Updated July 2026
Rainbow Falls
The highest waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, plunging 101 feet within Devils Postpile National Monument and named for the rainbows that form in its mist.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Devils Postpile National Monument (NPS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Rainbow Falls drops about 101 feet. That makes it the 186th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 73% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Rainbow Falls Trail (via Devils Postpile) reaches it about 5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 400 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Mammoth Lakes. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Devils Postpile National Monument (NPS) for closures and current conditions.
Summer (Jul-Sep). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cascade Falls · 200 ft
Sources
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