The Firefall in Yosemite has been drawing crowds and getting increasingly popular each year as more people become aware of this remarkable natural event. So, how can you go see the Firefall yourself?

In this guide, we will tell you more about the Firefall, how to plan your trip to see it, and all of the tips that we learned from our own experience going to see the Firefall in Yosemite.

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We took a long weekend trip up to Yosemite National Park to enjoy the beauty of the park during winter, but our main motivation was to see this incredible event. You can read about the rest of our trip and other things to do in Yosemite in winter in the blog post: Things To Do in Yosemite National Park in Winter.

If you haven’t watched our Yosemite in Winter video yet, I would highly recommend that you do even if you are only interested in planning a trip to see the Firefall. I will share the timestamps below for the parts that are specifically about our experience going to see the Firefall. You can click the timestamp links or watch from the embedded video.

Shameless plug: If you like the video, please give it a thumbs up and consider subscribing to our YouTube channel. We would really appreciate it!

First Night: Starts at 1:38
Second Night: Starts at 6:24

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What is the Firefall?

Before we tell you how to go see the Firefall, let us tell you a little more about what it actually is. Just in case you haven’t heard of it before, or if you think it’s actually fire (which it used to be) or lava (no shame if you do, it totally looks like it!).

The “Firefall” is actually Horsetail Fall

The Firefall is actually Horsetail Fall being illuminated by sunset which perfectly hits the falls to give it this fiery glow. This only happens for about 2 weeks in February each year. And because this occurs during winter, there is a good chance that the sky can be cloudy which eliminates this phenomenon. So we were extremely lucky to witness this!

The History of the Firefall

Historically, the “Firefall” in Yosemite meant something entirely different from the natural event at Horsetail Fall that we know today. From 1872 until 1968, the Firefall was the name of a manmade, literal “fire fall” that occurred every night at Glacier Point during the summer when an actual bonfire of burning embers would be pushed over the edge of the cliff to the cheers of spectators below.

Just a few years after the manmade fire fall practice was banned, in 1973 photographer Galen Rowell took the first known photo of the Horsetail Fall being illuminated by sunset. And so the Firefall as we know it today became known.

Read more about the history of the Firefall on YosemiteFirefall.com

How to plan your trip to see the Firefall in Yosemite

When will the Firefall occur this year?

To plan your trip to see the Firefall in Yosemite, the very first thing you’ve got to figure out is when the Firefall event is happening this year. Every year it happens for about two weeks in mid to late February, so the dates are about the same each year.

For example – In 2021, the Firefall ran from February 15 until February 26, with prime viewing dates from February 18 through February 23. According to a photographer who has gone many years, the best dates are usually between February 17-19.

Get reservations to Yosemite National Park

So you know when you need to plan your trip, but now you’ve got to get your day-use reservation to Yosemite National Park. This is the tricky part.

Important Note: I’m not sure if this is something that the NPS is going to continue in the years to come, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they do. Check the Yosemite NPS website before your visit to see if reservations will be required.

In 2021 for our visit to see the Firefall, admittance to the park was by reservation only. One reservation is good for one vehicle, for 7 days from the initial day of admittance which must match the date on your reservation. So make your reservation for the first day you will be entering the park.

How to make a day-use reservation to Yosemite

To make a reservation for you and your party, you had to go onto Recreation.gov to buy the Day Use Entry ticket. Reservations became available for all dates in February on Feb 1st at 8am PST.

We logged on immediately and within 10 minutes most of the tickets for our desired entry date we sold out. I would try to add one to my cart and it said the server was too busy and to refresh that page. We did this several times until our friend finally got through and was able to buy a ticket! Don’t give up, and maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have a “backup date” in mind.

Learn more about making entrance reservations on the Yosemite NPS site.

Will you have to make reservations to enter Yosemite in the future?

The NPS cited the dramatic increase in visitors in recent years as to why they put these new restrictions and measures in place, as well as the pandemic.

I don’t know if this will be the case for future years, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did due to the overwhelming popularity of this event that continues to grow each year. The reservations ensured that the park wouldn’t be overcrowded or overrun by visitors hoping to see the Firefall.

Be sure to start planning your trip early and check the Yosemite NPS site for the up-to-date rules.

Where to stay near Yosemite in February

Now that you know when you are going on your trip to Yosemite, you’ve got to book a place to stay. February in Yosemite is still very much the winter season and things are going to be cold, so you will probably be looking at hotels or Airbnbs unless you have experience winter camping.

Whatever type of stay you decide on, I would recommend booking your stay as soon as possible once you know the dates you will be going to Yosemite. The Firefall event is getting more popular each year, and things are likely to get booked up sooner than usual for Yosemite’s winter season.

Hotels

We haven’t personally stayed in a hotel during a trip to Yosemite yet but we did some research and these are some of the top recommended hotel options in the area.

Luxury: The Ahwahnee, Tenaya Lodge

Budget: Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn, Yosemite View Lodge, Red Bud Lodge

Airbnb

For our trip to Yosemite to see the Firefall, we actually stayed in an Airbnb just 30 minutes outside of the park in the small town of Mariposa. Airbnb’s are perfect if you are looking to stay somewhere comfortable, if you’re traveling with a group, and if you’d like to cook your own meals.

Use this link to get up to $65 off your stay through Airbnb, and we will also receive Airbnb credit to use on our future bookings. It’s a win-win!

Book your stay on Airbnb

Camping

If you’re prepared to do winter camping, there are four campgrounds that remain open in Yosemite during winter. Two of them are in the Yosemite Valley – Upper Pines and Camp 4. The other two are Hodgdon Meadow, which is 45 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley, and Wawona, located 45 minutes south of Yosemite Valley.

Stay multiple days if possible for better chances

Because the Firefall is an act of nature, it can be somewhat unpredictable. Like the time we hiked to Pulpit Rock in Norway for sunrise and the area was blanketed in a thick fog and we couldn’t see anything! If the sky becomes cloudy before sunset, the Firefall will not occur. So, if you can, we would highly recommend staying for multiple days to try to see the Firefall.

We tried to watch the Firefall on Friday night but a cloud crept in just minutes before the sunset was supposed to hit. (It ended up being worth it for the beautiful dusting of snow we were greeted with the following morning though!) We tried again on Saturday, getting there over an hour and a half early to claim a good spot. It totally paid off! The clouds were coming in and out up until sunset, but we lucked out and the skies parted to dazzle us with this incredible show of nature’s glory.

If you need some ideas of what to do during the days before going to see the Firefall at sunset, make sure to read our Things to do in Yosemite National Park in Winter post.

This map is from the Horsetail Fall NPS website. — *This map is from the* *Horsetail Fall NPS* *website.*

Know the park restrictions during the Firefall

Due to the increasing popularity of the Firefall, and unfortunately some damage done to the park from crowds in the past, the NPS has really streamlined the park during this time of year to make the the entire experience seamless. There are signs posted all around the park just like the map below and there are park rangers posted along the roads directing traffic (especially right before and after the Firefall when things get really busy).

Basically what you need to know is that the Southside Drive and the Northside Drive become one-ways which form a loop so that there is a lane open to pedestrians to walk from the Yosemite Falls parking area to the El Capitan picnic area, which is the official viewing area for the Firefall.

You have to walk 1.5 miles each way to the viewing area to see the Firefall

Just a heads up, you will have to walk about 3 miles roundtrip from the Yosemite Falls parking area to the El Capitan picnic area and back to see the Firefall. However, there is a handicap parking lot that is kept open for those in need at the El Capitan picnic area.

The walk goes by very quickly though as the excitement builds and you get to enjoy the scenery along the way. You will know when you get close to the picnic area because you will be able to see the side of Horsetail Falls above the trees (as seen in the picture above).

Bring a headlamp or flashlight for the walk back

It is recommended on the NPS website (and we can confirm from experience) that you should bring a headlamp or flashlight for your walk back to the parking area after the Firefall. It gets dark very quickly after sunset and it can be hard to see whats in front of you. Also, cars will be leaving and you want them to be able to see you!

Peter and I both wore our headlamps. We have some basic, multi light mode headlamps like this Energizer LED Headlamp on Amazon.

Our Tips for the Firefall in Yosemite

Park at Yosemite Falls parking lot early in the day

The Yosemite Falls parking lot is the main, official parking lot for the Firefall event and it fills up crazy fast, especially on weekends. We recommend parking there early in the day if possible and doing hikes and activities in that area until you need to head to the viewing area.

Our experience finding parking

Our first night in Yosemite was a Friday night and we were able to get a parking spot at around 4:30pm (one hour before sunset), but it took some hunting and some luck. The next day on Saturday we parked there in the morning to do the Upper Yosemite Falls hike.

It wasn’t our initial intention to keep the car there for the day, but when we returned to the car around lunch time after our hike the parking lot was already packed and cars were circling the lot and asking us if we were going to leave. And people were ALREADY starting to walk down to the Firefall viewing area with their chairs so we knew that was what was going on. We made the instant decision to just remain in the area for lunch and a quick hike to Lower Yosemite Halls before making our way to the viewing area as well.

Learn from our experience. If you’re coming on a weekday you probably don’t need to park super early, but if you’re visiting on a Saturday I would definitely find your parking spot as early as possible and spend your day in that area to save yourself the stress.

Bring your own chair

Unless you want to sit on a log or stand for a few hours, we highly recommend that you bring your own folding chair to sit on while you wait for sunset. Make sure it is a lightweight folding chair, preferably with a strap for carrying since you will have to lug it with you the 1.5 miles there and back from the parking area to the viewing area.

We don’t have anything fancy, just your basic folding chairs with the little cup holders. Similar to these Coleman Camping Chairs on Amazon.

Get there early to get a good viewing spot!

If you want a good spot at the picnic area with a clear, unobstructed view of the Firefall, you will need to get there early. Especially on weekends as the area fills up even quicker.

Our experience finding a good spot

On Friday night we arrived only about 30 minutes before the sunset was supposed to start. The viewing area was already very crowded and we had to walk around for a bit to find a decent view. Even then, the view was a sliver between two trees and a small branch obstructing the bottom of the Horsetail Fall. But not a bad view.

However, on Saturday we noticed people heading to the viewing area already before lunch! We ended up going about an hour and a half before sunset and were able to secure a great spot. Not only did we have a good view of the waterfall (see picture below), but we also had fallen trees and bushes around us so others wouldn’t get too close.

Tips on finding a good viewing spot

Just try to walk into the forested area a ways to find a spot that won’t be overcrowded. At the “best” viewing areas up front with all the professional photographers everyone is shoulder to shoulder and that didn’t look like fun to us.

If you arrive a bit later and people are already set up, you will notice the large empty spaces are where trees are actually blocking the view.

If you can’t get there crazy early, it’s not the end of the world though. There were plenty of spots open that just might have a small branch cutting into the view or your view is a sliver between two trees. But unless you’re a professional photographer or something, does it really matter as long as you get to see the Firefall? You’ll be zooming into the waterfall anyway so the surroundings don’t matter too much, trust me!

Dress warmly – It gets really cold

February in Yosemite is still very much the winter season and you can definitely expect some cold temperatures close to sunset. What’s more, you will be sitting still for hours waiting for the Firefall which adds to the cold. Make sure to check the weather forecast in Yosemite Valley before your trip so you know what to expect.

What we wore to watch the Firefall

As you can see in the picture above, Peter was all bundled up with multiple coats and layers. We wore a thermal base under a knit sweater, wool leggings with hiking pants on top, a down puffer jacket, warm hats and fur-lined neck scarves, thick waterproof gloves, thick wool socks, our waterproof hiking boots, and our heaviest winter coats on top (we both have fur-lined Levi’s denim coats). Maybe I’m a baby, but I wouldn’t have minded a blanket as well.

