Approximately 15 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, in southern Mono County, California, sits Crowley Lake, a reservoir on the upper Owens River. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) built the Long Valley Dam in 1941, creating the lake. With a height of 126 feet, the dam holds 183,465 acre-feet of water. The lake’s main functions are flood control and water storage for the Los Angeles Aqueduct. On opening day each year, Crowley Lake attracts 6,000 and 10,000 anglers due to its well-known trout fishing. The only way to access the lake is through the Crowley Lake Fish Camp, which is run in partnership with the DWP and provides camping areas and boat rentals.
The lake was named after Father John J. Crowley, known as “the desert Padre,” a significant figure in Owens Valley history. He encouraged the transformation of the Owens Valley into a tourist destination after Los Angeles’s appropriation of the water supply made agriculture unsustainable.
Unique columnar formations were discovered along the eastern shore after the reservoir’s completion. These columns, reaching heights of up to 20 feet, were initially considered oddities until geologists from UC Berkeley studied them in 2015. The formations resulted from frigid water seeping into volcanic ash from a catastrophic eruption over 760,000 years ago, creating tiny holes that formed convection cells. These cells are filled with minerals resistant to erosion, forming the columns. Researchers have identified nearly 5,000 pillars across 4,000 acres, varying in shape, size, and color.
Crowley Lake offers a unique blend of recreational opportunities and natural wonders, making it a popular destination for anglers and nature enthusiasts.