Five Photos of the Amazing “Firefall” in Yosemite

Every year around this time, the sun lights up Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park. The effect gives the illusion that lava is flowing from the wall. It only happens for a few weeks of the year. The “firefall” starts when the angle of the setting sun causes light to hits the waterfall at the right angle. Below are five Instagram photos that show off the wild sight, the first is a video click to play.

Video of Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park from Sunday 2/12. This is how it lights up in the "firefall" as the last rays of the sunset reflect off the rock to light up the water. This year there's a lot of water, which is good, but there's wasn't as wind which helps blow the water around to make it more spectacular. #yosemite #yosemite_national_park #shooting_california #share_the_experience #visitcalifornia #findyourpark #firefall #horsetailfalls

A post shared by ▪Bill (@surfnsnowboard) on Feb 14, 2017 at 6:43pm PST

The Return of Firefall I had published photographs of this phenomenon last year. This year, I feel fortunate to have been one of the firsts to witness it. In fact, I just drove back home after seeing this unforgettable moment. This is the Horse tail waterfall in the Yosemite National Park. Every year for a few days in February, the sun sets at a certain angle and illuminates the waterfall in luminescent orange and red, making it look like a molten lava. More information on this phenomenon is here, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160219-yosemite-firefall-waterfall-sunset-pictures-nature/. #westcoast_exposures #majestic_earth_ #cool_capture_ #photoarena_nature #naturewhisperers #inspiring_photography_admired #dream_image #visitcalifornia #jaw_dropping_shots #gottolove_this #splendid_earth #thebest_capture #b_picturess #igs_america #ig_unitedstates #greatshotz #special_shots #phototag_it #wildcalifornia_ #NikonLove #globalcapture #ig_exquisite #ig_impulse #viewbugfeature #usinterior #moodygrams #rawcalifornia #firefall #firefall2017

A post shared by Sangeeta Dey (@sangeetadeyphotography) on Feb 13, 2017 at 12:49am PST

Got lucky today and saw the firefall after hiking the upper Yosemite falls trail. It's great to be back! . . . . #Yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #findyourpark #optoutside #adventure #adventuremore #mountains #mountainman #neverstopexploring #rei1440project #formomentslikethis #hiking #exploring #instagood

A post shared by @ryaneliason on Feb 13, 2017 at 6:48pm PST

Happy Valentine's Day- repost: this was the photo I captures on feb 13,2016 of the horsetailfall #firefall #yosemitenps #yosemiteconservancy that went viral worldwide. I thought it would be appropriate to share it again on Valentine's Day since Mother Nature gave us a great show last year with the heart shaped mist. There is still time to witness this natural phenomenon but only if weather permits. – – – #hot_shotz #wowshot #amazingphotohunter #globe_travel #igrepresent #ig_eurasia #fotogulumse #ig_photostars #igglobalclub #phototag_it #mekaanim #gununfotografi #igs_america #nature_of_the_world #worldprime #hubs_united #superb_earthpix #superhubs #ig_ikeda #nationalparkgeek #abc7eyewitness #cnnireport

A post shared by Ray (@rayophotography13) on Feb 14, 2017 at 10:50am PST

Standing in the cold cloudy evening nobody thought the sunlight would break through, but right at sunset the Fire Fall of Yosemite lit up like a beacon, faded and shone through twice more. On the entire wall this is the only spot that gets any light at sunset for about two weeks in February. Quite the show. #yosemite #firefall #landscape

A post shared by Dana Felthauser (@danafelthauser) on Feb 14, 2017 at 12:09pm PST