Rainbow Falls — Attraction in Mammoth Lakes

There is a fee to get into the general area that you pay at the Department of Forestry shack that is posted there. Parking lot 10 is where you want to head to which is easy to get to since it will be the end of the road. A map will be given to you anyway and Google maps takes you right to it as well. Enjoy the scenery because there is nothing bland about this drive. The views are stunning. However, the road is narrow and you must watch out for incoming traffic. Once you get there, the hike is not very bad. You will hike for about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the falls. Surrounded by tall pine trees, grassy hills, and the smell of nature, it feels as if you are walking back in time. As you get closer you can hear the falls, which is a neat little detail. As you arrive. There is a "look out" point where you can appreciate the falls and its entirety as well as the rainbow it produces. It is best to visit this place when the sun is at its highest. You can get close and personal with the falls as well. There are access stairs that will take you all the way down to the falls and the creek. Although highly discouraged, you can swim near the falls , just be very careful not to get too close. Natives in the past use to frequent this area and you feel some connection. I highly recommend it follow me and my adventures ig @SinAguayo...

Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes is a stunning destination and definitely worth a visit. The falls, standing at 101 feet, got their name from the vibrant rainbows that often appear in the mist created by the cascading water. These rainbows are most visible around midday when the sunlight hits the water at just the right angle. The falls are part of the Devils Postpile National Monument, established in 1911 to protect the unique geological formations in the area.

However, be aware that driving to the falls is not permitted from 7 AM to 7 PM. Instead, you’ll need to take a shuttle from Mammoth Main Lodge, which costs $15 per person. The shuttle service requires some patience, as there’s a 30-45 minute wait each way in addition to the driving time.

Once you arrive, you have the option to explore both Devil’s Postpile and Rainbow Falls. The trail to Devil’s Postpile is a manageable 0.4 miles one way, while the hike to Rainbow Falls is 1.3 miles one way from the shuttle stop. Despite the logistics, Rainbow Falls is incredibly beautiful and makes the journey well worth it. If you plan accordingly and prepare for the shuttle wait, you’ll have a fantastic experience exploring these...

Rainbow Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. With its beautiful rainbow at mid-day, it is gorgeous to behold and its sound so soothing. You can take stairs down to the the base of the waterfall and sit in the shade to admire it. Remember - Don't swim out into the water so you don't get swept downhill and over the lower falls. The hike to this waterfall is all down hill and getting back is all up hill, so its a moderately difficult hike. The hike to Rainbow Falls station is less of an incline than the hike back to Reds Meadow. I suggest you start at Reds Meadow to fill up on water, snacks, lunch, and a potty break, then head down to the waterfall and hike to Rainbow Falls station for the shuttle bus (due to the incline differences). We did it the opposite way because we needed to buy food and water after the hike... but it was overly exhausting. If this hike is too much of a challenge (and it nearly was for us) - try the Minaret Falls hike on the other side of Devil's postpile instead - it is not...