The Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile National Monument are planning for winter on the Reds Meadow Road.

Devils Postpile National Monument has winterized their water systems so there is no potable water at the monument. Vault toilets are available. If the parking lot at Devils Postpile fills, visitors are advised to park at the overnight hiking parking lot, or go to another destination such as the Rainbow Falls Trailhead parking lot. With the closure of the Reds Meadow Campground after this weekend, there are no campgrounds open in the valley. Water will be available at the Agnew Meadow and Rainbow Falls trailheads until the freezing temperatures necessitate the winterization of the water system. Visitors are advised to bring their own water since this fall has been unseasonably cool. Starting October 15, there is no overnight parking in the Reds Meadow Valley and the road is not plowed during or after winter storms. Depending on the nature and extent of the snowfall, the road may re-open if conditions allow. The Inyo National Forest makes every reasonable and safe effort to keep the road open until the winter closure.

The road will close for the winter at the Minaret Vista Gate on Sunday, October 29 at noon.

The Reds Meadow area is popular with winter recreationalists and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area provides a variety of winter recreation activities under their permit with the Inyo National Forest.

Went down the road last week. If you go, be prepared for lots of traffic! Lot of folks not very confident on the narrow parts of the road (or bombing it down like the buses.) We were surprised.

Restrooms at Rainbow Falls trailhead were locked.