Yosemite National Park

"Yosemite's Rare 'Firefall' Phenomenon Is Back — Here's How to See It This Year Year after year, Yosemite makes the list of most-visited national parks in the U.S. — and with good reason. Millions of visitors flock here to marvel at its mountain-studded landscape, lakes, and waterfalls. While there's no bad time to explore Yosemite National Park, a visit in February allows for views of a unique natural phenomenon: the Yosemite "firefall."

Located on the eastern edge of El Capitan in the Yosemite Valley, Horsetail Fall only flows in the winter and early spring. In February, when the sun sets on a clear evening, it strikes the waterfall at just the right angle, lighting up the water in bright, glowing hues of orange and yellow. The effect looks as though the rock formation is spouting out fire and lava — hence the name "firefall."

With each passing year, the event has gained so much popularity (2019 saw 2,000 visitors in one day) that Yosemite National Park has implemented restrictions for the safety of both visitors and the sensitive vegetation in the area. With this year's added threat of COVID-19, Yosemite is taking additional steps to avoid large crowds. .

(JESSICA POITEVIEN FEBRUARY 01, 2021)