***Note: For summer 2024, you must take the mandatory Reds Meadow Shuttle from the Mammoth Adventure Center in order to access all amenities. Click here for more information, including ticket cost and schedule.
Heading over Minaret Vista into the Reds Meadow area, views of the Minarets and Ritter Range highlight the scenic drive. Located just 30 minutes from Mammoth Lakes, the region is known for its Devils Postpile National Monument, 101-foot Rainbow Falls, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The valley is lined with granite boulders, Jeffery pines, and wildflowers, while it is filled with geology and history.
In the 1800s, prospectors traveled to the Eastern Sierra along the French Trail, a route from Fresno to the Mammoth Lakes area. Red Sotcher settled in valley on the western slope of Mammoth Mountain and farmed vegetables and sold to the miners. While people came from far and away to mine for gold and silver, it was Sotcher who prospered. Red’s Meadow and Sotcher Lake were eventually named in his honor. Today, the region is a destination for outdoor recreation.
Devils Postpile National Monument | Hiking
The Devils Postpile rock formation is a fascinating sight. The tall basalt columns were formed centuries ago after a fiery volcanic eruption. When the lava cooled, stress cracks developed in geometric shapes and created what is now the Devils Postpile National Monument.
To see the 60-foot wall of basalt columns, you’ll need to take a short an easy walk. A hiking path departs from the ranger station and follows the San Joaquin River downstream to the Postpile. A few benches provide a nice resting and viewing spot, but if your energy is up for it, take the trail up to see the top of the Postpile.
Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Rainbow Falls – Hiking and Horseback Rides
The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River plunges 101' at Rainbow Falls. When the sun is shining on the mist, a spectacular rainbow can be seen. Rainbow Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the area and can be reached by hiking or by horseback (see Red’s Meadow pack trips below for more information on day rides).
The trail descends gradually along the river, heading downhill for a mile before reaching a trail junction. The junction is well marked, pointing falls viewers to the right. After a quarter-mile, hikers reach a viewing platform. This is the point where the classic Rainbow Falls photo is taken. The best time to view the rainbow is mid-day when the rainbow is in full view.
Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
Red's Meadow Pack Station – Beer, Burgers and Horseback Rides
The Mule House Café at Reds Meadow Resort has long been a gathering place for hungry packers, hikers, and campers. After that hike to Rainbow Falls and Devils Postpile you will be happy to know they sell beer in the store, and have cheeseburgers and root beer floats on the menu.
But Red’s Meadow Resort offers more than just a store and a café. The full service pack station guided one-hour horseback rides to Rainbow Falls, half- and full-day trips into the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and multi-night pack trips.
Fishing – Sotcher, Starkweather, and the San Joaquin
There are multiple trout waters in the Reds Meadow area and some of the best fishing in the Mammoth region can be found there. Brown, Rainbow, Brook and the occasional Golden trout can be caught in the various waters in the valley.
Sotcher Lake is known for its rare German browns, but the lake also holds rainbow trout. Sitting at the bottom of the western slope of Mammoth Mountain, the lake was carved out of granite when the glacier that covered the valley receded, leaving the granite basin.
A large avalanche path on eastern slope ripped out trees and deposited them into the lake. These large logs cover the bottom of the lake, creating homes for fish and obstacles for anglers. Large trout can be hooked here, but it is recommended to catch-and-release because it is a sensitive fishery.
Starkweather Lake is a favorite for its easy access and is regularly stocked with rainbow trout. The sandy shore is close to the parking lot and is great for relaxing in a beach chair while casting a line. Float tubing is also popular here to access deeper water and enjoy the views.
California fly fishers consider the Middle Fork San Joaquin River a favorite for its variety of water types. It is a freestone creek, offering pocket water, pools, riffles, runs and flats and is a great place for fly fishing. The water is accessible at many different points from the road between Agnew Meadows and Rainbow Falls.
The outlet stream on the eastern end of Thousand Island Lake (9,833 ft.) in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is the headwaters for the Middle Fork. While only six miles of road access the river at campgrounds and trailheads, hiking trails north and south cover lesser-traveled sections of wild trout water.
The Troutfitter in Mammoth offers half and full-day guide trips on the area waters and is an abundant source of information on fishing conditions and hatches.
Best Long Day Hike - Minaret Lake
Minaret Lake: The Minarets are the recognizable jagged peaks in the Ritter Range that can be viewed from many lookout points in the Mammoth area. A hike up to the alpine Minaret Lake, which is tucked under the Minarets, is one of the best long day hikes in the area and offers a great vantage point of Mammoth’s iconic landscape.
From the Devils Postpile trailhead take the trail toward the Postpile, cross the bridge, and head north on the John Muir for 1.5-miles. At Johnston Meadow take the Minaret Creek Trail to the left. The route begins to climb steadily and reaches Minaret Lake in seven miles. Return the same way.
Distance: 14 miles round trip
Before You Go:
Check to confirm the road is open to the Reds Meadow area. State Route 203 from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge to Reds Meadow is only open in the summer months and vehicle access is restricted. A scenic shuttle (mandatory) leaves from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge at regular intervals and drops visitors at various points throughout the valley.
Vehicles that obtain a first-come-first serve camping permits or have booked horseback rides are able to drive on the road.
