Horsetail Falls

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

About Horsetail Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

I was first turned onto Horsetail Falls after seeing it on a small black-and-white Ansel Adams print (then consequently buying and hanging it at home).

However, I didn’t associate this waterfall with the firefall until I saw it in Galen Rowell’s book titled Mountain Light in his “Natural Firefall” photograph.

Horsetail_Falls_13_ss_010_jx_20130216 - The firefall effect on Horsetail Falls captured on my wife's iPhone in late February 2013
The firefall effect on Horsetail Falls captured on my wife’s iPhone in late February 2013

Then, Michael Frye’s The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite gave me some of the specifics needed to finally act on trying to witness and capture the firefall effect myself.

While I’ve photographed this waterfall as early as 2004, I wasn’t able to capture the firefall effect until late February 2006.

The Transformation of the Firefall Phenomenon

During our 2006 visit, I was amused to see a few dozens of fellow photographers waiting patiently for the same thing I was looking for.

It almost felt like I stumbled upon a secret society of photographers waiting for some divine event to occur. Apparently no password was needed to join them. 🙂

Horsetail_Falls_056_02242006 - Horsetail Falls seen on our first attempt back in late February 2006
Horsetail Falls seen on our first attempt back in late February 2006

Eventually as the sun set and cast a red glow on the thin, cliff-diving falls, we witnessed Horsetail Falls transform into the famed natural firefall for a few fleeting minutes before the sun sunk below the horizon.

Back then, it was still a relatively unknown event where all of us shared the special event in silence. I recalled even being able to hear our own voices echo off the valley walls while we waited patiently for the event to occur.

The only thing I regretted at the time was not having a nice camera to capture the moment as our DSLR didn’t arrive prior to that Yosemite trip.

However, since that visit, this otherwise obscure ephemeral waterfall became quite popular.

Horsetail_Falls_031_02242006 - Horsetail Falls when the lighting wasn't quite right yet as we patiently waited for it to go red in late February 2006
Horsetail Falls when the lighting wasn’t quite right yet as we patiently waited for it to go red in late February 2006

We witnessed this firsthand on a trip in February 2013 when the park service closed off a lane on both the Northside and Southside Drives so people could find parking in the vacant lanes while signs were flashing “Special Event”!

And instead of dozens of people beholding the natural firefall spectacle, it was now shared by perhaps thousands of people and hundreds of cars parked on both sides of Yosemite Valley.

After that second attempt at witnessing the firefall, we came to realize just how rare and fleeting this convergence of astronomy and Nature was.

As the viral sensation continued to get even more popular with social media apps like Instagram becoming more mainstream, the National Park Service had to take on an even more active role in managing the event.

Yosemite_Firefall_052_02242022 - Walking along the Northside Drive to reach the Firefall Viewing area, which was one of the consequences of the Firefall Viewing Restrictions instituted in 2022
Walking along the Northside Drive to reach the Firefall Viewing area, which was one of the consequences of the Firefall Viewing Restrictions instituted in 2022

That was because the crowds and the associated behavior (which includes trampling, litter, and tensions between participants), caused irreparable damage to the Merced River banks, especially near the Southside Drive.

Therefore, on our third attempt at witnessing the firefall in 2022, we had to adapt to Firefall Viewing Restrictions, especially concerning a wholesale closure of the entire viewing possibilities between the Southside Drive and the Merced River.

As a result of these restrictions, we now had to work for our viewing by walking along the Northside Drive about 1.5 miles (each way) from the Yosemite Lodge to the familiar viewing positions in the vicinity of the El Capitan Picnic Area.

How to Witness the Firefall Effect

Indeed, in order to maximize your likelihood of seeing the falls in its firefall state, you’ll need at least four things to work for you.

1 – Horsetail Falls must be flowing
Yosemite_Firefall_Telephoto_019_02242022 - Horsetail Falls appeared to be frozen and not flowing when we made a visit in late February 2022 so its visual impact was very limited
Horsetail Falls appeared to be frozen and not flowing when we made a visit in late February 2022 so its visual impact was very limited

This generally occurs when the snowpack above El Capitan is melting (which can be as early as December or January but I think tends to be strongest in the March-April timeframe).

Even though our latest visits were under conditions where Horsetail Falls was barely flowing, it still had enough water to produce the desired firefall effect.

So based on that observation, I don’t think it really needs that much water, but obviously the better the flow, the better the effect.

Our first attempt in 2006 was proof that more water going over Horsetail Falls produced better effects.

2 – The Sun needs to set in the right position
Horsetail_Falls_003_03192004 - Horsetail Falls with high flow but not with the right lighting when I first witnessed this waterfall in March 2004
Horsetail Falls with high flow but not with the right lighting when I first witnessed this waterfall in March 2004

This must occur in order to make the falls’ profile glow red.

