From the Devils Postpile National Monument, a pleasant 2.5-mile hike passing through scorched forest leads to the dramatic Rainbow Falls, where water from the San Joaquin River crashes from a height of more than 100ft. Rainbows are frequently seen here; midday is the best time to capture it on your camera.


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1. Inyo National Forest

1.15 MILES

An enormous area of nearly 2 million acres of dense forests, high peaks and lakes, as well as nine wilderness areas, Inyo covers a good chunk of…

2. Devils Postpile National Monument

1.77 MILES

The most fascinating attraction in Reds Meadow is the surreal volcanic formation of Devils Postpile National Monument. The 60ft curtains of near-vertical,…

3. John Muir Wilderness Area

2.6 MILES

Named for the naturalist who devoted much of his life to protecting the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite regions, this wilderness area (around 600,000 acres)…

4. Ansel Adams Wilderness Area

3.71 MILES

The spectacular Ansel Adams Wilderness Area abuts Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Inyo National Forest. It contains some of the most…

5. Minaret Vista

3.99 MILES

West of the Mammoth Mountain resort, Reds Meadow Valley is one of the most beautiful and varied landscapes in the region. Drive about 1 mile up from the…

6. Panorama Gondola

4.22 MILES

Year round, a vertiginous gondola whisks sightseers to the apex of Mammoth Mountain for breathless views of snow-speckled mountaintops. Leaves from near…

7. Earthquake Fault

5.6 MILES

Mammoth Mountain is the product of millions of years of volcanic activity, so it should be no surprise that the region surrounding it is full of…

8. Mammoth Museum

6.98 MILES

For a walk down memory lane, stop by this little museum inside the historic Hayden log cabin, with photographs and artifacts from its heyday as a hunting…