Devils Postpile National Monument is an interesting place where you can witness first-hand the amazing work of Mother Nature. It is an unusual rock formation of columnar basalt that rises out from the earth. There are a few of these similar rock formations in the United States and around the world such as the Devils Tower in Wyoming, or the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. However, Devils Postpile ranks as one of the world’s best examples of columnar basalt. It’s a pretty cool place to visit, especially if you combine it with a trip to Rainbow Falls. The formation of this place is quite interesting. However, you can skip straight to the directions here.
STATS:
Where:
Devils Postpile: Devils Postpile Access Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Coords: 37°37’30.3″N 119°05’06.4″W
Parking lot: 37°37’49.3″N 119°05’04.7″W
Fee:
Shuttle Cost: $8
If you drive your car: $10 (free with Interagency pass)
For more up-to-date info, check out here.
Parking:
A decent size dirt parking
Restrooms:
There are restrooms in the parking lot but not on the trail.
Distance:
About 1-mile R.T. if just want to visit Devils Postpile. Most people continue on to Rainbow Falls, which is a MUST. Round trip for that from the parking lot, through Devils Postpile, will be around 6 miles.
Elevation Gain:
To the bottom of Devils Postpile: 50 ft
To the top of the Postpile: 182ft
Level:
Easy
Estimated Completion Time:
About 30 to 45 minutes, unless you want to continue on to Rainbow Falls.
Ideal Weather:
Devils Postpile National Monument, the Reds Meadow Valley Road, and the shuttle are only opening during Summer, sometimes late Spring and early Fall depending on the weather. You can check out more info here.
Ideal Time:
Early mornings will give you cooler temperatures and a better chance of getting a parking spot.
Pet-friendly:
Pets are allowed on the trail as long as they are leashed.
Weather:
VIDEO:
FUN FACTS:
Between 80,000 to 100,000 years ago, a basalt lava vent began to flow into the Reds Meadow Valley, a few miles north of the Monument. The lava filled the valley and created a lava lake 400ft deep. As the lava cooled down, the molten rock shrank and cracked. It formed a vertical pattern on the surfaces of the flow. These cracks expanded to form long post-line columns. Eventually, a glacier later came over this hidden rock formation, polishing the top of the Postpile and exposing one side of it.
The Devils Postpile’s columns rise up to 60ft high with the columns’ width average from 2 feet to 3.5 feet. Since the lava didn’t cool down perfectly evenly, the columns have different polygonal cross-sections. They ranged from 3 to 7 sided with the majority of them being 6-sided. The reasons that Devil’s Postpile is more unique than other similar basalt columns are its lack of horizontal jointing and the fact that it has more hexagonal columns.
GETTING THERE:
Normally, during the operating season (summer), you will have to take the shuttle from the Village at Mammoth Lakes to the Ranger Station at Devil’s Postpile. If you want to avoid taking the shuttle, you can arrive before 7:00 am, after 7:00 pm, or outside of shuttle bus operating hours or seasons. For more info on the shuttle, you can check it out here.
At the moment, during Covid-19 time, the shuttle is not operating. Therefore, you can drive straight to the parking lot in front of the trailhead. If you get there before 8 am, you’ll have a better chance of getting a parking spot and you don’t have to pay the entrance fee. Make sure to check up on the road conditions before you go, in case the roads are closed.
THE ADVENTURE:
Dustin and I woke up at the crack of dawn to head over to Devil’s Postpile to make sure we can get parking there. The best thing about getting there so early is that you have the place mostly to yourself, AND you don’t have to pay for the entrance fee.
Surprisingly, by the time we got there around 7:30 am, there were already a handful of people there. We quickly found our parking spot and headed toward the trail. One of the best things about hiking trails in Mammoth Lakes is that most of the trails are VERY well-marked. This one is no exception.
From the parking, it’s about 0.4 miles each way to the bottom of the Postpile. It is mostly flat with a small hill in the middle. The trail is quite beautiful as the morning sun slowly peeked through the branches and lit up the meadows. You’ll start out through a beautiful meadow with glimpses of the Soda Springs.
As you keep going, you’ll come across a rock staircase on the left with a sign pointing to the top of the Postpile. This is a loop, therefore, you can either go straight to pass through the bottom of the Postpile and loop back to the top or do the opposite. Obviously, the view from the bottom up of these tall basalt columns is definitely more impressive.
It was quite a sight looking up at the giant columns. They look like organ pipes rising above the pine forests. The columns are partially covered with green moss. As the sun came out, the contrast between the green and the black basalt lava became starker. It helped define these pillars even more. One interesting thing is the pile of broken columns lying at the bottom of the raised ones. It looks like they had eroded and toppled down over time. It is illegal AND dangerous to climb over this pile to go to the bottom of the columns. So PLEASE DON’T DO IT!
Once you’re done spending time here, we recommend going to the top of the Postpile. It is a bit of a climb, however, it is quite interesting to see these polygonal shapes from above. The top of the Postpile is curved and slippery so make sure to not go too close to the edge.
Once you’re done here, you can continue on to the famous 101 ft tall Rainbow Falls (stay tuned for the next article), or turn back to the parking lot.
There are many things to do here in Mammoth Lakes, which we will cover soon. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out the unique Mono Lake, where you can kayak among the unique tufas, take a quick stop at the Hot Creek Geological Site. Along the 395, you can stop at Fossil Falls, the unique roadside sculptures of Olancha. If you head up to Tahoe, don’t forget to go kayak at Sand Harbor, check out the sunset at Chimney Beach, or be super adventurous and climb up Via Ferrata Tahoe.
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!
RECOMMEND GEAR:
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
• Hiking shoes
You don’t need hiking shoes for this, however, I recommend wearing them if you’re hiking to Rainbow Falls. Vy’s shoes are Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot. Dustin’s shoes are TARGHEE III WATERPROOF
• Snacks/Lunch
Again, not unless you want to hike to Rainbow Falls.
• Sunscreen
Always good to have. We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe, and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.
• Water
It is a mile hike, and while it’s not necessary, it can’t hurt to bring water. Especially if you go in the afternoon or want to hike to Rainbow Falls. Vy uses the Camelback L.U.X.E. Dustin uses the Clik Small pack (sadly Clik is no longer around)
CAMERA GEAR:
• Camera:
Sony a7 III
Gopro Hero 7 Black
• Lenses:
Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens
• Accessories:
GoPro The Handler Floating Hand Grip – Official GoPro Mount
Aluminum GoPro protection frame
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