Devils Postpile National Monument was created to protect one of the best examples of columnar basalt in the country. The geologic story of the monument, however, neither begins nor ends with the Postpile itself. Although that is a very important part of the story, the rest of it involves violent uplifts, rivers of fire and ice, and the slow workings of wind and water to form the magnificent geology of this area. To learn more, visit our geology page.