From its famous superblooms to bioluminescent waves, California’s gorgeous landscapes are known to produce some dazzling natural phenomena. But one of the most fleeting and highly-anticipated is Yosemite’s annual “Firefall,” when the setting sun shines on El Capitan’s Horsetail Fall, resulting in a brilliant molten orange waterfall that looks like a 2,000-foot cascade of fire. The unbelievable sight is celebrated by thousands of photographers and onlookers every single year, many of whom reserved their campsites months in advance just for this moment.
When is Yosemite Firefall 2025?
Yosemite has predicted the 2025 Firefall between February 8-23, 2025 — or at least, the park has set mandatory vehicle reservations on the weekends between those dates (Feb. 8-9, 15-17, 22-23). Firefall generally happens from mid-to-late February each year.
If you want to see the Firefall for yourself, and you don’t already have in-park lodging or a camping reservation, you can book a weekend vehicle reservation for $35. No reservation is required for weekday visits during this time, except for Monday, Feb. 17th.
Yosemite already opened half of the available vehicle reservations in November, and the second half of reservations will open two days before each reservation date.
What causes the Firefall in Yosemite?
There are multiple conditions that must align in order to create the rare Yosemite Firefall. Even if you visit during the prime date range, these are the other determining factors that must be met to create the Firefall effect.
- Alignment of the sun, waterfall, and viewer: For the right viewing alignment, viewers gather in the El Capitan Picnic Area or at a designated spot on the valley floor. The fall lights up about 5-15 minutes before sunset.
- Enough water in Horsetail Fall: Horsetail Fall is a thin water stream that’s created from seasonal snow runoff. Weather conditions have to cold enough for snow on the ground, but warm enough for it to melt. You can check conditions with the Yosemite Falls webcam.
- Clear skies: Even if the first two conditions are met, a cloudy forecast may be enough to block the sunlight or the view of the falls.
Where is the best view of the Firefall in Yosemite?
Yosemite names two Firefall viewing spots as the most popular: El Capitan Picnic Area and a designated spot on the valley floor. If driving, you can park at the Yosemite Falls Parking Area. If that’s full you can park at Yosemite Village and grab the free shuttle to the parking area.
Be prepared for a long walk between the parking and viewing areas. You’ll find yourself among several thousand people showing up to see the Firefall too, so it’s advisable to arrive early to get a good spot. The park also recommends bringing a flashlight or headlamp (ideally with a red LED function), warm boots, a camping chair or pad to sit on, warm layers, and food and water.
If you’re planning to photograph the Firefall, you’ll need gear for low-light photography, a telephoto lens, and a tripod.
🌐 Learn more: Read Yosemite’s 2025 Firefall guide