6 Spectacular Nighttime Events in National Parks
If you only visit American national parks during the day, you’re missing a treasure trove of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“Half the park is after dark.” —Astronomer and artist Tyler Nordgren
When darkness falls, many tourists head inside. For the intrepid photographer and visitor, this means that you can witness miracles of nature without all the crowds and selfie sticks.
Things like a waterfall that appears to catch fire at sunset. A rainbow caused by moonlight. Thousands of fireflies winking on and off in synchronicity.
It’s not easy, however. All these rare sights require a mixture of careful planning, patience, and luck. Dark sky photographers and nighttime enthusiasts know the challenge and the chase make the destination worth it.
These 6 phenomena are the reason bucket lists exist, and will take you to some of America’s most beautiful places. Each section showcases the settings you need for your DSLR or mirrorless camera, but seeing any of these with your eyes is well worth your effort. Getting a photo is just a bonus, so don’t worry or be intimidated if you don’t get it dialed in the first time.
Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park during February
Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park
As the sun sets in Yosemite National Park during February, something truly miraculous happens that will make you cheer along with everyone else in the valley.
The secret ingredients? Sunlight and water. For several weeks in winter, the angle of the sun lines up so that it only shines through Horsetail Fall, a 2,000-foot waterfall flowing off of El Capitan. The result is a glowing stream that’ll take your breath away.
When to see it?
The event typically occurs mid- to late-February. President’s Day weekend falls in the middle of the 3-week viewing window. Plan to arrive at your viewing location at least 1 hour before sunset, with the orange color occurring for the 20 minutes before sunset.
Where to see it?
Yosemite National Park. El Capitan picnic area is the “official” viewing location, but it can be crowded. It can also be seen from the Southside Valley Loop trail and the 4-Mile trail, if you are east of El Capitan.
How to photograph Horsetail Fall in Yosemite?
This event can be captured with a phone or your camera in auto mode, but if you want an extra challenge, try:
- Place your camera on a tripod.
- Set your camera to aperture priority mode, with your F-Stop at 8.0 – 12.0.
- ISO should be 100-400.
- Focus on the waterfall.
- Your camera will automatically set the shutter speed.
- Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot.
What else should you know?
- Permits are typically required on weekends, but during the week, there are fewer crowds
- Respect the “off-limits” areas set by the NPS. They do this to protect the ecosystem
- Don’t be discouraged by clouds. All you need is a small break of sunlight!
The Firefall is just one of many rare night sky events I’ve documented. My photography book, Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands, explores more of these hidden phenomena and how you can experience them.
Moonbow in Yosemite National Park in Upper Yosemite Falls
Moonbows in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is truly a special place. A national park could be built around any of the many wonders in the valley.
One of those is Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. During the spring, something truly miraculous happens.
A moonbow appears in the mist. That’s right, a rainbow caused by moonlight.
It sounds like something a poet might dream up. But they’re real, and spectacular. These occur in the spring when there’s lots of mist, a full moon, and our lunar companion is directly behind you.
When to see it?
Within a day or two of the full moons in April, May, and June. Times for viewing vary—check Yosemitemoonbow.com for estimated viewing windows.
Where to see it?
Yosemite National Park. Technically, they can be seen anywhere in the park, but the best viewpoints are the Lower Yosemite Falls viewing bridge, Cook’s Meadow by Sentinel Bridge, and Glacier Point.
How to photograph moonbows in Yosemite National Park?
Moonbows look colorless to the naked eye. Your camera can “take in” more light than the human eye, and reveals the color:
- Place your camera on a tripod
- Set your camera to Manual
- F-Stop as low as it can go
- ISO should be 1600
- Set your shutter speed to 10 seconds
- Focus on the waterfall
- Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot.
This exposure is a starting point. If it looks too dark or too bright, adjust your shutter speed.
What else should you know?
