Yosemite National Park’s Firefall will likely be a free-for-all in 2026.

Yosemite’s Firefall is back this winter, but with a policy change: Reservations that once served to prevent crowds from trampling meadows and overwhelming the park during the event will no longer be required, according to a park statement.

Firefall is a natural phenomenon in which the setting sun illuminates Horsetail Fall on El Capitan, giving the waterfall a short-lived orange glow reminiscent of a sunset. Park officials say the 2026 viewing period is projected to be Feb. 10 through Feb. 26, and are directing visitors to park in eastern Yosemite Valley and then walk to the designated viewing areas using a temporary lane on Northside Drive. 

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“No reservations are required this year,” said a Yosemite National Park statement emailed to SFGATE. The park is encouraging visitors to arrive early, park once for the whole day and come prepared for winter conditions as staff members work to protect “sensitive natural and cultural resources.”

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