Devil's Postpile National Monument

We took a day and visited Devils Postpile National Monument!

The drive to the monument was beautiful!

Starkweather Lake

We stopped at Starkweather Lake on our way in to the visitor's center and I got to go wading! What a pretty little lake it was! We hiked all the way around it.

From the visitor's center we hiked about 1/2 a mile along the river to the Postpile.

It was a beautiful walk and the Postpile was fascinating!

Photo courtsey of RS.

Each 'post' has the same shape; it's amazing!

These rock columns of Basalt were formed by molten lava and glacial ice. About 100,000 years ago basaltic lava more than 400 feet deep filled the narrow valley. As the lava cooled, hexagonal cracks formed in the surface to relieve the built-up tension. The resulting cliff of columns that is visible now were exposed during the last ice age some 20,000 years ago.

This picture should give you a good idea of how really big these columns are! I sure wouldn't want to be around when one of them comes loose from the cliff!

Another attraction in the monument is Rainbow Falls. So after a last look at the postpile we headed for Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls Trailhead

Rainbow Falls is in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Inyou National Forest. It is a beautiful and educational area for hiking.

In 1992 a lightning strike set off a forest fire here known as “The Rainbow Fire.” Strong winds, dry conditions, and abundant surface fuel fed the fire until it consumed 8,000 acres of dense forest.

As devastating as the fire was, the area is being reclaimed by new plants and animals that are taking advantage of the temporary, productive gap in the forest.