Yosemite National Park in California is entering its annual “firefall” season. This is when Horsetail Fall on the side of El Capitan can glow bright orange in mid-to-late February.
For a few minutes near sunset, the thin waterfall can look like molten lava spilling down the huge granite cliff. This eye-catching effect happens only when several natural conditions line up at the same time.
First, Horsetail Fall must actually be flowing, which depends on enough snow and slightly warmer temperatures that melt it. The sky also needs to be clear, because clouds or haze can block the sunlight. Most importantly, the Sun must hit the falling water at just the right angle. That sweet spot usually comes 5 to 15 minutes before sunset during a short window in February. Even on a perfect evening, the orange glow often lasts only about 10 minutes.
The natural firefall also has a link to Yosemite’s past. From the late 1800s until 1968, park workers created an artificial “firefall” by pushing burning embers over Glacier Point at night. Visitors loved it, but it was stopped because of environmental concerns. Today, nature puts on its own version.
In 2026, the best dates to try to see the firefall are expected to be from 10 to 28 February. Visitors will not need reservations this year, but the easiest viewing spots will be closed to protect the fragile ground.
