Rainbow Falls

End of CA-203 West
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

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Note Phones NOT Operating: 2023 season

Ranger Station Hours: 9-5 in operating season

Hours of Operation: Closed early fall-late spring

Please Note: Reds Meadow Road will open Friday morning, July 21, 2023 with access to Reds Meadow and Rainbow Falls ONLY. NO SERVICES are available at Devils Postpile. There will be no bus service to ESTA stop #8. Access to Rainbow Falls is only available from the USFS Trailhead at ESTA bus stop #9. ESTA’s Reds Meadow Shuttle service operates from the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge/Adventure Center. The shuttle service starts at 7:30am with the last bus leaving the valley at 6:00pm.

Phones not operating in 2023 season. Email for info at: depo_visitor_information@nps.gov

The 101-foot waterfall is part of the Devils Postpile National Monument. It is known for the colorful rainbow that its mist creates. The best time to experience the rainbows is midday, when the sun is highest.

The mandatory shuttle is operated by Eastern Sierra Transit and boards at Mammoth Adventure Center. Personal vehicle travel is allowed outside of the shuttle season.

Accessibility to the Waterfall

2.5 miles or 5 miles round-trip moderate hike.

Traveler Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

based on 330 reviews

Great Hike with Amazing Views!

We loved our hike up to Rainbow Falls! We took the tram to Reds Meadow from up at the Main Lodge Adventure Center for $15 each. It was well worth it to not have to worry about getting there before...
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Moderate hike with beautiful scenery

This hike is only moderately difficult, and for me that was mostly due to the altitude difference in where I live. The reward when reaching the falls is well worth it.
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Falls with a walk.

Scenic water fall at the end of a hike that is well worth the effort. Easy to combine Rainbow Falls with the Devils Postpile all in one afternoon. Worth a visit, but be prepared to walk a bit over a...
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Amenities

Fall

Full day

Half day

Hiking & Backpacking

Summer

Takes 1 - 2 hours

Takes 2 - 3 hours

RELATED BUSINESSES

Devils Postpile National Monument

Aug-Sept 2023 update: Reds Meadow Road is open with access to Reds Meadow and Rainbow Falls ONLY. NO SERVICES are available at Devils Postpile. There will be no bus service to ESTA stop #8. Access to Rainbow Falls is only available from the USFS Trailhead at ESTA bus stop #9....

Devils Postpile Campground

Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt. Visitors can...

Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA)

ESTA offers a variety of bus services, including; deviated fixed routes, local in-town dial-a-ride services, multiple town-to-town services throughout the Hwy 395 and Hwy 6 corridors, and interregional service (CREST) extending from Reno, Nevada, to Lancaster, California, with connections to the Los Angeles area. Locally, ESTA operates summer and winter...