Yosemite Firefall: Your Complete Guide for 2025
Yosemite's Horsetail Firefall
How to see and photograph a visual wonder you won't find anywhere else.
Horsetail Fall "Firefall", February 29, 2024.
It's like Woodstock for nature photographers.
Every year in February, the setting sunset magically lights up seasonal Horsetail Fall on Yosemite's El Capitan, seeming to set it afire. It draws thousands of visitors to the valley, which in recent years has compelled the park service to institute some often draconian crowd and parking control measures. But even with the controls, the Firefall is still fun and easy to observe and photograph.
Then and Now...
I've been regularly visiting the Firefall for at least 15 years. Back in the day, it was a laid-back and congenial gathering of photographers and nature enthusiasts, with impromptu groups forming throughout the valley, creating a festival atmosphere.
Gathering along the Merced River, February 29, 2014. |
The scene near El Capitan Picnic Area, February 2023. |
Enter social media. As photos and accounts of the Firefall spread on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms, interest in the Firefall exploded, creating huge crowds and damage to the Valley's fragile ecosystem.
In response, the Park Service has instituted a reservation system, which is already in place for this year. I'll cover all the details shortly.
But if you can be a little flexible with your schedule, you can bypass reservations altogether. Read on for valuable tips on viewing and photographing this amazing phenomenon.
What We'll Cover
My goal here is to provide a guide to experiencing and photographing the Firefall from someone who’s been there and done that many times. You will learn that the Firefall visibility window is quite a bit longer than the accepted period in February, and that your best times to visit could be on days when no reservations are needed. The Firefall is whimsical and plays peek-a-boo throughout its visibility window. I’ll provide a few strategies to improve your chances of actually seeing it and getting some great photos with whatever camera or smartphone you have.
Let’s get started!
Useful Park Service Websites
- Yosemite Firefall 2025 Guide: The Park Service guide to this year's Firefall.
- Entrance Reservations: Comprehensive general information on Park Service reservations.
- Horsetail Fall: What to expect when visiting the Firefall.
- Horsetail Fall Ticketed Entry: Where you make and monitor Firefall reservations.
A Brief History
The original summertime Firefall, when park rangers pushed bonfire embers
over Glacier Point.
Source: Wikipedia Commons.
The original Firefall was a summertime tradition in Yosemite Valley.
Park rangers would send the embers of a bonfire made with red fir bark down the face of Glacier Point, creating a literal firefall which could be seen all over the valley. A ranger would call out "Let the fire fall!" which echoed down the valley as the embers tumbled down.
The fire fell from 1872 to 1968, when the park service ended it because crowds were overwhelming and damaging Yosemite Valley's meadows.
Today's Firefall, which the park service refers to as the Horsetail Fall Event, is a kind of optical illusion created when the setting sunset illuminates seasonal Horsetail Fall, seeming to set it afire.
Early Photos
El Capitan Fall |
Last Light on Horsetail Fall |
Ansel Adams took the first known photos of the Firefall in 1940. The photo here, titled El Capitan Fall, was taken in 1952. Then in 1973, Galen Rowell photographed Horsetail Fall for National Geographic in what many consider to be the definitive photograph of what would later become known as the Firefall.
Here's an excellent Yosemite Conservancy video that presents the history of the original and modern Firefalls.
Video opens in a new window.
Where to Park, View, and Photograph the Firefall
Yosemite Valley has more conveniently located natural wonders than any other place in the world.
Nearly all of Yosemite Valley’s most iconic sights are right along the road on an 11-mile, mostly one-way loop through the Valley.
The Park Service Horsetail Fall Map
Firefall Viewing Area and Restrictions. Tap to open in a new window.
The Park Service Horsetail Fall Viewing Area and Restrictions map shows the layout of Yosemite Valley, focusing on Firefall parking, the one sanctioned viewing area, and various restrictions when reservations are in effect.
The Valley Loop
Two roads, Southside Drive and Northside Drive, form the loop through Yosemite Valley. You will enter the Valley on Southside Drive and exit on Northside Drive.
During the reservation period in February, the only approved viewpoint for the Firefall is the El Capitan Picnic Area, with parking at the Yosemite Falls Parking Lot, both on Northside Drive. Southside Drive also has excellent viewpoints, but they are off limits during the February reservation period. I'll cover that shortly.
No matter which of Yosemite’s five entrances you use to get into the park, you will wind up on Southside Drive to make the loop through the Valley to reach the Firefall parking and viewing locations.
On the map, the red and yellow areas are restricted when reservations are in effect.
