We’re lucky to enjoy a remarkable range of fascinating natural phenomena in California, from bioluminescent waves to the monarch migration. Over in Yosemite National Park, thousands of visitors hold their breath each spring for a chance to see an ethereal “moonbow,” or night rainbow.
These magical arcs of color form in the waterfall spray, lit by the light of a full moon if the conditions are just right.
One of three peak moonbow windows has already passed… so keep reading for all the details about how to see a moonbow for yourself.
What is a moonbow?
Each spring, subtle moonbows appear in the waterfall spray at Yosemite National Park, but only if several key conditions align: a clear evening, a full moon, abundant water in the falls, sufficient darkness, and the perfect angle, among several others.
John Muir himself once compared viewing the moonbows to a religious experience, describing them as a “grand arc of color, glowing in mild, shapely beauty.”
When and where will the moonbows be visible in Yosemite this year?
Nature photographers flock to Yosemite for a chance to capture the moonbows on camera. Brian Hawkins is one such photographer, and he maintains a website dedicated to predicting ideal conditions for moonbow viewing. Hawkins’ experience as a mechanical engineer allows him to create highly accurate 3D simulations, which help to predict the phenomenon each year at Yosemite’s Lower Falls, Upper Falls, and Glacier Point.
Hawkins has predicted the 2026 moonbows during the following windows. He posts detailed timetables on his website a few weeks before each window opens.
- March 31 – April 4, 2026 (passed)
- April 29 – May 5, 2026
- May 28 – June 3, 2026
“Yosemite has experienced a somewhat dry winter followed by unseasonable warmth in March,” wrote Hawkins. “This has caused early melting of the high elevation snow which feeds Yosemite’s waterfalls. I expect many waterfalls will dry up by late June, so I will not be predicting moonbows for the late June full moon. Get out and enjoy the waterfalls while you can.”
How can I see a moonbow?
Moonbows are much harder to see than rainbows, given that the sun is about 400,000 times brighter than the moon. While the dim arcs of the moonbows may appear colorless at first, Hawkins explains that you must give your eyes some time to adjust, and you’ll eventually pick up on the spectrum of colors. However, the moonbows will never be as vivid to the human eye as they are on camera.
You can learn more about moonbows, 2026 predictions, camera settings, and much more at Hawkins’ Yosemite Moonbow website.
For additional information, check out Yosemite’s Moonbow Viewing Guide.