- Respect other photographers and use a headlamp with red light
Milky Way over a road in Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park
The Milky Way in Death Valley National Park
There’s not a culture on the planet that doesn’t have legends about the stars. Yet more and more people can’t see them as our ancestors did because of light pollution.
National parks are the perfect place to get away from the lights and see the core of our galaxy.
When to see it?
The Milky Way can be photographed during the months of April to September. Summertime is optimal because the galactic core rises high above the horizon.
Use a night sky app like Google Sky Map or Stellarium to find the Milky Way’s position at different times.
Where to see it?
Anywhere with dark skies and a clear view to the south. Death Valley National Park is an exceptional place. There is almost zero light pollution, skies are often crystal clear, and Dante’s View rises above the mountains for a clear view to the south.
How to photograph the Milky Way?
Learning how to dial in your settings for the Milky Way is a lifelong skill. Once you know what works for your camera, it’s the same everywhere you shoot stars. The real challenge is finding interesting compositions:
- Place your camera on a tripod
- Set your camera to Manual
- F-Stop as low as it can go
- ISO should be 1600
- Set your shutter speed to 13 seconds
- Use live view mode on your camera to zoom into a single bright star or the moon. Manually focus on it
- Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot
This exposure is a starting point. If it looks too dark or too bright, adjust your shutter speed. If the stars are “streaking”, lower your shutter speed or zoom out.
Northern Lights near Denali National Park in Alaska
The Northern Lights in Denali National Park
Seeing the aurora light up in the northern sky is one of nature’s most elusive events. Of all of these phenomena, it requires the most patience and a little bit of luck.
The northern lights are caused when particles from the sun interact with the Earth’s charged magnetosphere. Seeing them is like being on another planet. Strange clouds and shapes fill the sky, undulating for hours at a time.
When to see it?
Fall, Winter, and Spring are usually the best times because there is more darkness, but an aurora in the summer is possible. March and September are ideal months because of:
- higher solar activity
- darkness at higher latitudes
- probability of clear skies.
Where to see it?
Alaska is the best place in the United States, with Denali National Park and the Fairbanks area being ideal spots. Your chances of seeing the lights on any given clear night are 50%.
However, many places in the contiguous US can see them. Download an Aurora app like Space Weather Live or look at the NOAA 3-day Aurora Forecast. A “KP” of 5-7 means the northern United States has a chance of aurora, with a KP of 8-9, meaning the lights could reach across the entire country.
How to photograph the aurora in Alaska?
If you’ve never seen them before and you think they might be out, look for “weird clouds.” Or, try taking a test shot with an iPhone or your camera. Sometimes they can only be seen by a camera that lets in more light.
- Place your camera on a tripod
- Set your camera to Manual
- F-Stop as low as it can go
- For slow aurora, use 8-12 second exposures and an ISO of 1600
- For faster, brighter aurora try shutter speeds between 1-7 seconds. If these are too dark, increase your ISO to 3200
- Use live view mode on your camera to zoom into a single bright star or the moon. Manually focus on it.
Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot.
What else should you know?
- Plan on spending at least 3-4 hours viewing the aurora. They grow stronger and fade, and sometimes take time to build.
- Aurora can look colorless to the naked eye or can be invisible. Human eyesight is poor in darkness. Your camera can “take in” more light than the human eye, and reveal the color. Look for “weird clouds” in the sky.
- Check the cloud forecast before spending a night chasing aurora. The sky needs to be completely clear or have few clouds to the north.
The Synchronous Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains
Picture being in the middle of the woods at night, and tens of thousands of Christmas lights blinking back and forth around you in rhythm.
Alt text or caption: Photo of synchronous fireflies in Elkmont Campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For one week in June, in one campground in the Great Smoky Mountains, a brood of fireflies performs their annual mating ritual for the lucky awestruck few that are able to witness it.
The females rest on the foliage, and the males flit a few feet above them. They blink back and forth, their patterns of light cascading around the forest.
When to see it?
