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FEES
All visitors, regardless if they use the mandatory shuttle system, are camping, or drive their own vehicle, must pay a transportation fee in order to enter Reds Meadow Valley. Once paid, this fee is valid for the duration of your stay. The U.S. Forest Service accepts cash, check, or credit card in U.S. dollars for the payment of this fee.
NOTE: The shuttle buses are not ADA accessible. Disabled visitors who can provide proof of physical handicap are permitted to drive down to the Monument. They must still pay the transportation fee.
Adults - $7.00
Children (3 to 15 years of age) - $4.00
Groups staying overnight in Reds Meadow Valley - $20.00 car cap**
2007 3-day pass*** - $14.00
2007 Season Pass - $35.00
**For example, if there are 5 individuals in one vehicle who are camping in Reds Meadow Valley, rather than pay $35.00 for the vehicle's transportation fee, only $20.00 would be charged.
***This pass, valid for one adult, can be used towards the transportation fee for any three days within a 5-day period.
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASSES, GOLDEN PASSPORTS, and NATIONAL PARK PASSES
America the Beautiful Passes, Golden Passports, and National Park Passes are not accepted for this fee under the new Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Please read more about this below under the section "Why is there a transportation fee?"
SHUTTLE TICKETS
Shuttle bus tickets can be purchased at the Forest Service Adventure Center located in the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Gondola Building adjacent to the Mammoth Mountain Inn at the top of Highway 203. Passengers can pick up the shuttle bus at this location*.
SHUTTLE HOURS OF OPERATION
Generally, the shuttle bus is in operation from mid-June through mid-September. The shuttle bus has stopped running for the 2008 season. Start and end dates vary every year, so it is best to confirm these dates by contacting Devils Postpile or the Mammoth Lakes Ranger Station at (760) 924-5500.
The first bus of the day leaves from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area at 7:00am.
The last bus from Mammoth Mountain into Reds Meadow Valley/Devils Postpile leaves at 7:00pm.
The last bus out of Reds Meadow Valley from Devils Postpile leaves at 7:45pm.
Buses run every 20 or 30 minutes.
*Through hikers and backpackers who arrive in Reds Meadow Valley/Devils Postpile by trail can board the shuttle at any of the ten shuttle stops within the Valley. Inter-valley travel on the shuttle is free of charge to all riders. Hikers, backpackers, bikers, and other users who choose to ride the bus out of the Valley back to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area must purchase their tickets upon exiting the Valley at the Minaret Vista Check Station.
RESERVATIONS
Reservations are not available for the monument. The monument's campground is first come, first served and sites cost $14.00/night. All campgrounds in the Valley are self registration with the exception of the Agnew Meadows and Pumice Flat group sites, which may be reserved online. The Devils Postpile campground will be open until 2:00 p.m. on October 13, 2008.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE SHUTTLE BUS
Exceptions to the shuttle system are those visitors who drive into the Valley before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:30 p.m., or who are overnight guests of Reds Meadow Resort, who are camping within the Reds Meadow Valley, who are hauling stock trailers, whose vehicles are carrying small watercraft for use in the lakes, or who can provide proof of physical handicap.
PET OWNERS
Dogs on leash are allowed on buses at the discretion of the bus driver.
WHY IS THERE A TRANSPORTATION FEE?
Many visitors are confused by the jurisdiction of the shuttle bus operation and why federal park passes are not accepted. The area of Reds Meadow Valley that surrounds Devils Postpile National Monument is actually land administered by the U.S. Forest Service. Therefore, the Forest Service maintains and controls access of the road. The National Park Service does not charge any access fee for the Monument itself, but rather the Forest Service charges a transportation fee for the use of the road.
In December 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) which partially repealed the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) that covered how Golden Passports, National Park Passes, and America the Beautiful Passes were to be issued and accepted on federal lands. Golden Passports, National Park, and America the Beautiful Passes were originally for entrance fees into National Parks, National Monuments, and National Scenic Areas. Under the FLREA, Golden Passports, National Park, and America the Beautiful Passes are still valid where entrance fees are charged, and are now valid for standard amenity fees. These passes, however, are not valid for expanded amenity fees. Expanded fees are those that provide direct benefits to individuals or groups. They include items like transportation systems, developed campgrounds, cabin rentals, highly developed boat docks, and swimming areas. With the passing of the FLREA, the Reds Meadow Transportation System has been designated as an expanded amenity fee area.
The shuttle system has been in effect for the last 28 years. Prior to that, the number of cars entering the Valley far exceeded the number of available parking spaces. This extreme traffic congestion resulted in safety hazards, visitors finding themselves stuck in their cars and mired in gridlock, as well as illegal parking which led to soil compaction and the destruction of plants. Moreover, the steep single-lane road that winds its way down to the bottom of the Valley over a distance of ten miles is, for some, quite stressful. Without the shuttle system, RVs, stock trailers, large and small vehicles, as well as bicyclists would all be forced to share the road unchecked. Additionally, without the shuttle, the number of vehicles entering the Valley would need to be limited due to the significant shortfall of available parking. The mandatory shuttle system has significantly reduced traffic, allowed more visitors to access the Valley, permitted the area to recover, and once again, visitors enjoy a more pristine and hassle-free experience during their stay in the Valley and Monument.
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