24 Hours in Yosemite during Firefall
Last weekend Nate and I made a fun 24 hour road trip to Yosemite to see if we could catch a glimpse of the 2023 Firefall, so today on the blog we’re taking you along with us for a virtual visit! Join us for a glimpse into what the Yosemite Valley looks like during February, and see some of the spots you can enjoy during a Firefall trip of your own.
2024 UPDATE: If you’re planning a trip to see Firefall in 2024, make sure to also check out my Complete 2024 Firefall Visitors Guide.
Big Oak Flat Road Vista Point in Yosemite National Park
Sunday - 1:00pm
We arrived in the park at about 1pm via El Portal and Hwy 140 (Arch Rock Entrance). We find this is best route during Winter since it’s the lowest elevation of all the entrances and it’s the least likely to require chains. Right away we made our way to the official parking area near the Yosemite Valley Lodge and the Yosemite Falls Trailhead...these parking lots can fill up by early afternoon especially on busy February weekends, so we wanted to ensure we got a spot.
Lower Yosemite Falls seen from historic John Muir cabin location
Sunday - 1:30pm
After parking, we strolled over to see Lower Yosemite Falls from some of our favorite viewpoints, including where John Muir built a sugar pine cabin back in the late 1800s. We also scouted out the perfect spot to shoot the night sky for later in the evening here (Tip: If you want to shoot the night sky, always try and scout your location in the daylight so you can get a better idea of what will be in frame). We then headed out to the official Horsetail Fall Event viewing location near the El Capitan Picnic Area. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles each way (2 miles from Lower Yosemite Falls) along Northside Drive, and one lane of traffic is closed off for pedestrians.
Along the way we stopped several times to enjoy the magnificent views as the Merced River meandered along the valley floor to our left. Sentinel Rock towering over the water near Leidig Meadow is a sight to behold from this vantage point as well!
Sentinel Rock above the Merced River in Yosemite
Sunday - 2:15pm
By about 2:15pm we arrived at the official viewing area and began the hunt for the perfect spot. You might think that getting here over 3 hours before sunset is a bit extreme, but by 3pm several of the popular photography spots were already getting crowded. Although this area is large, there are just a few prime spots that have a good clear view through the trees with the optimal viewing angle. Speaking of viewing angle, we’d recommend finding a spot to set up further to the east so you’re seeing the waterfall at more of a profile. If you hunker down with a straight on view of the falls, the illusion of fire will be far less evident.
Side Note: While many people refer to this annual event as Firefall, the offical park messaging calls it the Horsetail Fall Phenomenon or Horesetail Fall Event, and reserves the term “Firefall” specifically for the historic event which occurred from the 1870s to 1850s. This orginial Firefall happened nightly when embers of a bonfire were pushed over Glacier Point above Curry Village. However, the way the light reflects off the water flowing down Horsetail Falls at sunset in February can create an surprisingly similar visual effect of fire falling down the cliffside.
Firefall 2023 - Horsetail Fall Event
Sunday - 5:30pm
The Firefall this evening was truly spectacular. The amount of water flowing from the falls and clear skies allowed for a majestic show. It’s always fun during the 5-10 minutes while it’s occuring – the chatter from the large crowd quiets and is replaced by cameras shuttering and whispers of oohs & aahs. Then, as the sunlight fades and the falls darken, the crowd erupts in applause and cheer in appreciation for the wonder we all just witnessed together.
Sunday - 6:15pm
After waiting for the crowds to thin out and exchanging Instagram info with the new friends we made around us, we packed up and walked back to the Lower Yosemite Falls area in the dark. Still feeling energized from the magical evening, we set up our cameras at the spot we had scouted earlier to capture the beautiful stars over Yosemite Falls.
Starry sky over Yosemite Falls
Sunday - 8:30pm
Each adventure we take holds unique surprises, and this trip was certainly no different. As we got back into our car to head to Tunnel View for some more night sky shooting, the bright orange glow of the check engine icon lit up the dashboard. We’ve probably driven our little Prius to Yosemite over 50 times, but because of the cold weather, snowy conditions, and lack of cell service, we decided to cut our time in the park that evening short as we headed back to our hotel in El Portal. The staff at Cedar Lodge was great (as always) and recommended a mechanic in nearby Mariposa for the following morning.
