📍Rainbow Falls @ Mammoth Lakes Area

I spent two days exploring Mammoth Lakes this time. On the first day, I visited several stunning lakes 🏞️💙, and on the second day, I hiked to the highly recommended Rainbow Falls! The round-trip hike was 3.8 miles (6 km), and I was lucky enough to capture a rainbow under the waterfall 🌈✨. It made me reflect on how raw and untouched California’s national parks are—the so-called “hiking trails” are basically paths formed by people walking over time. Plus, with the dry and hot weather 🥵🌞, the entire trail was incredibly dusty—it honestly felt like walking through a construction site 🚧👣. As someone who enjoys the refined city life and isn’t super into outdoor hiking, those 6 kilometers under the blazing sun and clouds of dust weren’t exactly what I’d call “enjoyable” 😌💨. You can book the park shuttle bus in advance online or purchase tickets at the Main Lodge—it’s $15 per person. Most people get off at Stop 6 (Devils Postpile) and walk 2.5 miles to the falls, then hike another 1.3 miles to Stop 10 to catch the return shuttle 🚐🗺️. But here’s a pro tip based on experience: you can take the shuttle directly to Stop 10 first—that way, you save some walking distance both ways! #California #Mammoth #RainbowFalls #NationalPark #WesternUSTravel #HikingToWaterfalls #USNationalParks #MammothLakes