Southside Drive
Southside Drive could be the most spectacular five miles you'll ever see. A little advice – give yourself plenty of time to drive down Southside, it’s amazing. Here's a few photos to give you an idea of what you'll see on your way to the Firefall.
Southside Gallery. Use the arrows or dots to navigate.
On Southside Drive, you'll follow the Merced River as it meanders past Yosemite’s most iconic sights and vistas. You will see Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, Yosemite Falls, the Yosemite Chapel, and Half Dome.
Northside Drive
To get to the Firefall parking lot and viewpoint, you will transition onto Northside Drive from Southside just past the Yosemite Chapel. You’ll get in the left lane and cross Sentinel Bridge to join Northside. It’s a bit disconcerting to cross the bridge on the left side but necessary to accommodate the transition from one-way to two-way traffic.
Half Dome Reflected in the Merced River. View from Sentinel Bridge.
On Sentinel Bridge, you’ll see the iconic view of Half Dome. Turn left to park in the lot at the end of the bridge and walk over to join the photographers gathered there. Cook’s Meadow, adjacent to the parking lot, is also wonderful with fantastic views of Yosemite Falls.
Make Your Way to the Firefall
From Sentinel Bridge, go about 2.4 miles to the Yosemite Falls Parking Lot and turn left into the lot. This is the parking area for the Firefall. Get there early to claim a spot.
Then grab your camera, jackets, snacks, and a good flashlight, and make the scenic 1.5-mile trek down Northside to the El Capitan Picnic Area. You will walk along Northside in a pedestrian lane set up specifically for the Firefall. The parking lot and picnic area have restrooms. You will probably have company on your walk, but don’t worry, Firefall chasers are a fun and helpful group.
But Wait, There's More...
Firefall From El Capitan Picnic Area.
Not shown on the Park Service map are the other viewpoints along Northside Drive between the Yosemite Falls Parking Lot and El Capitan Picnic Area.
To the east of the picnic area are two turnouts that are great spots for viewing and photographing the Firefall. You will pass by those turnouts on your way to the picnic area.
If you see a group of photographers, that’s a good spot. It’s likely that photographers will already be set up at the turnouts. You might want to go first to the El Capitan Picnic Area and then backtrack if you find a spot you especially like along the way.
When it’s all over, you’ll make the walk back to the parking lot. You will walk in one lane with one-way traffic in the other. Use your flashlight and exercise caution.
Firefall Google Map
I put together a Firefall Google Map to help you navigate around the Valley to parking and viewpoints during Firefall season. My map shows all the locations along Northside, plus parking and viewpoints along Southside that you can visit before and after the February reservation period.
Firefall Google Map. Tap to open.
Yosemite National Park is huge, but Yosemite Valley accounts for only about one percent of the park’s total expanse. Within that one percent is a fan-shaped area where you can view the Firefall.
In the map:
- The two red lines fanning out from Horsetail Fall mark the approximate limits of Firefall visibility.
- The dark blue lines show the Southside and Northside routes within the visibility zone. The route along Southside is about 1.2 miles, and on Northside it’s just shy of one mile. Nearly all visitors see the Firefall somewhere along these stretches.
- If you zoom in on the map, you’ll also find other viewpoints and places of interest in this part of the valley.
The map also includes:
- The Yosemite Village and Curry Village parking lots that you can use if the Yosemite Falls Parking Lot is full. From Yosemite or Curry Village, take the park shuttle out to the Firefall viewpoint at the El Capitan Picnic Area. Later, take the shuttle back to your parking lot.
- Two parking spots, large turnouts actually, adjacent to excellent Firefall viewpoints along Southside.
- Viewpoints at Taft Point, Rosevelt Point, Sentinel Dome, and the “Reverse Tunnel View.” More on these challenging locations later.
Reservations
The Firefall on Southside Drive along the Merced River, March 5, 2024.
Photo by Stephen E. Wright.
Reservations are already in place this year, with a friendlier and more accommodating system than in past years. You’ll need a reservation to enter the park on the following days:
- Feb. 8-9
- Feb. 15-17
- Feb. 22-23
No reservations are needed on weekdays except Presidents’ Day.
You will pay the regular vehicle entry fee when you get to the park entrance, and your reservation is good for seven days. The vehicle fee covers you and your passengers. The person who made the reservation must be in the car and have photo ID.
How to Get a Firefall Reservation
Make your reservation on the Horsetail Fall Ticketed Entry page on the Recreation.gov site.
Half of the Firefall reservations were released on Nov. 18, 2024. The remaining reservations will be released at 8am PST two days before each calendar date.
The grey dates are Unavailable, which only means you don’t need a reservation on that day. NR means Not Released, meaning you can still get a reservation for that day.