Monday - 6:00am
It was a tough pill to swallow waking up so early and not be heading into the park for sunrise, but wisdom prevailed as we drove to the shop Monday morning to have our vehicle inspected. Thankfully it was an easy fix, and after grabbing some coffee at Moonbow (yum!), we were on our way back to the park for a few hours.
Bridalveil Fall and Merced River seen from Big Oak Flat Road Vista Point
Wildcat Falls in Yosemite National Park
Monday - 9:00am
Our first stop was the Big Oak Flat Road Vista Point that overlooks Bridalveil Fall and the Merced River, where we enjoyed having the views all to ourselves. Along the drive back down to the valley floor we also stopped at the upper Cascades turn out...with all the precipitation this year the falls were really raging.
Monday - 10:00am
Since the upper Cascades were so impressive, we decided to take the short hike to Wildcat Falls and the lower section of the Cascades, which were both flowing wonderfully.
For more information on the Cascades and Wildcat Falls, check out my full blog post here.
Yosemite Valley seen from Tunnel View
Monday - 11:15am
We can’t seem to visit Yosemite without stopping at Tunnel View, so even though it was busy, we enjoyed the always breathtaking views here before returning to the valley loop.
This is probably my favorite spot to witness sunrise during this time of year. Here you can see the skies light up in pre-dawn pinks over Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Fall. Photographers love capturing the morning fog move across the valley floor as well. Just keep in mind, during Firefall season this viewpoint can be quite popular for sunrise, so head here early to nab a good spot for your tripod :)
For more information on Tunnel View, check out my full blog post here.
Ribbon Fall and El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
Monday - 11:45am
From there we drove past the Bridalveil Fall Trailhead and were pleasantly surprised to see Ribbon Fall flowing across the valley off the west side of El Capitan. Few realize that this is the tallest single drop waterfall in North America, but most folks don’t even know it exists because it’s fully fed by snow melt, making it dry most of the year.
Monday - 12:15pm
To round out our trip, we stopped by Lower Yosemite Falls one last time. Although the close-up viewpoints were closed due to recent snow and icy weather, we still love watching the water rage down from the trail.
For more information on the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, check out my full blog post here.
Yosemite Falls seen from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead
Know Before You Go
• For full details on visiting Yosemite National Park during Firefall, check out my Complete Firefall Visitors Guide, which as been updated to reflect all the 2023 NPS guidelines.
• 2023 Firefall season requires pre-purchased Yosemite National Park entrance reservations at Recreation.gov (or in-park lodging) for the following weekend dates: February 10–12, February 17–19, and February 24–26. Reservations are not required if you plan to arrive on a Monday through Thursday during this time...just make sure to keep your receipt of entrance, which is good for 7 consecutive days from first arrival. Visit the official Yosemite NPS website for more information.
• Please remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. Pack out everything you pack in and stay on the designated paths. If you’re not familiar with the Leave No Trace Principles consider familiarizing yourself with them before your trip.
• Plan ahead wisely. Bring layers to help stay warm, snacks, and extra water…as well as a headlamp or high power flash light for walking back to you vehicle the dark. I also recommend bringing a compact comfy chair for relaxing all afternoon.
Top 10 Things to Do in Yosemite During Winter
Yosemite Valley Chapel
Sentinel Bridge
Swinging Bridge
Ahwahnee Hotel (closed until 3/2/2023)
The Cascades (lower) in Yosemite National Park
In Summary
Every trip to Yosemite is special, even when we can only stay for 24 hours...and this was certainly no exception. Thank you so much for joining me for this year’s Firefall. Make sure to watch video footage we captured of this phenomenon on this week’s Behind the Blog video at the top of this post, or you can watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure encouragement wherever you go!
Wildcat Falls in Yosemite National Park
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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Etsy Shop
Today I'm partnering with Visit Yosemite Madera County to share the Top 10 Photo Spots in Yosemite National Park. This photography travel guide shares the best viewpoints and most Instagrammable viewpoints in the park, including Taft Point, Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge, Olmsted Point, Tunnel View, Sentinel Dome & Glacier Point. Explore stunning scenes with Half Dome, El Capitan & waterfalls.