The Natural Firefall (Horsetail Falls) © Shutterstock
Many first introductions to Yosemite are made through the lens of Ansel Adams. Adams became interested in Yosemite at the age of 14 after reading James Mason Hutchings’ In the Heart of the Sierras. Yosemite served as the catalyst that inspired Adams to become the preeminent landscape photographer of the American West. Yosemite Valley’s Ansel Adams Gallery helps preserve the life, the work, and the vision of one of America’s greatest photographers and conservationists.
Today thousands of photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, attempt to recapture many of the images made famous by Adams. Tunnel View (Wawona Road) and Inspiration Point (2.6 miles roundtrip from Wawona Tunnel Overlook) provide two of the most photographed vistas in the world. Then there’s the February phenomenon known as the “Natural Firefall.” There are no guarantees that you’ll see a “firefall,” but with the right amount of water and light Horsetail Falls ignites as if it’s caught on fire. Those interested should stop at El Capitán Picnic Area on Northside Drive in February.