I’ve read that this can occur as early as January and last until the last week of February.

However, I’ve also read in more recent postings on Michael Frye’s blog that the best lighting conditions happen around the third week of February (around the 16th to the 23rd).

The photograph from our first attempt was taken on February 24th in 2006. Our latest attempts in 2013 took place on February 16-17.

3 – The Weather must cooperate
Yosemite_Firefall_074_02242022 - The Horsetail Falls Firefall Effect was muted when clouds had scattered the lighting momentarily
The Horsetail Falls Firefall Effect was muted when clouds had scattered the lighting momentarily

In other words, it must be clear enough to let the sun’s waning rays strike the waterfall with that soft red glow.

If clouds are in the way, it will scatter and diffuse the light in such a way that you lose the fiery red glow.

This almost happened on our February 16, 2013 attempt where the color on the light was totally muted until the sun’s rays hit the falls for a few minutes right before it had set for good.

Indeed, as the sun had set lower on the horizon, we could see the colors change from yellow to gold to orange then red and even a hint of purple!

4 – You must be in the correct viewing position
El_Capitan_006_03202004 - This is a more frontal viewing position of the Horsetail Falls which wouldn't be optimal for seeing the natural firefall effect. It also demonstrates how perspective is everything as this straight view makes the falls appear wimpy
This is a more frontal viewing position of the Horsetail Falls which wouldn’t be optimal for seeing the natural firefall effect. It also demonstrates how perspective is everything as this straight view makes the falls appear wimpy

Finally, your position or viewing angle of the waterfall makes a huge difference in whether you see the firefall or just glowing rocks.

I know this firsthand because I was in a different spot than Julie on our February 16th, 2013 attempt.

To make a long story short, we were separated because I was dropped off out of fear of being unable to find parking as the time was getting close.

Anyways, she managed to get the magical firefall effect on her iPhone while my results were far less interesting as I was nearly a 1/4-mile away from her with a different group of photographers.

Horsetail_Falls_13_ns_030_20130217 - Horsetail Falls from the Northside Drive when it was hitting the magical time of day
Horsetail Falls from the Northside Drive when it was hitting the magical time of day

Therefore, I think the key is you want to have a more angled view so you see the waterfall’s profile.

The more direct the view, the lesser the contrast you’re likely to get between the waterfall and the cliffs backing it.

I’m still wishing that I could go back and get what Julie managed to capture on her iPhone except with the DSLR camera and tripod that I was wielding.

So how would you know if you’re in the right spot or not?

Horsetail_Falls_13_ss_026_20130216 - Viewing Horsetail Falls from a spot that was not quite the right place so the firefall effect was not really seen on this attempt in February 2013
Viewing Horsetail Falls from a spot that was not quite the right place so the firefall effect was not really seen on this attempt in February 2013

That’s a tough one because Julie went where there was a very large crowd of hundreds of people to get her successful shot on the Southside Drive.

However, I saw a similarly massive crowd at the El Capitan Picnic Area on the Northside Drive a day later with a more direct view of the falls (which I thought was suboptimal) and wondered if it was the lemmings effect or if that group knew something that I didn’t.

I’ve been told that Frye updated his book with maps showing the most strategic spots to witness the firefall, but I didn’t have his latest book so I can’t comment on that more.

The Original Firefall

By the way, the original firefall was a spectacle that took place back in Yosemite’s early days.

Horsetail_Falls_13_ns_037_20130217 - The fleeting firefall effect on Horsetail Falls as seen from the Northside Drive in late February 2013
The fleeting firefall effect on Horsetail Falls as seen from the Northside Drive in late February 2013

It consisted of people getting up to Glacier Point, setting dead branches on fire, and then pushing the coals over the cliff to the valley over a thousand feet below.

I was told that the greater the contribution of money collected at the bottom, the larger the fire would be made that would ultimately be pushed over the cliff.

Obviously this delighted summer holiday-makers at what was then Camp Curry (now Curry Village).

However, the National Park Service ultimately discontinued this practice as it didn’t fit the National Park principle of natural beauty (let alone the wildfire hazard that it created).

Authorities

Horsetail Falls resides in Yosemite National Park near Yosemite Village in Mariposa County, California. It is administered by the National Park Service. For information or inquiries about the park as well as current conditions, visit the National Park Service website. For specific information about the latest rules regarding the Horsetail Falls Natural Firefall, see this page.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: firefall, el capitan, yosemite valley, yosemite, california, sierra, waterfall, mariposa, oakhurst, wawona, fresno, 41, photographers, natural firefall



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.