Volunteers organized and were getting camp ready with a pre-camp work party. New curtains were hung and memories were created. Get ready 2026!

For the first time in three years, no reservations are required to view Yosemite’s famous Firefall phenomenon this February. The projected viewing period runs from February 10 through February 26, when the setting sun may illuminate Horsetail Fall on El Capitan’s eastern edge in a brilliant orange glow.

The National Park Service is encouraging visitors to arrive early, park once for the day, and be prepared for winter conditions. With the reservation system dropped, larger crowds are expected, especially on Presidents’ Day weekend. And a reminder: Highway 120 across Tioga Pass remains closed for the season.

Photo credit: Carlos Avila Gonzalez for the San Francisco Chronicle.

Would you like to spend the summer working or volunteering at Camp Mather? There are lots of ways to get involved. Friends of Camp Mather and our friends at the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department are recruiting for several roles, including:

• Camp Mather General Store: FoCM operates the General Store with its soda fountain and variety of food, drinks, and sundries. The Store Manager is recruiting clerks for the Summer 2026 season—a great summer job with free room and board at Camp. Email Claudia Reinhart, General Store Manager at [email protected] with a CC to [email protected] to learn more.
• SFRPD Camp Staff Positions: The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is hiring for multiple seasonal positions at Camp Mather including Camp Assistants, Recreation Leaders, and Lifeguards. Positions run from mid-May through early September. 
• Volunteer Naturalists: FoCM’s Volunteer Naturalist program connects families with the natural and cultural history of the Sierra Nevada through guided walks, workshops, and hands-on activities. VNs commit to one or two weeks during the summer season and receive guaranteed camping at the dedicated Volunteer Naturalist tent site plus meals. Email Allyson Bishop at [email protected] to learn more.