Great Geology Lesson at a High Sierra gem!
Written: Jul 04 '00 (Updated Feb 14 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quiet, isolated, beautiful, interesting geology. A California gem.
Cons: Must take bus, which may be crowded.
The Bottom Line: A one-of-a-kind geology lesson in the middle of a pleasant nature walk to a beautiful waterfall.
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| jsquarejj's Full Review: Devils Postpile National Monument |
If you want to stretch your legs and spend a day outside amid the quiet and beautiful surroundings of a less visited park, go to Devils Postpile National Monument.
The Devils Postpile itself is a large outcropping composed of huge basalt columns with a jumble of broken off columns piled at the bottom. This unusual formation was created when molten lava came up through a tributary of the huge eastern Sierra earthquake fault system, cooled, and then cracked in much the same pattern you'd see on a drying mud or clay flat. Only these cracks go very deep, forming four- to seven-sided columns, each about 18 to 24 inches across. Later, glaciers passed over the region and tore off chunks of the formation but also polished the top into what looks like a hexagonal tile floor.
The formation is just a short walk from the Devils Postpile parking lot, but getting there is much more than half the fun because of restrictions on private cars beyond the Mammoth Mountain ski area. Park your car where the "public" road ends in the large Mammoth Mountain ski area parking lot. Look for signs telling you where to buy tickets (about $6?) for the Red's Meadow-Devils Postpile shuttle bus and then ride down the narrow and often spectacular road to the Postpile. You'll get a great view of the Minarets before you descend into a deep valley. If you're lucky, your driver will give you a colorful account of the area's history and geology as you make the 30-minute trip.
If you've got plenty of time and energy, you might want to continue down the Postpile trail to Rainbow Falls on the San Joaquin, one of the most beautiful smaller waterfalls in the Sierra. Then you can retrace your steps to the Postpile parking lot or take a shorter trail to Red's Meadow Resort which has a small store and restaurant. Returning shuttle busses leave from either place.
Plan to spend a few hours if you're just going to visit the Postpile, but half a day if you want to include Rainbow Falls and a picnic. Crowds can get large on summer weekends and holidays, and busses can break down, so don't expect to keep to a rigorous transportation schedule. Bring plenty of food and water to sustain yourself, and just have some fun!
Devil's Postpile is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada region of California southeast of Yosemite National Park Take US 395 to the Mammoth Lakes exit, and proceed to the Mammoth Mountain ski area parking lot. This is a popular year round resort destination for folks coming up from southern California, but winter access is very time consuming from the San Francisco Bay Area because the only open trans-Sierra highways (US 50 and Interstate 80) are far to the north.
Whenever you come, on your way through Mammoth Lakes, try to remember two words: Schatz Bakery.
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Note: Devils Postpile is nowhere near the town of Three Rivers, as stated on the overview page for this topic.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jsquarejj
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Member: Jim J
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Reviews written: 190
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