Crowley Lake is in Mono County, California, on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you dare to visit this sometimes treacherous location, you will be able to view the Crowley Lake Columns. Please note that the columns spend part of the year underwater, which makes them inaccessible.
Videos by InspireMore
The area is not easy to find. It is an arduous two-mile hike each way unless you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle capable of handling the terrain. Experts recommend using the All Trails map to avoid getting lost.
If you travel at the right time of year and meet all the demands of the trip, you will see an amazing part of nature created from an ancient volcanic explosion. Scattered behind the columns, you can find many small caves.
The volcanic eruption that formed the Crowley Lake Columns happened about 760,000 years ago. Releasing more than 150 cubic meters of volcanic material, the entire area was under a cover of detritus. As the hot material settled and cooled, it formed the bedrock that later became the Crowley Lake Columns.
The columns were hidden for centuries. Waves from the reservoir began causing erosion of the softer dirt, exposing the columns. Water levels in the lake tend to rise during the warmer summer months. Depending on the amount of precipitation and other factors, the Crowley Lake Columns spend much of the summer submerged. The area is not accessible when the water level is that high.
Jeff & Stephanie are full-time RVers traveling the United States. Follow the couple on TikTok to share in their adventures. Hike with them to Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park. Join them in exciting off-roading river crossings. The energetic couple is truly living their dream!
Please share.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