Reservations are snapped up very quickly, but with a little persistence you have a good chance of getting one.
- Shortly before 8 am PST two days before your desired reservation day, log into the Timed Entry site and open the calendar.
- When the date you want opens for reservations, click the date and follow instructions to pay your fee and get your digital ticket.
- If you are not successful, you can monitor the site for cancellations, which appear in real time. Just leave the calendar open in a browser window and keep an eye on it.
The Ticketed Entry system sends you a confirmation email with a link to access your digital ticket. Have the ticket open on your phone or print it before you pull up to the entry station. The ranger at the entry station will check your reservation and ID.
Reservations are a good idea if you can only visit on weekends. If you have some flexibility in your schedule, consider going when no reservations are needed.
Viewing the Firefall Outside of the Reservation Period
Firefall on March 6, 2024, 11 days after the “official” viewing window. Photo by Stephen Wright.
The Park Service and many websites tell you the Firefall is only visible during the brief window between Feb. 8-23 on the reservation calendar. Some websites even rate the viewing quality by day.
In reality, the visibility window extends through early March, and possibly the first week in February. So you have at least two weeks to visit the Firefall with no restrictions.
When you go outside of the reservation period, the crowds are gone, you can park in any legal spot, the weather is better, and the necessary conditions for the Firefall are more consistent, particularly in late February and early March.
The Firefall Map shows parking locations and viewpoints along Northside and Southside Drive. There is no parking or hiking restriction before or after the reservation period unless otherwise noted.
The October Firefall
The Firefall sunset effect appears again in October when usually there is no water in Horsetail Fall.
The same conditions that cause the winter Firefall occur again in October. This photograph was taken on Oct. 5, 2024 with no water in the fall.
While the winter Firefall draws thousands to Yosemite Valley, the October event draws no one. But even with no water in Horsetail Fall, it’s still a beautiful and photo-worthy sight.
Firefall chasers should keep an eye on the weather in October. While it’s usually very dry, an occasional rainstorm gets Horsetail Fall flowing, causing a true October Firefall.
Photographing the Firefall
It’s really easy to take beautiful photos of the Firefall. That is to say, it’s hard not to get a great Firefall photo with practically any camera or smartphone.
In this section we'll look at:
- Choosing Your Viewpoint
- What to bring to your viewing location
- Photographing the Firefall with a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
- Other equipment
- Smartphones
- Capturing the progression of the Firefall
Choosing Your Viewpoint
Southside Favors Firefall Panoramas. |
Northside Favors Dramatic Close-Ups. |
Within the Valley, your chosen viewpoint influences what kind of photos you will get. You can capture great photos along Northside and Southside, but each has advantages over the other:
- Viewpoints along Northside Drive are closer and look up at Horsetail Fall, which can favor dramatic close-ups.
- Locations along Southside Drive offer panoramic views of El Capitan and Horsetail Fall and are better for wide-field environmental photos. But you are still close enough to get very tight and dramatic images with a zoom lens. Another Southside advantage is shooting with the Merced River in the foreground.
Your choice is important because once the Firefall begins, you won’t have time to move around. You need to select your location beforehand and plan on staying there for the duration.
What to Bring to Your Viewing Location
You will want to get to your viewpoint early to find a good spot and get everything set up. Then it’s a long wait until the action begins. It will probably be cold, possibly windy, and hopefully not rainy, but you never know. You should also plan on walking up to three miles when reservations are in effect. Plan what you’re taking well in advance. Here are a few things to consider:
- Bring insect repellent! Maybe the most-forgotten item on everyone's Yosemite list.
- Dress in warm layers that you can put on or take off as conditions change throughout the day. You will need a cap or hoodie and sunglasses.
- Be prepared for sudden weather changes and a steep temperature drop during sunset.
- Water and healthy snacks.
- A small camp chair.
- Your smartphone or camera gear. Take only what you need.
- People often bring folding wagons to carry everything, especially if kids are along for the fun.
Photographing the Firefall with a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
Photographing a Firefall closeup from El Capitan Picnic Area. Sony a7iii and Sony 200-600mm lens.
DSLR or Mirrorless cameras offer the most power and versatility in your Firefall photography.
Here’s a few things to consider:
- Horsetail Firefall happens in the middle of a stunningly beautiful and super-photogenic valley. Get wide-field Firefall shots and close-ups with vertical and horizontal orientations to capture the amazing environment.
- Use ISOs in the lower range to maximize image quality.
- Prioritize high focal ratio over fast shutter speed to maximize photo sharpness.
- Use flexible-spot metering with auto-focus or manual focus. Move the focus and exposure metering point away from the Firefall.
