with your time buffer, and the park itself remains interesting even without the fire. If you're traveling without a car, plan to stay overnight in the valley and use the free shuttle from Yosemite Village. You pay the park entrance fee by card at the gate, and you choose your own viewpoint. If you want to see Yosemite with a guide and without parking stress, Yosemite tours on GetYourGuide are a good fit.