Every winter Yosemite National Park becomes the stage for one of nature’s most riveting optical illusions: a magnificent waterfall that for a brief moment appears to be made of pure golden fire.

Yosemite National Park is bracing for thousands of visitors who want to see the "firefall" at Horsetail Fall.

"Firefall" occurs when the sun is setting as beams of sunlight shine down on Horsetail Fall at a particular angle. As it does, the water shines bright and looks like a river of molten lava from a ...

Between February 10 and 26, for a few minutes at sunset, Horsetail Fall glows like molten lava or cascading fire spilling down El Capitan. It is called the Yosemite "Firefall".

Small crowds, big fun—here’s why a Yosemite winter visit should be on your travel list, and what to know before you go.

Learn more about the science behind Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall, which glows like fire every February, and will return between Feb. 10 and Feb. 26, 2026.

The natural phenomenon appears for only minutes at sunset, drawing photographers and visitors from across the country ...