Rock Formation · California
Devils Postpile
A cliff of perfect basalt columns
TypeRock Formation
StateCalifornia
Best seasonSummer & early fall (snow-closed otherwise)
How to visitNational monument; mandatory shuttle from Mammoth in summer + fee
A 60-foot wall of hexagonal basalt columns — cooled lava cracked into a near-geometric honeycomb — tucked in the high Sierra near Mammoth. Climb to the top to see the column tops polished by glaciers into a tile floor.
The shot
The columns from below, then the glacier-polished tops.
Nearby & worth pairing
- Rainbow Falls
- Mammoth Lakes
- Ansel Adams Wilderness
- Inyo National Forest
Access, fees, permits, and tour availability change with the season and the managing agency (tribal park, state park, BLM, or NPS) — confirm current rules and reservations before you go, tread lightly on sacred and fragile sites, and pack out everything you bring.
Build a trip around landmarks like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: