For an unlucky few days a year, Yosemite National Park's famous El Capitan granite cliff turns into what looks like an active volcano jutting 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
Conditions should be suitable, including clear skies in the evening, usually in February, and plenty of water. If the sunset adequately illuminates a small waterfall known as Horsetail Fall, the falling water becomes a “firefall,” taking on an orange glow that can appear very similar to lava.
The phenomenon has become so popular lately that Yosemite officials say increasing numbers of visitors have destroyed natural vegetation and altered habitats while fighting for parking and viewing spaces.
Hoping to reduce damage to surrounding areas, park officials announced that weekend visits to Horsetail Fall in February will now require reservations.
Those reservations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at www.recreation.gov starting Monday at 8 am. The dates that can be reserved are February 8-9, 15-17 and 22-23. No reservations are needed for February 1 and 2.
On Monday, 50% of the reservations for those dates will be released. Park officials hope the spots will be reclaimed quickly.
The other 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 car entry fee is $35 and is valid for entry for seven days.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured the firefall in what he described as one of his “best images” in February 2019, the last of six consecutive trips that began in 2014.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured the “firefall” in what he described as one of his “best images” in February 2019. The bright orange and red water gushes from 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 forest fire.
Horsetail Fall offers consistency in capturing natural wonders that beaches or even the Grand Canyon, sometimes hampered by fog, cannot offer, Dunn said.
“You're almost guaranteed to have an incredible show,” said Dunn, 34, who runs his own studio. “In 2019, the conditions lined up with the snow cover, the wind, the humidity blowing off the mountain and the light filtering through the clouds creating a perfect orange.”
Dunn was inspired to visit the site by photos on social media, like many others.
Understand why the park is imposing limitations on the number of visitors.
“Every year there are more photographers and traffic in the valley,” 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 have flocked to river banks in search of the perfect shot at the expense 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 bathrooms, park officials said.
Toilet, trash and recycling services are available at the nearby El Capitan Picnic Area.
A reservation is not necessary for Horsetail Fall 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, lodging reservations at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village or at private Yosemite West or Foresta hotels or resorts. Those with full-day lift tickets or Badger Pass season passes are also exempt.
Park officials are directing visitors to leave their cars at the Yosemite Falls parking lot, just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge, and walk about 1 1/2 miles to the viewing area near the El Capitan picnic area.
Additional parking is available at Yosemite Village and Curry Village, with shuttle service to Yosemite Valley Lodge and adjacent parking lot.
Parking is expected to be limited.
