Ever seen Natural Architecture more Striking than Crowley Lake Columns?

Crowley Lake Columns is one of California’s many hidden gems. It’s not exactly in plain sight. You don’t hear much about it, even though it’s not a secret. And it’s not exactly very easy to get to even though it’s not very difficult to get to — I know — that’s a weird thing say. I’ll explain in a bit. 

I remember the first time I saw pictures of, and read about this place. My jaws dropped! It was a few years ago. I wondered why I hadn’t heard about it, and why it wasn’t popular; it sure looked like it ought to be! And then I did some digging and learned a bit more about it.

Of late, however, these columns have been making quite a splash on social media; as they should! They’re absolutely Insta-worthy! Made of light rock, they stand like they are the remnants of an ancient temple, surrounded by some ruins. When you first see it, it’s hard to think it was not made by human hands. However, like the Half Dome, Devil’s Postpile and Skull Rock, Crowley Lake Columns can be put on the list of nature’s finest sculptures in California.

How were these columns beside Crowley Lake formed?

Apparently, this area once housed a large mountain that erupted ‘over seven hundred thousand years’ ago. Present-day Crowley Lake and its surroundings now lie in the vast depression the volcano left behind. And Long Valley Caldera as it is called, still holds a lot of the volcanic ash and rocks that date back to a big eruption. And, some signs of volcanic activity can still be seen on its grounds.

Coming back to the Crowley Lake Columns, I hear that when Owen’s Creek was dammed, and Crowley Lake began to play its reservoir, water kept lashing against the eastern banks of the lake. In due course, the softer rock on the banks got washed away, creating and exposing these columns.

As such, the columns here are a result of erosion of the volcanic ash on that side of the caldera. And the rocks that give the columns their unique structure, seem to owe their existence to snowmelt and rainwater interacting with underground heat. It’s not wrong to say that boiling water and volcanic rock are responsible for sculpting these columns and keeping them glued together like this.

Where are these columns?

Crowley Lake Columns stand on the eastern banks of Crowley Lake, which is in the Eastern Sierra region of California. It’s a few miles southeast of Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes, to give you a bit more perspective.

How to get to Crowley Lake Columns

First and foremost, let me tell you, you’ll need to go off the paved roads for a bit to get there. Now you might think, that’s no big deal. And I guess it’s not, depending on what kind of vehicle you have or can rent. A tough 4WD with ample ground clearance is what you need if you want to drive to the parking area near the columns.

[Let me add that we saw a few SUVs struggle up a bumpy hill, and most of them decided to give up that drive. While some people decided to leave their vehicles and hit the trail, there were at least 2 parties who decided to do a U-Turn on their plans to see the columns.]

However, it’s not undoable if you do not have a four-wheel drive. You can park by the first parking lot and walk to the area.

You can hike to the columns and it’s only a 4.2-mile walk. Note: Here’s what makes it challenging: You’ll be hiking through desert land. It’s a landscape of just shrubs. There’s no chance of finding any shade if you’re there in the summer. There won’t be a lot of people on the trails and at the end of the hike, you’ll have to go down a bit of a wild slope that’s uneven, gravelly and sandy. It’s not too difficult to do the descent if you tread carefully. The walk back up might be a little strenuous; especially if it’s on a hot day that you are there. 

Now if you have a 4WD or can rent one, you can avoid the ‘4+ mile hike that is likely to seem longer,’ and can park close to the lake. However, you still have to walk down that hill and work your way back up. 

That said, let me tell you that if you are into geological destinations or have an eye for lithic landscapes, it will all be worth it!

I was there on the summer equinox.  The heat drained half my life off me, and gave me a migraine but I was ecstatic that I got to set my eyes on those striking columns. That was a big one off my California-travel wishlist!

Other things to know before you go:

• I repeat: you need a tough 4WD with enough clearance to get you up that slope near the first parking lot.
• If you’re not able to drive through you ‘can’ hike, in which case, it is an over-4 mile hike through a fairly arid landscape. 
• There may not be a lot of people hiking around the time that you are.
• There are no services in the area, either.
• Carry any essentials you may need for a hike through a dry, shadeless trail.
• Make sure you have a good amount of drinking water.
• Make sure to carry a trail map (either a printed one or one on your phone). 
• If you’re able to drive to the second parking area, you still have to walk down a bumpy hill and walk back up. 
• In the summer you might be able to rely on a boat/kayak to get you there. (And that might be the easiest way to see the columns). Yet another option is an ATV.
• Also note: Depending on the season, a part of the columns might be submerged or fully exposed. We went in early summer and a good part of it was under water so we couldn’t walk through the columns but still got a good look at them.

More: Eastern Sierra Sights you don’t want to miss

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