Rainbow Falls

Madera County, California

Your visit at a glance

Waterfall height: Not recorded
Location: Madera County, California
Access status: Road closed weekdays through November 1, 2026; full road closure from November 2. Partial guide: day-use parking approach unverified.
The walk: 5 miles return from the ranger-station trailhead
Ground & access: Rolling, exposed trail that can be hot and dry.

Rainbow Falls, CA
Photo credit
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rainbow Falls is reached by a rolling trail in Devils Postpile National Monument. Road construction sharply limits access in late 2026.

Plan your visit

When road access is permitted, follow the Rainbow Falls hike from the Devils Postpile trailhead near the ranger station and return the same way. Do not walk Reds Meadow Road during its closure.

NPS explicitly gives this as roundtrip from Devils Postpile, excluding access from parking or shuttle stops.

Rolling, exposed trail that can be hot and dry.

Where to start

Parking-to-trailhead approach for this specific day hike remains unverified. NPS identifies Mammoth Mountain parking for shuttle users; seasonal service must be checked.

Timing & water

Checked October 27, 2026: Reds Meadow Road is open only Saturday 7 a.m.–Sunday 11 p.m. through November 1. From November 2 it closes to vehicles and pedestrians for construction and winter.

Before you go

Shuttle use is mandatory when buses run. Confirm current transport and entry charges.

Visitor information

Visit sources

More waterfalls nearby

Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.

Explore California

Waterfall location

Madera County, California.

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