Rainbow Falls

One for the list

Is it plungeworthy?

—feet tall

A waterfall on Middle Fork San Joaquin River.

Scale12/60

Documentation15/20

Character8/20

The details

Watercourse: Middle Fork San Joaquin River
Coordinates: 37.60191, -119.08434

Get directions →

About Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls is a waterfall in California, on Middle Fork San Joaquin River.

Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.

Plungeworthy rates Rainbow Falls 3.5/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.

What you'll find

The Middle Fork San Joaquin drops 101 feet over a volcanic ledge, and on summer middays the mist manufactures the rainbow the name promises. Pair it with the Devils Postpile columns two miles upstream for the Sierra's best short geology double-feature.

Getting there

Trailhead: Rainbow Falls Trailhead at Reds Meadow (shuttle stop 9), or via Devils Postpile Ranger Station
Parking: Mandatory shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge in season (7:30am–7pm); private cars only before 7am or after 7pm
Road: Paved Reds Meadow Road, open roughly late June to first snow
Hike: 2.6 mi round trip, 300 ft of climb (easy)
Heads up: From shuttle stop 9 it's a 2.6-mile round trip; via the Postpile it stretches to ~5 miles. Hot, shadeless pumice trail — carry water.

When to go

Late June through September, matching the road and shuttle season. Peak flow in June–July; the rainbow performs best in bright midday sun. Winter puts the whole valley behind a snow gate.

Rules & fees

Fee / pass: Shuttle day pass $15 adult / $7 child (mandatory in operating hours) — separate from the $10/vehicle monument fee for early/late drivers
Dogs: Leashed on trails; leashed AND muzzled on the shuttle
Hours: Shuttle ~7:30am–7pm in season
Camping: Reds Meadow Valley campgrounds and resort
Warnings: Check the shuttle calendar before driving up — days of operation shift with the season.

Researched from NPS — Rainbow Falls · NPS — Reds Meadow shuttle. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Rainbow Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.

Where it is

Before you go

The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.