Brings snacks and drinks

Again, you’re going to be sitting there for hours if you get there early enough. Which means you might want to bring some snacks, water, and maybe even some adult beverages if you are so inclined. Just make sure to take all of your trash with you when you leave.

Note: Possessing and drinking alcohol is allowed pretty much everywhere in Yosemite National Park except on bridges. We even double checked with a park ranger. #Confirmed.

Watching the Firefall Start to Finish

Now that we’ve told you how to plan your trip to see the Firefall and shared all of our tips, let’s get to the good part: the Firefall. While researching for this trip I didn’t find any posts that covered the Firefall event itself, such as what will happen and how long it lasts. So we wanted to share the entire Firefall from start to finish, with timestamps, so you can set your expectations and plan accordingly.

Keep in mind though, we only saw the Firefall one night of our trip and exact conditions and times may vary. Especially if you have clouds moving in that may cut the show short. But at least this will give you a starting point for what to expect.

At the beginning of sunset – It starts!

For us, the Firefall started at about 5:20pm. The “official” sun set that day was for 5:43pm. So the sun began to set around 20-25 minutes beforehand, beginning to color the Horsetail Fall a soft yellow-gold working slowly from the bottom up as shown in the picture above.

10 minutes in – Yellow Orange Glow

About 10 minutes from the beginning of the sun setting, the Firefall turned from gold to a more orange hue (as shown above). I was already surprised it was lasting so long. At the time, we thought that this was peak Firefall. But it just kept getting better!

20 minutes in – Peak Fiery Red

In my opinion from our experience, the last ~5 minutes of the Firefall (20-25 minutes from the start), were the peak moments of the Firefall. At this time Horsetail Fall glowed an incredible, fiery red just like hot embers. We couldn’t believe our eyes!

This lines up with everything that we had read online while researching for this trip. Those that have been to the Firefall many times agree that the best moments of the Firefall occur at the “official” sunset time. For us, the official sunset that day was 5:43pm. So make sure to know when official sunset is the day that you go to watch the Firefall and have your camera ready for it!

These photos are not edited – it really is like fire!

The photo above has Peter for perspective. I did have to brighten this photo so that you would be able to see him, but I wanted to show the Firefall in comparison to the foreground so that you could see it really was glowing red like that! Before going, only having ever seen the Firefall in close-up pictures on its own, it was easy for me to imagine that it had been photoshopped or enhanced in some way. But no, it really glows red like fire!

For the record, all of these photos are not color-edited or manipulated whatsoever. I only brightened them a bit since they were quite dark and I wanted you to be able to see the rock-face and surroundings of the Firefall better for context.

25 minutes in – The end

After about 25 minutes from the initial start, which was around 5:45pm for us, the Firefall finally faded away. The fiery glow began to dissipate from the bottom up and within a matter of minutes was completely gone, leaving the waterfall as dark as the stone that surrounded it.

The entire Firefall from start to finish lasted much longer than we had anticipated. When we saw the solar eclipse in Chile, the entire experience lasted only a couple minutes. This lasted nearly a half hour! Of course, this was a blessing since it allowed us to get all of the pictures and videos we wanted but also have plenty of time to enjoy the moment and soak it in with our own eyes.

Are you going to try to see the Firefall in Yosemite?

It was honestly one of the coolest experiences that Peter and I have had thus far and we definitely recommend that everyone add it to their bucketlist. We already want to plan a trip to see it again in the future and many of our family and friends would like to join us!

Are you going to plan a trip to see the Firefall in Yosemite? If so, please don’t hesitate to ask any further questions you may have! Just leave them in the comments below and we would be happy to help. We hope that this guide has been helpful to you in planning your trip to see the Firefall.

If you haven’t already, make sure to check out the YouTube video of our entire trip to Yosemite including our experience going to see the Firefall. If you enjoy the video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel – we would really appreciate it. Thanks for stopping by our blog!