Yosemite National Park will require day-use entrance reservations on February 8-9, February 15-17, and February 22-23 to manage the surge of visitors attending the annual Horsetail Fall event. The reservation system aims to control overcrowding during these peak weekends.

To accommodate additional demand, the parks confirmed that 50% of day-use reservations will be released two days prior to each reservation date. For instance, reservations for February 23 will open at 8:00 a.m. on February 21.

Visitors with lodging reservations in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta, or Yosemite West are exempt from the day-use reservation requirement. 

However, park officials clarified that reservations for Camp 4, Hodgdon Meadow, and Wawona Campgrounds will also be mandatory from February 8 through February 23. These campgrounds typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis in February.

The announcement emphasized the necessity of these measures to enhance visitor safety and ensure a manageable flow of traffic during one of Yosemite’s busiest winter events. The annual Horsetail Fall event attracts large crowds, resulting in traffic congestion, parking challenges, and safety concerns. 

“After February 26, Yosemite National Park anticipates sharing details about this year’s reservation system early in 2025. We recognize the importance of providing clarity on that system as soon as possible to accommodate peak summer season travel planning,” the park also said in an announcement.

Horsetail Fall’s rare “firefall” effect, where the waterfall glows orange as it is backlit by the setting sun, occurs only under specific conditions, clear skies, flowing water, and precise sun angles, during mid-to-late February.