Every year thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Yosemite to witness the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is Firefall. This natural phenomenon where the evening light hits Horsetail Falls just right is a sought after event for world-renowned photographers and your average adventurers alike. If you’re trying to witness that fiery glow yourself, here are a few tips from someone who lived in the valley.
1. Location
Confused or unaware of where to go? Look no further! Whether you decide to watch from Northside Drive (the more popular of the two) or Southside Drive, or even from the Four Mile Trail, I’ll let you know the exact areas you want to be.
The most popular viewing spot, and the place NPS would prefer you gather, would be be near the El Capitan Picnic area. If you drive through before walking over there, you’ll notice groups of people gathered by the side of Northside Dr. That’s where you want to be! If you find a window between the trees where you can comfortably view Horsetail Falls, stick tight. You’re in a good spot. Make sure you are on the east side of El Capitan because while Horsetail Falls is viewable from places like El Capitan Meadow, the glow is not! You must be viewing from the right angle to catch the phenomenon in action.
Another area visitors like to go to capture the show is off the road on Southside Drive. I do not recommend this however because it’s hard to find an area clear of trees and I believe the glow isn’t the same from this angle. If you decide to go this route though, maybe you’re a photographer who is here for a few days and you want different angle, I would go to Sentinel Beach.
The 3rd viewing point for Firefall would be about halfway up the Four Mile Trail. This is where you see those spectacular pictures with sweeping views of the whole valley. You’ll need a good camera if you intend to zoom in at all because you’ll be pretty far from El Capitan. I recommend this spot for seasoned photographers but it’s not necessary for the casual visitor. Just remember, take weather into mind before climbing this trail and bring crampons and/or poles if you have them!
2. Timing
You’ll want to show up to the event on time and if you’re a professional photographer, you’ll most likely want to get there early. If you’re just a casual visitor, you’ll want to know when the peak times are so you aren’t waiting longer than you wanted. Or, god forbid, you don’t want to miss the show!
First and foremost, you’ll want to visit between mid February and mid March. Check the weather! If there is a storm or if it will be a cloudy day then most likely Firefall won’t happen. Remember, this all depends on the light!
The closest parking is near the Yosemite Valley Lodge unless you need ADA parking. Keep in mind if you need ADA parking that the lots fill up quickly and only about 5 cars can fit per area. The ADA sectioned off areas are turnouts turned into parking spots. You’ll find these turnouts off the side of Northside Drive on your way to El Capitan.
From Yosemite Valley Lodge it is about a 30 min walk to the El Capitan Picnic Area viewing points. Keep in mind that parking fills up on busy days, especially on weekend days, so you might have to park in the visitors parking in Yosemite Village. If that is the case, your walk to the viewing area will be closer to an hours time.
If you are cutting it close, you want to be there at least 30 min before sunset. They say the peak time is 15 min before sunset but I enjoy watching the glow grow brighter and brighter so I wouldn’t recommend showing up that late. Ideally showing up an hour before will secure you a good spot to wait it out. A lot of people don’t realize how busy it gets and you might miss out on your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if there are trees in the way.
3. What to Bring
As you can see from the picture above, the weather will most likely be cold! Most years there is still snow on the ground. Don’t forget to pack warm clothing, gloves, hats and hand warmers. If you plan to get there super early consider bringing a camping chair and something to entertain yourself with like a good book. A good snack always goes a long way as well! You don’t want to lose your hard earned viewing spot if you need to go back to get food.
If you intend to capture pictures from the Four Mile Trail, bring crampons and/or hiking poles if you have them. This is incredibly important because that side of the valley tends to get little sun which means lots of snow and ice.
Bring good walking/hiking shoes! Every year they block off half of Northside Drive for foot traffic. This is great so the thousands of visitors don’t destroy the trails on their way to Firefall but that means walking on hard pavement. You’ll also most likely be standing for awhile unless you bring a camping chair.
Don’t forget to bring a headlamp or flashlight! A lot of people are so excited to watch the phenomenon that they forget it will be dark while they are leaving.
All in all, have a good time and try to be courteous when it comes to keeping the park clean. What you pack in, you have to pack out. There are port-a-potties and bathrooms fairly close to the viewing areas not to mention there are trash cans at the picnic area. If you are going to ride your bike, please go slow. I see a lot of almost accidents on the way back from the viewing when a bike ends up in the wrong lane trying to pass those walking. It’s not worth it! Be patient! It’s dark and the cars are going in the opposite direction.
Thanks for reading and remember, be safe, have fun, and enjoy this special moment that a rare few get to witness! Consider leaving a comment if you thought my post was helpful or if you have some good tips or tricks you’d like to share!
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