Crowley Lake Columns: Strange Formations on the East Side of the Lake

The Crowley Lake Columns are a mysterious site that many people pass by along Highway 395. These natural columns are not easy to get to, but they are rewarding for any adventurer who makes their way out there to see them. Here is the information if you want to check it out. Note that the water level can be very high and that access like what is mentioned in this post is not always possible due to the water levels. Also, you CANNOT do this without four wheel drive.

Details

• Not always accessible because of the water level
• Must have 4WD to get to the parking area
• You can hike to it but it is an additional 2 miles each way on a dirt road
• Here is a link to the All Trails map for the dirt road, be sure to load this, so you don’t get lost

Information from my visit in 2021

The Crowley Lake columns are a crazy natural wonder situated on the east side of Crowley Lake off Highway 395. These columns are spectacular to see, but they do require a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to them. Here is all the information if you have a 4 wheel drive car and want to visit this unique spot.

To get to the columns, you will need to turn off Highway 395 near Rock creek and make your way to the trailhead. I recommend using All Trails to get to the trail and ensure you are following the right road through its many forks.

When you turn on the dirt road, you will notice that it is pretty smooth for about the first half-mile. 

At a half mile, it will reach a steep and rutted uphill portion. This area requires high clearance and 4WD to get up, and I would not try it without either of those. Many people elect to park here and hike in, but it is 2 miles each way on the road if you do that.

As you make it to the top of the steep hill, you will continue back on a smooth road to the parking area. This is where the All Trails map comes in handy as there are multiple splits, and you don’t want to get lost.

Eventually, you will arrive at the top of a hill where you can park and hike down to the columns. The hike down is steep and sandy, but it is not too bad if you take your time.

Once you make it down to the beach, you will be right in front of the columns and can explore.

Do note that these columns are underwater much of the year, so you may not be able to walk to them if you go during those times.

The columns are crazy to see as they look like they were built by human hands with cylindrical rocks that appear stacked on each other to form the columns. 

Researchers believe they were formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic explosion that the minerals have just solidified into place like this and resisted erosion. 

Regardless of how they were made, this is a pretty amazing place to explore. You can walk in and out of the columns and the small caves that are behind them. 

You can also walk up and down the beach as there are other areas with some of the columns. 

This is an enjoyable adventure to have on Highway 395. Check it out if you have 4WD and let me know what you think in the comments.

Here is the information from my first trip in 2016, where we took a different road to get to the columns. This is a much longer trip than the route I took in 2021 above, but I wanted to leave it in case anyone wanted to know about it.

Information from my visit in 2016

Driving up Highway 395 from Bishop, you will turn right on Benton Crossing Road, the road that has all of the hot springs on it. From there, you will follow it as it heads towards the mountains, then bends around the lake and heads towards the east side. Exactly two miles after you pass the dirt road named Layton Springs Road, you will see a small dirt road off to the right (watch your odometer). I would highly recommend looking at the satellite view on Google Maps for this section as it is easy to get lost with all of the different offshoots on the road. Also, it is good to have a GPS location, as well. You will drive along this dirt road for about 15 minutes as you make your way to the beach. When you reach the beach, you can continue to drive left if your car can do it, or you can park here and hike along the beach to the left to eventually reach the columns.

I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND not making the drive to the beach without 4WD. There were massive potholes in the road, a few steep sections of sand, and even some rocks jutting out from the road. It was not bad with 4WD, but I wouldn’t do it without it.

When you finally make it to the beach, you can drive along the sand or park and head southeast along the beach till you see the columns in front of you.

The Columns

Depending on the water level, you can walk along the beach for a half-mile or so, seeing all of the columns as they go on for quite a while.

Some are small and not defined, while others are 15 feet tall.

There are many small caves that you can explore while you are hiking around.

Learn more about the history of the columns here.

The best area to see the columns is about a half-mile walk along the beach, and they include columns that are about 15 feet high. You can even walk around these as they go back about 4 feet into the rock.

I spent a lot of time just exploring here as the columns are so beautiful and unique that they need to be experienced to be believed.

I am guessing you can probably also get here by boat as well as I saw a boat only 20 or so yards off the shore when we were there.

When you get up close to the columns, you will notice they are coarse to the touch.

After spending some time exploring, you can head back the way you came. Note again that the water level could be higher after a good rainy season, and you may not be able to get to them.

Do make sure that if you go, you protect these rock formations as they are old pieces of history that should be preserved.

All in all, this is a great place to explore, one that I highly recommend if you are in the area, and you have 4WD. Let me know if you have been in the comments and what you thought. Also, if you are looking for more places to explore near Bishop, then check out this video.