Crowley Lake Stone Columns
Crowley Lake Columns
Thousands of volcanic tuff columns on the east shore of Crowley Lake, standing like the colonnades of a temple. A little-known geological wonder.
The Crowley Lake Columns line the east shore of the lake. They are the result of the Bishop Tuff, deposited by a massive eruption of the Long Valley volcano about 760,000 years ago, being exposed as the lake water eroded it. The columns rise several meters high and stand in tiers like an ancient temple. Reaching them requires driving about 10 km on a sandy dirt road, and the final stretch is a walk down to the shore, so a high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. They are most visible in summer and autumn, when the water level is low. Winter road conditions are poor. There are no facilities. Do not carve or climb on the columns.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- Wild Willy's Hot Spring
- McGee Creek Canyon
- Hot Creek Geological Site
- Convict Lake
- Mammoth Museum at Hayden Cabin
- The Village at Mammoth
- Duck Pass Trail
- Mammoth Consolidated Mine