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Ancient Temples in the Sierra Nevada?

The Stone Columns at Crowley Lake

Naturally formed columns, located on the east side of Crowley Lake, near Mammoth Lakes, California, look like pillars of an ancient temple. Indeed, they have been compared to the ruins of ancient Moorish temples. 

An up-close view of the stone columns submerged in Crowley Lake

They were formed during a giant volcanic eruption 760,000 years ago that created the Long Valley Caldera, in which Crowley Lake sits. Snowmelt seeped into the hot ash that came from the eruption, causing the water to boil. This created convection cells similar to heat pipes. These pipes were then filled with minerals and over time the rest of the ash eroded away, leaving the columns exposed. They were only discovered in 1941 after the completion of the Crowley Lake reservoir. The pounding of the lake’s water against the shores have exposed more columns. Now there are about 5000 columns and many more are probably still buried.

Lots of columns dot the eastern shore of Crowley Lake

The little hike to the columns offers some great views of the lake and the Sierra mountains behind it. The walk down to - and especially getting back up from - the columns at the lake is rather steep and strenuous. We ended up at a little secluded beach where you can check out the columns up-close.

It's a pleasant hike to the columns from the trial head where you can park the car

The view when you approach the small beach

Unless you have a high-clearance 4-wheel drive I recommend parking at the Trail Head for Crowley Lake Stone Columns. You can get pretty close to the stone columns with said car, but while we parked at the lot and started walking, we saw a few cars having some trouble getting out of there. From the trail head it’s an about 2-mile walk to the columns. Or, you can get there by boat from the other side of the lake.

The magnificent peaks of the Sierra Nevada beyond Crowley Lake

It amazes me that even though I have visited the area for almost 20 years now, there is still so much to discover in this volcanically active area of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Lots of columns are still buried in the rhyolite ashes

Our next stop this day: Casa Diablo Mountain