Natural Firefall: Sunset Light on Horsetail Falls

Founder/Owner Joined: Mar 28, 2010 Posts: 77

Horsetail Falls is a small seasonal waterfall that only appears in late winter and early spring. It flows over the east side of El Capitan, so as a backdrop it has one of the most impressive walls of granite in the entire park. Then – only for part of February, and only when the sky is clear – the very last sunrays of the day selectively linger on the falls, lighting it up with a golden glow that makes the water look like lava.

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Newbie Joined: Jan 03, 2011 Posts: 23

Horsetail Falls is an ephemeral fall cascading down the eastern nose of El Capitan. For a few weeks each February, if Horsetail Falls is flowing and the sky is clear at sunset, the sun's last rays backlight Horsetail Falls producing a magical glow. It lasts for just a few minutes but is worth the trip.

Horsetail Falls backlit by the setting sun as it cascades down the face of El Capitan, February, Yosemite Valley. Horsetail Falls, Yosemite National Park, California, USA