When to go
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Spring
600F
Snowbound at 7,600 feet, with the access road usually still closed into June.
Pack Check road and shuttle status before driving up; the season may not have started.
Summer
Warm, dry days with cool nights and afternoon thunderstorms possible at altitude.
Pack Sun protection, water, a warm layer, and a plan to ride the mandatory shuttle.
Fall
Crisp days, cold nights, and golden aspen, with the shuttle winding down in September.
Pack Warm layers, headlamp for shorter days, and confirmation the shuttle is still running.
Winter
Deep snow with the access road closed; the monument is effectively inaccessible by car.
Pack Full winter and backcountry skills if visiting at all; most people do not.
Top things to do
The Devils Postpile formation
A wall of near-perfect hexagonal basalt columns up to 60 feet tall, with a short trail to the top where glaciers polished the column tops into a tiled floor.
Rainbow Falls
A 101-foot waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River that throws rainbows in midday sun. The signature longer walk from the postpile.
John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails
Both long-distance trails run through the monument, so the area doubles as a resupply and access point for High Sierra backpackers.
Make The Devils Postpile formation the timed anchor
Put the timed or highest-demand stop first, then keep the rest of the day close and low-friction. For one day in Devils Postpile National Monument, time The Devils Postpile formation first, then keep Rainbow Falls and John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails close enough that the visit still feels relaxed.
- 1Start with The Devils Postpile formation: A wall of near-perfect hexagonal basalt columns up to 60 feet tall, with a short trail to the top where glaciers polished the column tops into a tiled floor.
- 2Add Rainbow Falls: A 101-foot waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River that throws rainbows in midday sun. The signature longer walk from the postpile.
- 3Use John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails as the slower finish before leaving the area.
Plan your trip
Turn Devils Postpile's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Devils Postpile National Monument. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
What to pack
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Devils Postpile National Monument packing list
0 of 21 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Decide what Devils Postpile National Monument asks of your kit before you start checking boxes.
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
- First constraintHydration and exposureWater, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, Navigationmap, downloaded GPS, or a GPS watch, 3 more
- Route realityFooting and tractionHiking boots, Hiking socks, Trekking poles
- Load choicePack and carry systemBackpacking pack
- If overnightSleep and shelterBackpacking tent, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad, 1 more
Checklist mode
21 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
- Dates and season are set.
- Primary route, campground, or lodge is chosen.
- Water, footwear, and overnight needs are sized.
One researched pick
The first gear decision for Devils Postpile National Monument
A stable daypack is the one purchase that organizes water, layers, food, first aid, and the small safety margin.
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THE DAY-HIKE PICK
Osprey Talon 22
- Volume
- 22 L
- Weight
- 2 lb 1 oz (945 g)
- Back Panel
- AirScape foam with ventilation channels
- Hipbelt Pockets
- 2 zippered
- Hydration
- Compatible up to 3 L reservoir (sold separately)
- Warranty
- All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime repair or replace)
The Talon 22 is the daypack you see on the trail more than any other for good reason: it packs in a padded hipbelt, adjustable torso harness, and dual hipbelt pockets into a 22-liter package that handles loads up to 20 lb without complaint. Owners across hundreds of Amazon ratings consistently cite its adjustability and durability as standouts.
- Adjustable torso fit covers a wide range of body sizes
- Padded hipbelt and dual hipbelt pockets at this size are rare
- At 2 lb 1 oz it runs heavier than ultralight rivals for the same volume
Best for
Hikers who want a proven all-around daypack with solid load support, plenty of adjustment, and a warranty they can actually use.
Gear for Devils Postpile
The buying guides that match what Devils Postpile asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
Where to stay
There is no lodging inside the monument, and the monument campground has been closed since 2016. The practical base is the town of Mammoth Lakes, which has the broadest lodging, food, and fuel and is where the shuttle departs. For camping, the US Forest Service runs several campgrounds in Reds Meadow Valley, including Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Minaret Falls, and Reds Meadow, most first come, first served with Pumice Flat Group reservable on Recreation.gov. Reds Meadow Resort just outside the monument offers cabins and is one of the few ways to drive in rather than ride the shuttle.
Camping reservations
Camping reservations
The monument campground is closed. Camp at nearby Forest Service sites and plan around the shuttle.
Devils Postpile has no operating in-unit campground; its campground has been closed since 2016. The real logistics piece is the mandatory Reds Meadow shuttle, since a Forest Service campground reservation or a Reds Meadow Resort booking is one of the few ways to drive in instead.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
The Reds Meadow shuttle runs roughly July through mid-September. Most Forest Service campgrounds in the valley are first come, first served; Pumice Flat Group is reservable on Recreation.gov.
- In peak season, private vehicles are barred from the road between about 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., so most visitors must ride the shuttle.
- Exceptions to the vehicle restriction include guests with campground or Reds Meadow Resort reservations and vehicles with a valid disability placard.
- The monument campground remains closed, so plan to use the nearby Forest Service campgrounds in Reds Meadow Valley.
Where to book or verify
Official NPS page on the mandatory shuttle, schedule, and the exceptions that let you drive in.
Official NPS page noting the closed monument campground and the nearby Forest Service options.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Reds Meadow Valley Forest Service campgrounds
Details- Season
- Generally summer through early fall, weather and road dependent.
- Sites
- Tent and small-RV sites at Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Minaret Falls, and Reds Meadow.
- The practical camping near the monument, and a campground reservation is also one way to drive the road rather than ride the shuttle.
Getting there and practical info
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Get to Devils Postpile National Monument, then remove the first-morning friction.
- Nearest airport
- Mammoth Yosemite (MMH) about 30 minutes; Reno (RNO) about 3 hours
- Access rhythm
- Park once, ride in
- Region
- California
Car strategy
Devils Postpile sits at the end of the Reds Meadow Road, west of Mammoth Lakes off US 395 in the eastern Sierra.
Shuttle access
The road is narrow, winding, and closed by snow much of the year, which is why the mandatory shuttle exists in summer.
Shuttle access
Drive to the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, park, and ride the Reds Meadow shuttle in, or arrive before 7 a.m.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Can you photograph here? Permit and drone rules
California is the exception: the California Film Commission itself issues free permits for all state property, including state parks, beaches, and highways.
- Permit
- Usually fine for personal shoots; commercial or large productions can need a permit
- Drones
- Commercial drone work requires FAA Part 107
- Land
- Yes: you can photograph what is visible from public space in the US
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to take a shuttle to Devils Postpile National Monument?
In peak summer, yes, for most visitors. Private vehicles are barred from the Reds Meadow Road between about 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., so you ride the mandatory Reds Meadow shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center, roughly $15 round trip per adult. Exceptions include campground and Reds Meadow Resort guests and vehicles with a disability placard.
Is there an entrance fee at Devils Postpile?
No. There is no separate entrance fee for the monument. Your main cost in peak season is the Reds Meadow shuttle ticket, about $15 round trip for an adult, which is how most people reach the monument.
Can you camp at Devils Postpile National Monument?
Not inside the monument. The monument campground has been closed since 2016. The nearest camping is at US Forest Service campgrounds in Reds Meadow Valley, such as Pumice Flat and Reds Meadow, most of which are first come, first served.
How long is the hike to Rainbow Falls?
Rainbow Falls is about a 5-mile round trip from the ranger station near the postpile, or shorter from the Rainbow Falls shuttle stop. The basalt columns themselves are a short, easy walk of under a mile round trip.