- Capture photos in RAW format to maximize the amount of data captured in your photo. This is especially important if you work in Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
For the Firefall, I usually bring two cameras, a mirrorless Sony a7iii and a Sony RX10, a bridge camera with a fixed 24-600mm zoom lens. Both have specific advantages:
- The a7iii provides a generally better image than the RX10, has great low-light capabilities, and accepts a huge array of lenses.
- The RX10, my trusty world-traveling companion, is great for capturing the sudden and unexpected, which happens all the time in Yosemite Valley.
Other Equipment
If you are carrying your gear to the El Capitan Picnic Area, bring only what you can fit into a backpack:
- One or more cameras as needed.
- A sturdy, lightweight tripod.
- External shutter release.
- One or more lenses that give you a range of around 24 to 200 mm in focal length. A single zoom lens is ideal.
- A second camera and tripod if you are planning on shooting video or timelapse.
- Spare batteries or portable power source.
- Many people use folding carts to carry their photo and other gear.
- You can use a bicycle anytime, including during Firefall reservation periods. They're a great way to get from the parking area or anywhere else in the Valley to viewpoints along Northside.
Smartphones
Heart-shaped plume on Valentine's Day 2016, taken by Vicki Wagner along Southside Drive with a Windows Phone version 8.1. This plume drew cheers from the photographers present.
You will get great wide-field photos with any modern smartphone. Most smartphone pictures are hand-held, but a small tripod and external shutter release can be useful. Many people use a selfie stick to capture the moment with their new Firefall friends.
Get a combination of horizontally and vertically oriented photos with judicious use of zooming in, and have fun with your phone’s exposure modes.
The photo here was taken with an old Windows phone at a viewpoint along Southside Drive by the Merced River. It was cropped with the free Irfanview photo editor and then enlarged with Topaz Gigapixel.
Capture the Progression of the Firefall
Three photos that capture the progression of the Firefall over 80 minutes.
Regardless of your photo gear, make sure to photograph the Firefall through all its phases.
As the sunset reflects on El Capitan, it narrows and gradually changes color. Finally, a deep orange or red band of sunlight illuminates only Horsetail Fall, producing the beautiful Firefall.
The Firefall takes on the color of the sunset, which can range from white to yellow to orange to deep red, and everything in between. Sometimes the Firefall reddens at the very end of sunset.
I always take just a few photos during the early progression to save space on my camera for the end.
You will need a sturdy tripod and external shutter release to capture the progression.
Be Patient and Persistent
On a perfectly clear day, late clouds formed over El Capitan and blocked out the Firefall. Feb. 28, 2024. |
The next day was completely overcast but the sunset broke through late for a beautiful Firefall. Feb. 29, 2024. |
The photo on the left is an example of something that happens very frequently. It can be a beautiful, sunny day with crystal clear skies and the promise of a great sunset to light up the Firefall. But right before showtime, the clouds move in, and the world goes grey.
The photo on the right was taken the next day under stubbornly cloudy skies. And as so often happens in Yosemite, the sunset peeked out under the clouds at the very end of the day, producing a beautiful Firefall.
On my many visits over the years, I’ve actually seen the Firefall about 30-40 percent of the time. The three main reasons for Firefall duds are:
- No water in the fall because there’s little or no snowpack.
- Horsetail Fall is frozen at the top.
- Clouds and fog block the sunset.
But conditions change day-to-day, hour-to-hour, or even minute-to-minute. Don’t give up until it’s too dark and grey for any possibility of a Firefall.
Here’s a few ideas for handling a dud Firefall:
- Plan your visit for two or three consecutive days to improve your chances of seeing the Firefall.
- Don’t give up on overcast days! Be patient and wait until the very end.
- If there is little or no water in Horsetail Fall or the watershed that feeds the fall is frozen, you won’t see the Firefall. But things can warm up quickly, usually late in the day, producing a beautiful Firefall.
Visiting High-Country Locations
If you are an intrepid and very experienced winter hiker, you can consider heading up to the high country to get amazing views looking down on Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, and Horsetail Fall. The two guys in this video did just that, spending five days in the freezing Yosemite high country to photograph the Firefall from various locations.
The Firefall Map shows four challenging locations for viewing the Firefall: "Reverse Tunnel View" (Four Mile Trail), Sentinel Dome, Rosevelt Point, and Taft Point. Visiting any of these sites requires a lot of additional planning, preparation, and equipment.
Take a look at the video before you decide you want to try a high-country trek to see the Firefall. It could be a very challenging but amazing experience.
Comments, questions, or advice? Leave a comment or email jpwagnermedia@gmail.com.
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