Each day, just before sunset, Horsetail Fall on the eastern edge of El Capitan gets a back-lit glow, seemingly transforming from an ordinary waterfall to a stream of flame. Tourists refer to the ...

The peak dates to see the event are around Feb. 21, when the sunset hits the waterfall at the perfect angle. The setting sun transforms Horsetail Fall into a firefall in Yosemite National Park.

When the sunset properly backlights Horsetail Fall, the water cascading down the granite cliff face, 3,000 feet to the valley floor, becomes a “firefall,” taking on an orange glow. Even those ...