Starting from November 18th, visitors can now begin booking their trips to Yosemite National Park to witness the spectacular natural phenomenon known as Firefall at Horsetail Fall. During sunset in February, the waterfall will gleam with a fiery orange glow, creating a mesmerizing sight.
Park officials announced that daytime reservations will open on Monday (the 18th) at 8 a.m. 50% of the daily daytime reservations will be specifically set aside for visitors hoping to witness the Firefall.
During three weekends in February (8-9, 15-17, and 22-23), reservations will be required for entry into the park and will be valid for 24 hours throughout those days.
According to park officials on social media, every February, thousands of visitors flock to Horsetail Fall where the waterfall emits an orange glow resembling fire under the backlight of the sunset.
The unique light effect occurs under specific conditions: a clear evening with water flowing over the waterfall and the sunlight hitting at just the right angle, usually only happening in mid to late February.
In recent years, the park has implemented similar reservation systems to manage this attraction.
For many years, Yosemite National Park rangers have preserved their own Firefall spectacle by pushing the embers of a campfire off Glacier Point. This tradition was initiated by Irishman James McCauley in 1873, who would light campfires for guests at the Mountain House at Glacier Point while recounting stories.
As night fell, they would push the embers off the cliff, creating the artificial “firefall” that attracted many spectators each night. According to park records, the Firefall continued until 1897 when the hotel changed ownership, only to resume two years later.
Curry Village, located at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, is famous for its wooden tent cabins and has become a popular spot for viewing the “Firefall” during the summer.
The campfire serves as an outdoor stage where rangers provide commentary and musical performances for entertainment, with the Firefall being the highlight of the program.
Both the campfire and the man-made Firefall were discontinued by the National Park Service in the winter of 1968. The influx of visitors to witness the Firefall caused damage to grasslands from vehicle traffic and raised concerns about fire risks.
The natural Firefall phenomenon at Horsetail Fall was discovered in February 1973 and now attracts a large number of visitors, leading to traffic congestion, parking challenges, safety hazards, and impacts on natural and cultural resources.
To manage this attraction, the park has introduced a reservation system. Even if visitors do not intend to see Horsetail Fall, they must make advance reservations for daytime use to enter the park. Visitors arriving on weekdays (except February 17th) do not need reservations.
Entry fee is $35 per vehicle, valid for seven days. Visitors who have already made reservations for lodging in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta, or West Yosemite do not need additional park entry reservations.
However, from February 8th to 23rd, reservations will also be required for Wawona, Camp 4, and Hodgdon Meadow campgrounds.
These campgrounds typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis in February. Reservations for campgrounds will begin on recreation.gov at 7 a.m. on December 15th.