Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls, Yosemite 2.25.08 5:40pm

Horsetail Falls is on its final week and now the bottom goes out of the sun before the top lights up red. This was the last rays before it shut down.

You may notice this is a new perspective as I hiked long and hard to find this spot.

Horsetail Falls, El Capitan, Yosemite, aka El Capitan Falls, drops 1500 ft. off incredible El Capitan. It is best viewed from a picnic area along Northside Drive. Look way up to the top of the big rocks east side to see the waterfall. You’ll need at least a 200m zoom lens to get decent photo. Horsetail Falls also has low drainage and disappears by May or June.

The best time of year to see Horsetail Falls is in February. If you are here on a clear night in February, be sure to visit this waterfall at sunset. The sun strikes the rock in such a way that it appears Horsetail Falls is on fire. This is a incredible sight to see. You have to have clear or clearing weather and water for all to come together.

This map shows Yosemite Valley with Horsetail Falls and photo spots marked. The best viewing is east of Horsetail Falls with possible best viewing angle shaded.

This is where Horsetail Falls pours over the east side of El Capitan, Yosemite. I got this shot in 1995? while on a photo assignment shooting climber on El Capitan. View is looking east down Yosemite Valley with Half Dome covered in clouds, center.

Nature’s firefall, 2/14/08, Horsetail Falls, Yosemite Valley.

This was one of the better sunsets as we had a north wind that ensured clear conditions and the sun is almost at the perfect spot for the last rays to hit the waterfall.

This is Horsetail Falls on the east side of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley. For a couple weeks a year the last rays of the setting sun turn the water a orange/red that resembles molten metal.