Perfect time to visit Yosemite, 'Firefall' waterfall

Eric Woomer, Visalia Times-Delta
·1 min read
Horsetail Fall glows Monday, February 13, 2023 as light from the setting sun strikes El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Weather permitting, the event occurs every year when the sun sets in the right spot of the horizon to shine directly onto El Capitan for about ten minutes at the end of each day. Best viewing is in the last two weeks of February. The light strikes El Capitan the same way in October but the snow caps that feed the fall are dry. Reservations are required to drive into the park on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the month of February.

The "firefall" is returning to Yosemite National Park this week but tourists will have to act fast for a chance to see the fleeting wonder.

The ephemeral sight is visible for only about 10 minutes at sunset in mid-February when certain conditions are met at the park's 1,500-foot-tall Horsetail Falls.

In past years, thousands of visitors flocked to the park to see the vivid orange and red flow off the granite slope of El Capitan.

Frequently mistaken for lava, experts say sunlight refracting off the seasonal waterfall is actually to thank for the otherworldly vista. Last year, dry conditions across the Sierra Nevada robbed the world of the dramatic sight.

Recent storms and rainfall mean the "firefall" should be visible once again this year, provided skies remain clear. Park officials announced the window to view the attraction this year will last between now and Feb. 26.

In order to see the phenomenon, though, prospective visitors will have to reserve a day-use pass from the recreation.gov website. Limited tickets are available to purchase 48 hours ahead of each date at 8 a.m.

To preserve wildlife and natural areas near the waterfall and nearby vistas, Yosemite rangers have limited parking to Yosemite Falls, a 1.5-mile hike from the viewing area.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and give themselves plenty of time to reach the viewing area.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Perfect time to visit Yosemite, 'Firefall' waterfall