Hike to Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls

Just behind Mammoth Lakes, there’s an easy, but epic hike past a geological wonder to a 101-foot waterfall. Take the shuttle from the Mammoth lodge to the trailhead at the ranger station. At only 0.5 mile in you reach Devils Postpile, a formation of hexagonal volcanic rock jutting out of the ground. Take a quick side trail up and over the formation. From there continue on through the forest down to Rainbow Falls.

Two tips for see the falls at its best. To see the full strength of the falls, visit in early summer when the winter’s snow is in full melt. To see the rainbow, visit in the morning or midday when the sun is in the right position in the sky to create a prism effect with the water. There are 2 viewpoints of the falls, one directly to the side of the falls, or via a short, but steep staircase, at the base of the falls. Since you’re already there, continue on another 0.5 mile downstream to see Lower Falls, a small falls down the river.