Spotlight: Sierra Nevada Mountains - Devil's Postpile National Monument

Spotlight: Devil's Postpile National Monument was originally part of Yosemite National Park. However, the discovery of gold in the Mammoth Lakes area prompted a boundary change, leaving the formation on public land. When a proposal for a dam would have resulted in the postpile being blasted, John Muir and other influential Californians petitioned the federal government to stop the blasting, which resulted in the establishment of the National Monument in 1911. It protects the Devil's Postpile formation, the 101-foot tall Rainbow Falls, and 798 acres of pristine alpine forest.

     The formation is a rare example of columnar basalt which raises 60 feet high and portrays a unique symmetry. It was created after a volcano spewed lava into the Reds Meadow Valley creating a lava lake less than 100,000 years ago. As the lake cooled, it began to contract and crack into columns. The columns were originally much taller than they are today, but erosion over tens of thousands of years, particularly glacial activity, has diminished their size - as evidenced by the huge pile of broken rocks at the base of the formation. It was the glaciers, however, which uncovered the formation in the first place.

Broken fragments

     The monument is also a popular portal to the John Muir Trail. Many backpackers either start or end their excursion here where the tram offers easy access to and from civilization.

Location: Devil's Postpile NM is in the Sierra National Forest several miles east of Mammoth.

Cost: Shuttle bus fees are: $7/adult, $4/child (3-15); 3-day passes are available for double the price. Day passes cost $10/vehicle. Campsites cost $20/night.

Time: Devil's Postpile is only open to tourists from mid-June to late October, depending on weather conditions which may close the road in or out of the valley. During the summer season, the monument and campground are open 24/7. The Ranger station is open from 9am-5pm. You will probably want 4-6 hours to explore the monument.

Description: The Postpile is one of the most unique rock formations I've ever seen. The slow, even cooling of the lava lake allowed the jointing (rock splits) to occur in a relatively even pattern. If you take the trail up to the top, you can see that many of the basalt columns all have the same hexagonal shape, averaging 2 feet in diameter and 60 feet high. A survey showed that 44.5% are six-sided, 37.5 are 37.5% are five-sided, with the remainder 4-sided, 7-sided, or 3-sided. This is a higher percentage of hexagonal columns of any other known formation. Another unique feature is the lack of horizontal jointing. Furthermore, they have a polished shine to them due to glacial activity.

View of the tops of the pillars

     The other popular feature of the monument is Rainbow Falls. The Falls are 101 feet tall - the tallest waterfall along the San Joaquin River. The waterfall got its name from the rainbows that appear in its mist on sunny summer days. (Unfortunately, I don't have a digital photo of them.)

Rating:  4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - The Shuttle Bus operates from 7am-7pm and is mandatory for travel through the monument during hours of operation. To view more information on fees and exceptions, click here.
- Popular activities at the monument include: hiking, fishing, camping, backpacking, horseback riding, photography and picnics. Some activities require permits.
- Keep an eye out for wildlife. We saw this coyote while waiting for the tram.

- Camping is first come, first serve - you cannot make reservations. Sites include flush toilets, picnic tables, a fire pit and bear-proof lockers. Pets are allowed in the campground, but must remain on a leash.
- During the winter months, the only access to the monument is via skis or snowshoes.
- Hikers may park in the overnight hiker parking lot located just outside the monument boundary. Shuttle bus users should leave their cars in the shuttle bus parking area located Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge.

Nearby: Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, Whitmore Hot Springs, Mono Lake, Yosemite National Park