Devils Postpile National Monument is a gem of the Eastern Sierra. Once a part of Yosemite National Park, Devils Postpile is now its own standalone national attraction. The name refers to a cliff of columnar basalt exposed by glaciation. The NPS website does a far better job of explaining the formation of the columns, so I won’t even go there.
The hike here is a mellow one mile loop, should you choose to go to the top of Devils Postpile. I was too exhausted from hiking Red Top Peak to properly enjoy this at the end of the day, but it was quite beautiful.
The trail doesn’t take you directly to the top of the visible columns. Instead it meanders around to where the columns are partially exposed in dirt before rising to the top. The basalt is slick up top, so be careful! It was so cool seeing all the hexagonal formations.
If you’ve got the time, pop over to check out Rainbow Falls too! It’s still on my to do list, but if you love falls, you can’t miss this one.
During the peak season, cars are not allowed down into Devils Postpile. Instead, you’ll need to take a shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center.
For more in the Mammoth area, check out the hot springs or Convict Canyon.
Continuing along the 395, peep my Eastern Sierra road trip guide.
Last updated on February 14, 2018.
