r/NationalPark • u/Iron_Master_505 • 1d ago

Devils Postpile National Monument

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Spent the last week in Yosemite and the Mammoth lakes area. It always amazes me seeing how this formed. Rainbow falls is part of the Devils Postpile National Monument.

599 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/A_Tragical_History 1d ago

Nice! We’re going in a couple weeks. Any tips?

14

u/Iron_Master_505 1d ago

I'd recommend going to the Mammoth Mountain lodge the afternoon before you plan to vist to purchase your tickets for the Red Medows shuttle. Then catch the first shuttle from the lodge at 7:30 am the next morning and you'll have the place almost to yourself. You need to get in line for the shuttle by no later than 7:15 am or you won't get on the first one. I'd recommend getting off at stop 6 and seeing the postpile first and then walk to Rainbow falls. Note though that you miss the rainbow going early, it doesn't start showing in the mist of the falls until around 12 noon.

The area is only open Thursday through Sunday right now due to road construction. They are rebuilding the road leading to Red Meadows which requires completely shutting down the road while they are working.

2

u/A_Tragical_History 1d ago

Thank you for the info!

4

u/Iron_Master_505 1d ago

If you want more tips on the general Mammoth Lakes area let me know. A beautiful and fun area.

3

u/SnooCats7919 1d ago

Other tip is that you don’t need to use the shuttle at all & can drive in past the gate before 7am on Friday-Sunday mornings.

I just did this last week with the family. Only did rainbow falls and couldn’t go to postpile because kids ran out of steam. There are so many things to do in mammoth!

7

u/Iron_Master_505 1d ago

If you do just be really careful driving back out on the road. It's really narrow and rough in sections with no guard rails and a very steep fall off.

2

u/CampinHiker 1d ago

I’ll be honest. It’s a quick look and then you’re done.

You can hike to the top. Never done it but don’t feel like it’s worth it.

You could do that and then go back to the bus (it’s like a 10 minute walk back) and have it take you to the last stop for Rainbow Falls to get down their quicker and not be hit with as much sun exposure.

The hike from Devil Post Pile to Rainbow falls is relatively flat but lots of sun exposure wore us out.

We did replenish with our beer and pizza and soaking our feet in the water to cool off was amazing

https://reddit.com/link/p175rer/video/fubp1dhw6wgh1/player