Typically in early June. Check the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s website in March for details.
Where to see it?
Elkmont Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
How to photograph synchronous fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Spend some time marveling at how the forest is completely dark, and then tens of thousands of fireflies all turn on at once. They blink in patterns for several hours, so you have time to set up your shot:
- Place your camera on a tripod
- Set your camera to Manual
- F-Stop between 2.8 and 6.0
- Set your shutter speed to 15-30 seconds
- ISO can vary between 200 to 3200
- Note that firefly light is very fragile, and any other light from dusk can wash them out. Experiment with different shutter speeds and ISOs
- Manually focus on a tree or foliage 15-20 feet in front of your camera before dusk
- Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot
What else should you know?
- Getting into Elkmont Campground is incredibly difficult. Only 120 cars are allowed in per night, and over 20,000 enter the lottery system.
- Wear a headlamp with red light. It’s not only respectful to your fellow photographers, but it also protects the fireflies. Their mating ritual relies on light, and bright white light confuses them.
- Plan to arrive while there is still light out and set your focus manually then. After dark falls, it can be next to impossible to fix your focus.
- Take lots of photos! You never know when the fireflies will line up in your shot. Keep your shutter clicking as often as possible to increase your chances.
Pink Moon in Yosemite National Park
The Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in a Park Near You
Seeing an incredible dark sky event doesn’t have to involve a destination. Nature is everywhere, and the moon is no exception. It can be seen anywhere, even in bright cities.
It also appears nearly every night. Whether it’s a full moon or a crescent moon, the choices for composition are essentially endless.
As a bonus, when you get the chance to witness a lunar eclipse, take it! The moon dims to an eerie blood red and makes for intriguing panoramic possibilities. Viewing it is much easier than their cousins, the solar eclipse, because the path of totality is much wider.
Photo of the 2022 lunar eclipse in Governor Dodge State Park, Wisconsin
When to see it?
Check your local rise and set times, along with the weather.
Lunar eclipses will be viewable in North America at these times:
- March 3, 2026
- December 31, 2028
- June 26, 2029
- December 20-21, 2029
- April 25, 2032
Where to see it?
Anywhere with a clear view of the night sky!
National parks with mountains or rock formations can also provide great composition options. Try Arches National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, or Acadia National Park.
How to photograph the moon?
- Use a telephoto lens of 200mm or longer to fill your frame with the moon. Photographing it with less zoom capability is possible, but the moon will be small in your shots
- Place your camera on a tripod
- Set your camera to Manual
- F-Stop as low as it can go
- Set your shutter speed to 1/20-1/60
- ISO should be 100.
- Use live view mode on your camera to zoom into the moon. Manually focus on it.
- Use a 2-second delay timer or a remote shutter to take the shot.
As the moon darkens during the eclipse, increase your ISO instead of changing your shutter speed. The moon moves fast, especially if you are using a telephoto lens, and it could blur.
What else should you know?
- Try lining it up just above a tree or other structure for scale. Or zoom in and focus on our lunar companion
- Don’t be discouraged by clouds. A moon wreathed in mist or shining through can make for a very moody shot
Exploring parks at night opens up a whole new world of experiences. You will see and hear things you’ve never done before. For a photographer, it presents new challenges that will grow your skills and creativity. And, best of all, you’ll make unforgettable memories to hold onto for your entire life.
Jeff Pfaller’s Book Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands
About the book: If you’ve ever stared at the stars and felt something stir inside you, this book is for you. Dark Skies is more than a photo collection. It’s a portal into the rare, the unexplained, and the unbelievable. It captures the ephemeral wilderness of our public lands in a way you haven’t seen before. It’s my love letter to the American park system, and donating a part of every sale is my small way to say thank you to our beautiful country.
20% of the profits from every sale of Dark Skies: Rare Phenomena in America’s Public Lands directly support conservation efforts to protect natural areas all over the country.
Buy your copy of Dark Skies photography book
