Crowley Lake Columns
Overview
The Crowley Lake Columns are among the most unusual results of post-eruption volcanic activity in the area. About 760,000 years ago, the eruption that formed the Long Valley Caldera expelled massive volumes of ash across the region. In the aftermath, water trapped beneath the hot ash turned into steam and rose upward, slowly cementing the ash into hardened columns. Over millennia, softer ash eroded away, revealing formations up to 20 feet tall.
These formations are extremely fragile and accessing them is difficult. The best way to experience the columns is by viewing from the water. However, please note that boat access is seasonal as rising and falling lake levels affect how much of the shoreline is reachable throughout the year!
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