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Yosemite's Natural Firefall Is a Sight to Behold This Month
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 2 years ago on
February 14, 2023

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In mid-to-late February, Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can glow orange when it’s backlit by sunset and the sky is clear, thus creating the impression it’s on fire.

Visitors flock to the national park in hopes of capturing stunning images of the “firefall.”There have been spectacular sights this year because of the heavy rains swelling the typically small winter waterfall over the eastern edge of El Capitan.

“Although entirely natural, the phenomenon is reminiscent of the human-caused Firefall that historically occurred from Glacier Point,” states the park’s website.

Below are images taken by Instagram users.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jinchao Lyu (@jinchao.explore.nature)

 

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A post shared by Aniket Ghodke (@aniketghodke1312)

 

Reservations Needed for Friday-through-Sunday Entry

The downside to firefall season is it can snarl traffic and parking, and tax the park’s natural and cultural resources, park officials say.

Thus, reservations are required for entry to Yosemite 24 hours per day on the weekends of Feb. 17-19 and Feb. 24-26.

In addition, reservations are required at Camp 4, Wawona, and the Hodgon Meadown Campgrounds throughout February.

You can learn more by reading through the park’s Frequently Asked Questions section.

Watch: Yosemite’s Natural Firefall

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Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

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