Project overview: Create a 10-minute film about the geologic significance of Devils Postpile — a small, 800-acre national monument that shares history and past boundaries with Yosemite — to address the lack of knowledge and visitation of this nearby monument.  

How your support helps: Devils Postpile National Monument sits between Yosemite’s southern border and Mammoth Lakes. Once included within the boundary of Yosemite National Park, the iconic geologic columns and 101-foot waterfall of Devils Postpile earned the small, 800-acre area its own national-monument designation in 1911. As a result, this lesser-known national unit shares a deep history with Yosemite but lacks the same visibility and interpretation. 

In fact, the road to access the park is only open an average of 4.14 months per year due to the area’s high elevation and heavy winter snowpack — and though the park remains open, visitation nearly halts, as the only way in requires backcountry skiing or backpacking. Educational opportunities in the park are also lacking when the road is closed, as the National Park Service is unable to staff the Devils Postpile visitor center under these conditions.  

To address the lack of knowledge and visitation at Devils Postpile, National Park Service staff at Yosemite plan to create a film that shares the story and significance of this amazing national monument. 

With your support, this project will create a 10-minute film highlighting the significance of Devils Postpile National Monument that features its natural, scenic, historic, and recreational values. The film will help potential visitors understand the uniqueness of the volcanic and glacial processes that created the Postpile formation, the importance of the San Joaquin River for the livelihood of California’s population, the traditional uses of this high-altitude corridor for Indigenous people, and an appreciation of the wildlife that rely on this habitat. 

Park staff hope this film will reach diverse audiences and provide multiple learning opportunities through audio, video, and text. Not only can it enrich the experience of those who plan to visit, but this film also allows staff to reach audiences who may never be able to visit Devils Postpile in-person due to location or disability. 

This year: In 2025, your support will fund the development and completion of a 10-minute video highlighting the importance and history of Devils Postpile National Monument. 

Project partners: Yosemite National Park, The Fund for People in Parks, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA), and Midpines Media