Deep in the mountains of Madera County, in the Mammoth Lakes area you will find an area known as Devil's Post Pile National Monument. It is a long drive from the Central Valley but, as Action News reporter Gene Haagenson show us, it's also a living history lesson.
The Devil's Postpile is named for columns of lava that emerge from the ground. After emerging from the ground they cooled forming unique 8 sided columns
"The namesake Devil's Postpile is one of the most spectacular columns jointed basalt formations in the world," said Deanna Dulen superintendent Devil's Postpile National Monument.
There is abundant natural beauty at the monument, along with camping, hiking and fishing, it is the weird rocks are the main attraction.
"The shape of what the fire and ice has done to it, the shape, its amazing just amazing," said Frank Lau from Huntington Beach.
Columns of lava formed 90 thousand years ago, they were smoothed off at the top by glaciers about 20 thousand years ago and today, they make for a spectacular site.
"They are absolutely bizarre, I don't know how they formed, perfect hexagons all over the place," said Nathan Large from Santa Clarita.
There is more than interesting rocks here. Devil's Postpile is located near the headwaters of the San Joaquin River and it is a two mile hike to the other attraction.
" People come here both for devil's postpile itself and rainbow falls, a beautiful waterfall the highest on the San Joaquin river, 101 feet," said Dulen.
The devil's postpile offers a unique view of geology, nature and, it's a great place to get away from it all.
"People come here and they feel really refreshed and revitalized by being in such close contact with the beauty of nature,"Dulen said.
