If you’re not so lucky, for just a few days each year, Yosemite National Park’s famous granite cliffs of El Capitan transform into what looks like an active volcano, jutting 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
It requires suitable conditions, typically clear skies on a February evening and plenty of water. When the setting sun backlights a small waterfall known as Horsetail Falls just right, the cascading water becomes a “cascade of fire,” taking on an orange glow that resembles lava.
The phenomenon has become so popular in recent years that Yosemite officials say more visitors are competing for parking and viewing spaces, destroying natural vegetation and disturbing habitat.
Hoping to limit damage to surrounding areas, park officials have announced that reservations will be required for weekend visits to Horsetail Falls in February.
These reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8 a.m. Monday at www.recreation.gov. Dates available for reservation are February 8-9, 15-17, and 22-23. No reservations are required from February 1st to 2nd.
On Monday, 50% of reservations for these dates will be released. Park officials expect spots to be secured soon.
The remaining 50% of reservations will be published at 8am two days before the specified date. This means that if a tourist wishes to visit on February 17th, reservations for that day will be available at 8am on February 15th.
The reservation fee is $2 and is non-refundable.
Car admission is $35 and gives you seven days of entry.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured this firefall, which he calls one of his “best photos,” in February 2019, on the last day of six consecutive trips that began in 2014. did.
Reno-based photographer Dan Dunn captured this “Firefall” photo in February 2019, calling it one of his “best photos.” Bright orange and red water gushes from the cliffs, giving the visual intensity of a raging forest fire.
(Dan Dan)
Bright orange and red water gushes from the cliffs, giving the visual intensity of a raging forest fire.
Horsetail Falls can consistently capture natural wonders that even the Grand Canyon, which can be obstructed by beaches and fog, cannot capture, Dunn said.
“It’s almost guaranteed to be a great show,” says Dan, 34, who runs his own studio. “In 2019, the conditions were perfect: snow, wind, moisture coming from the mountains, and light shining through the clouds to create the perfect orange color.”
Dan, like many others, was inspired to visit the site by photos on social media.
He understands why parks have limits on attendance.
“The number of photographers and traffic in the valley only increases every year,” he says. “And there are only two places you can really shoot, and those areas can get packed like sardines.”
For example, on February 19, 2022, nearly 2,500 people visited the Horsetail Falls observation area, according to estimates by park officials.
They say tourists flock to riverbanks in search of the perfect shot, at the expense of “increasing erosion and trampling of vegetation.”
Similarly, park users have trampled sensitive vegetation on the Merced River, ravaging the area and leaving “unsanitary conditions” due to a lack of restrooms, park officials said.
Nearby El Capitan Picnic Area offers safe restrooms, trash cans, and recycling services.
Reservations for Horsetail Falls are available if the park user has already secured a day-use reservation for that date, if they have reserved a campsite at Upper Pines, Wawona, Hodgon Meadow, or Camp 4, at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry If you have booked accommodation in the Village, or at a private hotel or resort, Yosemite West or Foresta. All-day lift tickets or Badger Pass season pass holders are also not eligible.
Park officials ask visitors to leave their cars at the Yosemite Falls parking lot, just west of Yosemite Valley Lodge, and walk about 1.5 miles to a viewing area near the El Capitan Picnic Area.
Additional parking is available at Yosemite Village and Curry Village, and shuttle service is available to Yosemite Valley Lodge and the adjacent parking lot.
Parking is expected to be limited.
