Madera County, CA

Rainbow Falls is a popular, but spectacular 5- mile RT hike in the Sierra Nevada Range near Mammoth, California.

Madera County, CA

To get to the trailhead at Devils Postpile National Monument, take the shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center. Tickets for the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile Shuttle bus are $15.00 for adults, $7.00 for children aged 3-15, and free for children under age 2. Tickets may be purchased at the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Visit Eastern Sierra Transit Authority for tickets.

Mammoth Lakes, CA

It’s about 0.8 miles to the base of the Postpile and another 15 minutes to the top on a side trail. The Devils Postpile is a columnar basalt formation that was created by the cooling of lava that flowed from the nearby Long Valley Caldera about 100,000 years ago. The lava cooled and contracted, forming hexagonal columns that are around 60 feet tall and resemble a giant's pipe organ.

Madera County, CA

The trail is pretty mellow, but it gets hot! Go early in the morning if possible. Carry water and wear sunscreen.

Madera County, CA

At 101-feet, Rainbow Falls is the tallest waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Madera County, CA

Rainbow Falls is aptly named for the rainbows that form on sunny days (but not the day we visited!)

Madera County, CA

Rainbow Falls is a great destination or an entry point into the Ansel Adams Wilderness.