Devils Postpile

The Devils Postpile is something of a mystery, but enough is known to reconstruct much of its history. Studies suggest that the Postpile was formed less than 100,000 years ago when a cooling lava flow cracked into multi-sided columns. The geological history of the area gives us a few clues of its origin. The Devils Postpile sits on top of the Sierra Nevada batholith, a massive body of granite that was once part of the earth's crust. As the batholith began to cool and solidify, it cracked into columns. When the lava flow cooled, it did the same thing, creating the impressive sight that we see today. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower up to 60 feet and display a striking symmetry.