Crowley Columns

5/5 (3 reviews)
Near Mammoth Lakes, California, and just outside the Long Valley Caldera in the Eastern Sierras sits this short trail leading to these unique, unnatural-looking stone columns along the shores of Crowley Lake. The Crowley Columns, while they appear to be man-made, are said to be natural formations cr...Read More
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Highlights of Crowley Columns

Desert Category IconDesert
Forest Category IconForest
Iconic Category IconIconic
Sand Category IconSand
Scenic Category IconScenic
Highest Elevation
6979 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
West
Official Trail Name
Crowley Columns
Nearest Town
Mammoth Lakes
Nearest Services
Mammoth Lakes
Management Agency
Bureau of Land Management/City of Los Angels
District
BLM Bishop Field Office/LA Department of Water and Power

Overview

Near Mammoth Lakes, California, and just outside the Long Valley Caldera in the Eastern Sierras sits this short trail leading to these unique, unnatural-looking stone columns along the shores of Crowley Lake. The Crowley Columns, while they appear to be man-made, are said to be natural formations created by a combination of volcanic activity, ash, melting snow, and steam, about 3/4 million years ago. The columns remained buried for hundreds of thousands of years until the man-made reservoir of Crowley Lake began eroding away the softer materials around them starting in the early 1940s. Today these tall standing columns at the end of a short scenic off-road trail and short hike are a spectacular sight to see. Anyone from first-time off-roaders to experienced wheelers will enjoy this trail and the beautiful surrounding area.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
3 Waypoints
11 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
3 Community Reviews
1 Video
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