California · Hiking · Ansel Adams Wilderness · Near Mammoth Lakes

Lower Rainbow Falls

Lower Rainbow FallsPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.5 mi
round trip
58 ft
climb
7,274 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Lower Rainbow Falls is a short, easy hike in California's Ansel Adams Wilderness, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about half a mile long, with a low point of 7,209 feet and a high of 7,274 feet, so the climb is gentle, about 58 feet of elevation gain, and the whole trip is an out-and-back. The trail is on natural surface and is not accessible. Horses are allowed, so it works for riders as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth Lakes show July highs around 78°F with lows near 49°F, while winter highs sit around 41°F. The Lower Rainbow Falls Trail lies about 0.3 miles away, and Fish Creek is about 0.4 miles off. Reds Meadow Campground is about 1.7 miles away, and Bear Crag offers climbing about 2.1 miles from the falls.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Reds Meadow Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Outpost 14

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 3 mi
  • If it rains

    free natural hot pool

    Hot spring

    On your way back · 2 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Mammoth Lakes

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Lower Rainbow Falls

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 17°

    2. Feb

      41° / 18°

    3. Mar

      45° / 22°

    4. Apr

      51° / 27°

    5. May

      60° / 35°

    6. Jun

      70° / 42°

    7. Jul

      78° / 49°

    8. Aug

      77° / 47°

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

    10. Oct

      61° / 30°

    11. Nov

      49° / 23°

    12. Dec

      41° / 17°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mammoth Lakes Rs, CA, 7.7 mi away at 7,804 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Lower Rainbow Falls TrailPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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