Horsetail Fall Waterfall — United States

About this spectacle

Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall on the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park that becomes one of nature's most spectacular optical phenomena each February. For roughly two weeks around the third week of the month, the setting sun strikes the thin ribbon of water at precisely the right angle, turning it a luminous orange and red — an effect locals call the 'Firefall.' Visitors gather at meadow viewpoints, cameras ready, watching the granite cliff face slowly ignite as the light shifts. The roar of the fall is subtle compared to Yosemite's larger cascades, but the visual spectacle is extraordinary: a glowing thread of molten fire tracing a dark rock face while the valley floor falls into shadow. Outside of February, the fall flows freely in spring from snowmelt but lacks the famous light effect. The experience is fleeting — the glow lasts only minutes — making it intensely moving.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Feb

Getting there

Nearest airport: FAT. Nearest city: Fresno.

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