When all the right conditions align, a small waterfall in California’s Yosemite National Park begins to glow as if it were on fire. The ‘firefall’, caused by the orange glow of sunset in mid to late February, now attracts crowds of people who want to see it for themselves – but this year they will have to hike a mile through the snow to do so.
The firefall at Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park. Image by Piriya Photography/Getty Images
The allure of seeing the natural phenomenon has brought huge numbers of people to see the firefall in recent years. In response, Yosemite National Park brought in new measures last year to help deal with the crowds. These included parking permits and a free shuttle to bring guests to a viewing spot to reduce traffic.
Yesterday in Yosemite Valley was a world apart. Familiar features took on strange forms as the utter quiet was broken only by the muted crashing of a snowslide, hidden by the haze of millions of swirling flakes… pic.twitter.com/NgCB2sheox
— Yosemite National Park (@YosemiteNPS) February 7, 2019
But this year there will be no permits or reservations necessary, according to the park’s website. That’s because snowy conditions mean that visitors will have to walk at least a mile from their parking spot in order to get to a viewpoint.
Anyone willing to make the trek have been warned to bring warm clothes, boots, and a flashlight or headlamp. Visitors should note that due to the snow, icy roads, and lack of shoulders, there will be no stopping, parking or pedestrians permitted in certain areas. The closest parking will be in the Yosemite Falls Parking Area near the Yosemite Valley Lodge and on Northside Drive along El Capitan Straight.
The beginning of the natural ‘firefall’ on the rock formation known as El Capitan. Image by Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images
Horsetail Fall is a small waterfall, but it now has a big reputation. However, there is no general guarantee that visitors will see the firefall effect. Since it is caused by the light from the setting sun on water, it is only visible on evenings with a clear sky, and when the water is actually flowing.
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