Devils Postpile National Monument (Madera/Mono County)

About the Attraction

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A visit to Devils Postpile National Monument offers a remarkable encounter with one of nature's most fascinating geological wonders. Here's what to expect:

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• Extraordinary Geology: Marvel at the Devils Postpile formation, featuring striking hexagonal basalt columns that tower up to 60 feet high, formed when cooling lava cracked into symmetrical columns approximately 100,000 years ago, ranking among the world's finest examples of columnar basalt.

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• Scenic Diversity: Explore beyond the main formation to discover the spectacular 101-foot Rainbow Falls where sunlight creates colorful prisms in the mist, the pristine Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River with its lush meadows, and access points to the surrounding Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas.

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• Natural History Experience: Witness the dramatic evidence of ancient volcanic activity and glacial forces that shaped the landscape, including rare glacial polish visible on top of the formation where a glacier revealed the perfectly symmetrical columns thousands of years ago.

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It's an essential destination for geology enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone seeking to understand the powerful forces that continue to shape our planet's remarkable landscapes.