Devils Postpile National Monument is a National Monument in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 10 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Devils Postpile
We matched 10 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Devils Postpile. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (3)
Natural Arches (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Lakes (2)
Hot Springs (1)
Mountain Passes (1)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Devils Postpile the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:02 PM | 244° | 9h 51m |
| February | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 255° | 10h 49m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:04 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 283° | 13h 10m |
| May | 5:48 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:59 PM | 295° | 14h 12m |
| June | 5:35 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:20 PM | 301° | 14h 45m |
| July | 5:47 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:18 PM | 298° | 14h 31m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 289° | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:06 PM | 274° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:05 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:20 PM | 260° | 11h 15m |
| November | 6:37 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:08 PM | 4:47 PM | 247° | 10h 09m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:46 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:40 PM | 241° | 9h 35m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.6153, -119.0874); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Devils Postpile, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:54 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:01 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:04 AM – 4:44 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:03 AM – 3:53 AM | 3.8 | 24° |
| June | 10:13 PM – 3:33 AM | 5.3 | 24° |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:07 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| August | 9:27 PM – 12:07 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:34 PM – 10:04 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 7:47 PM – 8:07 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Devils Postpile National Monument is located at 7,560 feet above sea level just west of the Sierra Nevada crest. As such, it experiences typical summer weather in the Sierras. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in July and August. Daytime temperatures can range from the mid-70s to to mid-80s (degrees Fahrenheit). Evening temperatures can drop into the low 40s (and even the low 30s in the months of September and October).
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (54%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Shuttle Bus: Most visitors must park at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and use the mandatory shuttle. The shuttle bus operates from mid-June through the Wednesday after Labor Day. By car: From U.S. Highway 395, drive 10 miles west on S.R. 203 to Minaret Vista and then another 8 miles on a paved, steep mountain road. Please note that this road is single lane for approximately 3 miles. By plane: The closest commercial airport is the Mammoth Lakes/Yosemite Airport (MMH), located on U.S. Highway 395.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
