Okay, we’ll head back into the forest as we continue toward Yosemite Valley. You know, there’s no shortage of, what you might call, “America the Beautiful” here in Yosemite. Spacious skies? Yep, we’ve got ‘em. Purple mountainS majesty? Eh, purple enough. But in the first 100 years of the national park, I guess the powers that be thought Yosemite needed just a little more grandeur. So what visitors got every summer evening at 9pm was something called the Firefall.

It went like this: Around 5pm, the staff of the hotel that used to sit at Glacier Point would build a massive bonfire by the edge of the cliff. By 9 o’clock, the fire would be down to embers. Then, workers would take big broom-like pushers and shove the embers down the Glacier Point cliff, 3,000 feet down. Spectators down in the valley’s Curry Village were treated to what looked like a gigantic waterfall of hot lava. Hence the name, Firefall.

The tradition got sort of a funny start. In 1872, hotel owner James McCauley built campfires on the cliff edge of Glacier Point to entertain his guests. Then, instead of dousing the remains of the fire with water like Smoky the Bear tells us to, he'd simply kick the embers off the cliff. And down, down they fell to the bottom. Visitors down in the valley spotted the falling fire, thought it looked spectacular, and started requesting more. McCauley had just stumbled upon a great business idea! Asking for donations, McCauley purchased more firewood, made bigger fires, and dropped more magnificent Firefalls. 

Wouldn’t ya know it, over decades, this Firefall became more and more popular. Thousands gathered in the valley, ready for the 9pm spectacular . A master of ceremonies would shout “let the fire fall!” and live music would accompany the dramatic scene. Sometimes, it was even the song “America, the Beautiful.” 

But by 1968, park authorities realized that maybe this wasn’t the best way to appreciate Yosemite. Not only was Firefall an artificial way to celebrate the park’s already stunning natural beauty, dumping fire embers over a cliff is kind of a fire hazard. And meadows in the valley got trampled as thousands of tourists jockeyed for a premium spot to watch. Hardly in step with the park’s conservation efforts, is it? So the tradition ended. 

But, only a few years later, a photographer named Galen Rowell stumbled upon a natural sort of Firefall. This time, the “fire” was provided by sunlight and water. You see, for a couple weeks in mid to late February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall over by El Capitan just right so that it lights up the water in a stunning way. For a few minutes during sunset, the water is illuminated with vivid reds, oranges, and yellows, almost like it’s on fire! Rowell caught the impressive sight in a photograph, and ever since, photographers of every skill level have traveled to the El Capitan Picnic Area every February to do the same. As anyone who’s tried to capture Firefall on camera will tell you, getting the perfect shot is as much about luck as ability. You need clear skies and enough water in the fall, to catch a glimpse of it. So even though it’s not a sure thing, like the original 9pm Firefall, it’s an equally magnificent way to enjoy Yosemite’s natural wonder. If you happen to be here during February, you can also try your hand at capturing the elusive “Natural” Firefall on camera, for yourself!

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