Horsetail Fall
California · 2,133-foot drop · Yosemite National Park · Last verified 2026-05-15
Today at Horsetail Fall: clear, null°F.
Right now
Overnight
°F
Clear
Saturday
98°F
Sunny
Today's daylight
Sunrise 5:36 AM · Sunset 8:20 PM · 14h 45m
Snapshot built 8m ago. Sources: NWS HNX.
Horsetail Fall is a waterfall in California. It drops roughly 2,133 feet. Access details and conditions have not yet been verified in person by Fallspots — the data on this page comes from OpenStreetMap and USGS GNIS.
Horsetail Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring. The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan. If Horsetail Fall is flowing in February and the weather conditions are just right, the setting sun illuminates the waterfall, making it glow orange and red. This natural phenomenon is often referred to as the "Firefall", a name that pays homage to Yosemite Firefall, the manmade event that once took place in Yosemite.
Compare to nearby falls
If this one isn't the right fit, here's how it stacks up against the closest documented falls. Every column is filterable on the site — not buried in 13,000 reviews.
| Waterfall | Distance | Height | Trail | Dogs | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horsetail Fall (this page) | — | 2,133 ft | — | N | — |
| Ribbon Fall | 1 mi | 1,612 ft | — | N | — |
| Bridalveil Fall | 1 mi | 620 ft | — | N | — |
| Sentinel Fall | 2 mi | 1,936 ft | — | N | — |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 2 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
| Middle Cascades | 2 mi | 2,425 ft | — | N | — |
Related waterfalls
Similar height (~2133 ft)
- Snow Creek Falls2,133 ft
- East Snow Mountain Falls2,200 ft
- Sentinel Fall1,936 ft
- Lower Yosemite Fall2,425 ft
- Middle Cascades2,425 ft
Questions visitors ask about Horsetail Fall
Answers built from our structured data. If a question isn't here, the fact is unverified — we'd rather omit than guess.
How tall is Horsetail Fall?
Horsetail Fall is 2,133 feet (650 m) tall. Source heights disagree by source — see the discrepancy box on the page.
Is Horsetail Fall in a national or state park?
Yes — Horsetail Fall is inside Yosemite National Park. See the park page for fees, hours, and current conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Horsetail Fall?
No — dogs are not allowed on trails here. Most National Park trails prohibit pets to protect wildlife. Service animals are an exception per ADA.
How far is Horsetail Fall from a major city?
Horsetail Fall is 3 miles from Yosemite Valley (about 4 minutes' drive).
More waterfalls in California
Where it is
37.7313, -119.6282
Sources and live status
Where we got the data, and where to check current conditions before you drive.
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsetail_Fall_(Yosemite)
Wikidata (Q37385)
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37385
Last verified by Fallspots: 2026-05-15
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