Devils Postpile National Monument

Devils Postpile National Monument is a protected area of the type of a National Monument in the Sierra Nevada in California. Core of the area is a 20 m high cliff of regular basalt columns. The area was in 1911 by President William Howard Taft under protection and initially the United States Forest Service handed over to the administration. In 1916 it was transferred to the newly established National Park Service.

Description

The reserve is located in the Reds Meadow Valley, a mountain valley on the western flank of the Sierra Nevada. The basalt cliff goes back to a lava - current, which is about 3 km above the present-day territory leaked during a volcanic eruption about 100,000 years ago. He went into an originally not quite 150 m deep basin and is cooled slowly. The slow and uniform solidification of lava basalt is the reason why the hexagonal columns of the area are among the most regular deposits in the world. In the last ice age about 10,000 years ago the valley was milled from a glacier and exposed the pillars from the side and the top. Erosion around 20 m from the bottom of the original formation are preserved today.

In addition to the basalt columns are two major waterfalls and the nature of the high mountains with 360 plant species, black bears, cougars, and golden eagles attractions of the reserve.

Around the sanctuary is the Inyo National Forest, a national forest. The mountain main ridge north of Devils Postpile NM belongs to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, a wilderness reserve. By the monument extend the two long-distance trails John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.

20 km northwest lies the Yosemite National Park, 55 km south-east of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

Tourist Facilities

The Devils Postpile National Monument is due to the location in the mountains just a few months a year between late June and late October accessible; the access goes with shuttle buses. Private vehicles are allowed only when visitors arrive before or after the hours of operation of the bus service or stay in the area. Transport costs are to be paid in any case, regardless of whether the bus is claimed or not. This restriction was necessary in 1994 because of the stream of traffic vehicles sustainably reduced the natural experience and not enough parking in the area are available.

The Devils Postpile National Monument is 3.2 km in the Sierra Nevada ² the smallest reserve and reached because of the short opening time in only a relatively small number of visitors 67,400. The area lies the Reds Meadow Resort, an upscale hotel, and a simple campsite. The national monument is the starting point for day hikes and multi-day treks in the Sierra Nevada.

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