When I was a kid growing up in Ridgecrest, we spent a lot of our time exploring the Sierras – both the East Side and the West Side – including regular camping trips to Yosemite. That was an era that didn’t require shuttle buses or fighting traffic jams to get around the valley floor. Those trips were filled with hiking, adventure, and some unforgettable memories … including something called Firefall.

 

Each night during tourist season, park employees would push glowing embers from a massive campfire over the edge of Glacier Point. As the embers fell nearly 3,000 feet, they looked like a fiery waterfall spilling into Yosemite Valley. It was a spectacular sight – one that families and visitors would gather to watch night after night.

 

In the late 1960s, the National Park Service concluded that this tradition wasn’t exactly environmentally responsible, and Firefall was discontinued. Fast forward to 1973, when a photographer named Galen Rowell was in Yosemite to photograph sunset on El Capitan. As he was leaving the park, he happened to glance back and noticed something extraordinary: Horsetail Fall suddenly began glowing bright orange, as though molten lava was pouring down the face of the granite.

 

It turns out that once each year, under just the right circumstances – the sun’s precise angle in mid-to-late February, flowing water, and clear skies – this natural phenomenon occurs. There’s no guarantee it will happen, but when everything aligns, the sight elicits plenty of “wows” from the thousands of visitors who gather to witness it for themselves.

 

Last February (February 21st, to be exact—because this matters), I decided to check this experience off my bucket list while reliving a few childhood memories along the way.

 

I stayed at my favorite resort near the park’s south entrance, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, made park reservations (yes, reservations are required for this event), and joined thousands of my “closest friends” as we parked near Yosemite Valley Lodge in the late afternoon. From there, we trekked about three miles roundtrip along the road to find just the right viewing angle.

 

By the time I claimed my spot, hundreds of people were already lined up with tripods, expensive cameras, and ginormous telephoto lenses – ready to capture the perfect shot and perhaps achieve instant photographic fame. I chose to forgo hauling that kind of gear and snapped my photo with just my iPhone.

 

This year, Firefall is expected to occur sometime between February 14th and 28th (fingers crossed). You can do what I did – make your own arrangements, secure park reservations, explore Yosemite Valley during the day, and then make the afternoon trek to Horsetail Fall.

 

Or, better yet, turn this rare event into an unforgettable romantic getaway for two by booking a stay at and private Firefall Tour through Tenaya Lodge. With Tenaya’s tour company handling all the logistics – including park reservations and driving – you can simply relax, take in the moment, snap your own photos, and let someone else deal with the traffic jam on the way out.

 

If you choose to stay at Tenaya Lodge, I’d recommend booking one of their Explorer Cabins or one of the exclusive, adults-only Garden Suites at the Main Lodge. Both options offer cozy privacy, plenty of space with separate bedrooms and living areas, and a private patio or deck. The Explorer Cabins feature a more robust kitchenette, while the Garden Suites include a large soaking tub – perfect after a long winter hike.

 

Either way, I’d advise booking your stay and tour through Tenaya sooner rather than later. Firefall attracts photographers and nature lovers from around the world, and once Yosemite and the Lodge reach capacity, you may find yourself waiting until 2027.

 

This February (ahem guys, Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away), consider trading the usual dinner reservation for something unforgettable. Pack a warm jacket, bring someone special, and let Yosemite remind you that some of the most magical memories happen outdoors, under an open sky, when the light is just right.

 

 

Or to venture out on your own, try searching the web for “Yosemite firefall 2026” and perusing the various resources there. But we’re pretty certain you’ll be happiest letting Tenaya set everything up for you.