Updated July 2026
Horsetail Fall
A seasonal horsetail fall on the east side of El Capitan; for about two weeks in mid-to-late February the setting sun can light it up to glow like flowing lava (the 'firefall').
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Yosemite National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Horsetail Fall drops about 1,570 feet. That makes it the 5th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 99% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The El Capitan Picnic Area / Northside Drive viewing area (no formal trail) reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back), rated easy. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Yosemite National Park (NPS) for closures and current conditions.
Mid-to-late February (with snowmelt and clear skies). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cascade Falls · 200 ft
Sources
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