On a rare, even lucky, few days a year, Yosemite National Park’s famous El Capitan granite cliff transforms into what looks like an active volcano rising 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
Conditions should be good, including clear skies in the early evening, usually in February, and plenty of water. If sunset properly illuminates a small waterfall known as Horsetail, the cascading water becomes a “firefall”, taking on an orange glow that can look a lot like lava.
The phenomenon has become so popular lately that Yosemite officials say a growing number of visitors have destroyed natural vegetation and disrupted habitats while fighting for parking and viewing spots.
Hoping to limit damage to surrounding areas, park officials announced that weekend visits to Horsetail Fall in February will now require reservations.
These reservations will be available on a first come, first served basis on www.recreation.gov starting Monday at 8 a.m. Bookable dates are February 8-9, 15-17 and 22-23. No reservations are necessary for February 1 and 2.
On Monday, 50% of reservations for these dates will be released. Park officials expect spaces to be filled quickly.
The remaining 50% of reservations will be released two days before a specific day at 8 a.m. So, if a tourist wants to visit on February 17, for example, reservations for that day will be available on February 15 at 8 a.m.
The reservation fee is $2 and is non-refundable.
The drive-up entry fee is $35 and is good for seven-day entry.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured the fire in what he described as one of his “best images” in February 2019, the last of six consecutive trips he began in 2014.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured the “Firefall” in what he described as one of his “most beautiful images” in February 2019. The bright orange and red water gushes down the cliff with the visual intensity of a raging forest fire.
(Dan Dunn)
Bright orange and red water gushes from the cliff with the visual intensity of a raging forest fire.
Horsetail Fall offers a consistency in capturing natural wonders that beaches or even the Grand Canyon, sometimes hampered by fog, cannot, Dunn said.
“You’re almost guaranteed to have an amazing show,” said Dunn, 34, who runs his own studio. “In 2019, the conditions matched the snowpack, wind, moisture blown off the mountain, and light filtering through the clouds that creates a perfect orange.”
Dunn was inspired to visit the site by photos on social media, like many others.
He understands why the park imposes limits on the number of visitors.
“There are more and more photographers and traffic in the valley every year,” he said. “And there are really only two places to shoot from, and in those areas you can be packed like sardines.”
Nearly 2,500 people visited Horsetail Fall viewing areas on Feb. 19, 2022, for example, according to park officials’ estimates.
They said visitors flocked to river banks, searching for the perfect photo, to the detriment of “increasing erosion and trampling of vegetation”.
Similarly, park visitors have trampled sensitive vegetation in the Merced River, while vandalizing the area and leaving “unsanitary conditions” due to a lack of restrooms, park officials said.
Vault toilets, trash and recycling services are available at the nearby El Capitan Picnic Area.
A reservation for Horsetail Fall is not necessary if a park visitor has already secured a day use reservation for those dates, has campground reservations at Upper Pines, Wawona, Hodgon Meadow or Camp 4, reservations lodging at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village or at private hotels or resorts in Yosemite West or Foresta. Those with full-day lift tickets or Badger Pass season passes are also exempt.
Park officials ask visitors to leave their cars in the Yosemite Falls parking lot, just west of the Yosemite Valley Lodge, and walk about 1 1/2 miles to the viewing area near the area. El Capitan Picnic Park.
Additional parking is available at Yosemite Village and Curry Village, with shuttle service to Yosemite Valley Lodge and adjacent parking.
Parking should be limited.
