Rainbow Falls – Devils Postpile loop from Red Cones Trailhead
Rainbow Falls – Devils Postpile loop from Red Cones Trailhead
3.2
(5)
46
hikers
Rainbow Falls – Devils Postpile loop from Red Cones Trailhead
06:42
21.3km
860m
Hiking
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: June 10, 2026
Tips
Your route passes through protected areas
Please check local regulations for:
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
Get Directions
155 m
Horseshoe Lake
Highlight • Lake
Tip by
7.64 km
Forest recovery from 1992 Rainbow Fire
Highlight • Forest
Tip by
8.46 km
Rainbow Falls
Highlight • Waterfall
It is located in Devils Postpile National Monument near Mammoth Mountain. The national monument protects Devil's Postpile, an unusual rock formation of columnar basalt. Devils Postpile National Monument encompasses 798 acres. In addition, the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail merge into one trail as they pass through the monument. Excluding a small developed area containing the monument headquarters, visitor center and a campground; the National Monument lies within the borders of the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
About 75,000 years ago, lava erupted from a vent just east of the present-day Falls. The eruption occurred in two stages. The first pulse of lava flowed about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) westward and pooled in the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin drainage. The second pulse of lava insulated the first, allowing it to cool slowly and to fracture vertically. The layer above cooled under different conditions and fractured horizontally. Geologists describe these rocks as platy rhyodacite and are visible in the cliffs that surround Rainbow Falls.
As water rushes over the cliff, it erodes the vertically fractured rhyodacite more easily. A small cavern begins to form at the base of the Falls, and the overlying rock loses its support and collapses. This process, known as undercutting, causes the waterfall to recede slowly upstream. To date Rainbow Falls has retreated about 500 feet (150 m) due to undercutting.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Falls_%28California%29
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Postpile_National_Monument
nps.gov/depo/planyourvisit/nearbyattractions.htm
Tip by
9.87 km
Remembering the forest fires
Highlight • Natural
12.2 km
Devils Postpile
Highlight • Natural Monument
The main attraction of the park is Devils Postpile, an approximately 100 meters wide and 30 meters high cliff of vertical, volcanic basalt columns, which have a very symmetrical, hexagonal shape.
Tip by
14.0 km
Reds Meadow Resort & Shop
Highlight • Mountain Hut
After the snow has melted, there is also a shuttle bus going from Reds Meadow into Mammoth Lakes. Since there are tourists with cars staying at the resort, you might also be lucky to get a ride here.
Tip by
21.3 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
20.7 km
451 m
104 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
20.9 km
238 m
104 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
Highest point (2,870 m)
Lowest point (2,240 m)
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Weather
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Today
Monday 13 July
18°C
11°C
70 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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