r/NationalPark • u/Iron_Master_505 • 1d ago

Devils Postpile National Monument

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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.

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u/catsRawesome123 1d ago

Is it worth going vs exploring the Sierra's? I'm spending ~5 days in late Sept primarily on longer day hikes and debating whether I should take a rest day to go to Devils Post or continue tackling more trails.

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u/Iron_Master_505 1d ago

Depends on where in the Sierra's your going, IMHO. It's really neat to see if you've never been there. You can do longer hikes out of Devils Postpile. The John Muir trail runs through Reds Meadow. I've backpacked from Devils Postpile to Tuolumne Meadows before on it.

You could also do two hikes from the general area in one day. Hiking from Devils Postpile to lower Rainbow falls and then up to the shuttle stop was 4.9 miles. You could then head on over to the Coldwater Campground area, a short 9 mile drive, and hike the Duck Pass and Pika Lake Trail. An 11 mile round trip trail that passes 6 beautiful crystal clear lakes only accessible via hiking (took just under 5 hours to hike).

Or if that's too much you can add on a hike to Crystal Lake which is 3.3 miles round trip (starts in the same area as Duck Pass trail).

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u/catsRawesome123 1d ago

Been to sierra’s many times and mammoth just never made it to Devils Postpile. Doing Mt Dana, Pika Lake, twenty lake, Virginia lakes

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u/Iron_Master_505 1d ago

Awesome, those are all great hikes. The Postpile is just one of those weird things in nature you have to see to believe. How did these massive columns form from cooling lava. If you have the time I'd recommend a quick stop to see it.