Yosemite's Firefall phenomenon is a gorgeous February tradition—one we thought might not happen this year, due to a lack of flowing water. But thanks to a recent bout of snowy weather, we're happy to report that the orange marvel has officially made its 2019 debut.
So what exactly is this "firefall"? The term describes a phenomenon that occurs when the setting sun hits a waterfall in such a dramatic way that the water appears to be made of fire. In the case of Yosemite National Park, the dazzling waterfall is Horsetail Fall on the eastern edge of El Capitan. A slew of news reports and Instagram photographs have truly put the 1,000-foot cascade on the map over the past few years—a feat in its own right, given the park's more than 20 other famous waterfalls.
The timing of this year's appearance isn't altogether surprising, seeing that mid to late February has always been Firefall Season. The glowing event is expected to occur during the evenings for another week or so, but as with most natural phenomenons (ahem, Northern Lights), travelers can only catch a glimpse of the lava-like sensation if the conditions are absolutely perfect: In order for Horsetail Fall to get #lit, there must be little to zero cloud coverage, enough snow to create adequate runoff, and the sun setting at the ideal angle. And it just so happens that those conditions converge during the second half of February. (See? Winter isn't all bad!)
In years past, tourists have had to request a permit or reservation to view Horsetail Fall (to reduce traffic and ensure visitor safety), but the National Park Service decided to open it up to the public this year. But before you go embark on an impromptu road trip, you should know that piles of snow and icy roads will make the drive up a little tedious. According to the NPS website, "Visitors should be prepared to walk at least a mile from their parking location to a viewpoint; remember to bring warm clothes, boots, and a headlamp or flashlight."
The glowing waterfall may be difficult to reach—and only lasts about 10 minutes, if the aforementioned weather conditions are perfect—but we gotta say: worth it. And if you prefer to stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to, we suggest checking out the insane #firefall and Horsetail Fall pages over on Instagram.