Crowley Lake Columns
A Photographer's Guide to the Galaxy | Mammoth Lakes Area, Eastern Sierra
Welcome to A Photographer’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’m Erin Malone, a cinematographer, adventure photographer, and drone pilot based in Sonoma County, California. I’ve been chasing light for 15 years across some of the most otherworldly places on this planet, and this guide is my brain dump of everything I’ve learned.
Every article is one location. Fully scouted. Honest ratings, real access notes, the best times to shoot, what to shoot, what gear actually matters, where to eat, where to stay, and whether the whole thing is worth your time. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
No fluff. No sponsored content. Just the field guide I wish I had when I started.
This first post is free and open to everyone. Starting with the next issue, the full story and field notes will be for paid subscribers. The quick reference and ratings at the top of every post will always be free. If you want the whole picture, the details that actually make or break a trip, that’s what the paid guide is for.
Let’s get into it.
Crowley Lake Columns. Mostly harmless. Mostly.
DON’T PANIC. But maybe don’t drive either.
Quick Reference | The Full Story below
Quick Reference
Time of Year
Great year-round, including winter
The columns look incredible with snow and ice around them
The summers are usually hot, dry, and keep in mind you’re at 7,000 ft elevation
Time of Day
Golden hour / sunset is ideal. The sun drops perfectly to the left of the columns.
Early morning if you want fewer people but you won’t be able to shoot the columns with the sun
Plan to arrive mid-afternoon. You need time to hike in and set up before golden hour. Heat can exceed 100 degrees in summer.
There is no shade on this trail. Bring more water than you think.
Gear to Bring
A wider angle lens like a 16-35mm. That is really all you need here.
Crowley Lake is often very clear and the wide lets you capture the columns and the water together
Tripod and an ND filter if you want smooth water shots
Access
Free, no permit required
No bathrooms on the trail or at the trailhead
Plan to hike it. Seriously. The road has massive holes. If you try it in anything less than a serious 4x4 with high clearance and real off-road tires, you will get stuck.
Plan for no cell reception
Near the end: steep drop down toward the columns. Slippery in ice, slippery in sand.
Dog friendly. No shade or water on trail, bring enough for both of you.
Crowd Strategy
Weekdays are significantly less busy. Monday or Tuesday if you can swing it.
Sunrise if you want it mostly to yourself
Sunset brings the best light and more people
The Full Story
You're driving down Highway 395 and you think, "I'll stop and check out those crazy columns I've heard so much about." What you don't know is there's no cell service, the road will swallow your rental car whole, and it's a 4-mile round trip hike at 7,000 ft elevation with zero shade. Oxygen is at a premium up here. Here’s everything I’ve learned.
Crowley Lake Columns is one of the coolest things you can see in the Mammoth and Mono area. I say that as someone who has spent the last decade exploring this region. I also say it knowing I’ve still never made it to Devil’s Postpile, which has unfortunately been closed for years.
These columns look like something that should not exist. Like a set from another planet sitting on the edge of a lake. The first time I saw it I had no idea what I was looking at. The columns are part of the region’s volcanic history, tied to the Long Valley Caldera eruption about 760,000 years ago. Heat, steam, and minerals. Erosion did the rest. Nature doing what nature does, just in the most dramatic way possible.
The hike was closed for a couple years due to LA Department of Water and Power shutting the road down, but open as of this writing, March 2026. Always confirm current conditions and check both Apple and Google Maps before you go. Mono County posts seasonal road updates and closures can happen again.
Getting There
Follow Highway 395 about 30 minutes southeast of Mammoth Lakes.
Location
The trailhead is located off Owens Gorge Road, accessed via Benton Crossing Road. Or search “Trailhead for Crowley Lake Stone Columns” on Google Maps.
Beginning of trailhead coordinates: (37.5897354, -118.7043055)
Park along the side of the road.
Parking for low-clearance vehicles: (37.5902763, -118.7014359)
The Road
Watch the video I am linking here before you decide to drive this. For real.
We had a Jeep Wrangler in 4-wheel drive and there were moments where I was genuinely not sure we were going to make it. The road has massive holes and vertical hills that will swallow a normal vehicle whole. If you try it in anything less than a serious 4x4 with high clearance and real off-road tires, you will get stuck. There is no phone service out there. Nobody is coming to help you. Do not risk it. Just hike. I watched several foreigners in rental cars attempt and fail this drive.
After the end of the road there is a steep drop down toward the columns. Last time I was there it was solid ice and we basically slid our way down. In summer it can still be slippery with sand. Either way, take it slow. You have to hike this whether you have a vehicle or not.
The Hike
Park at the trailhead or just past it along the road if your vehicle can handle it.
If you park and hike the full route, it is 4 miles round trip. Pretty straightforward, but you are at elevation, around 7,000 feet. The elevation adds effort even when the terrain is not demanding. Bring more water than you think you need. There is no shade on this trail. Plan to arrive at the trailhead mid-afternoon at the latest. You want to be down at the columns and set up before golden hour, not still hiking in. If you are going in summer, be prepared for 100-degree heat with zero shade and no water on the trail.
What You’ll Find
Once you are down at the columns, you will immediately understand why people make the trip. They are massive, geometric, and completely wild looking. They look like they were carved by hand but they absolutely were not. The lake is typically extremely clear, which makes the whole scene even more photogenic. It is one of those places where you just kind of stand there for a minute and let it land.
If you do not want to deal with the road or the hike, you can apparently kayak over from the other side of the lake depending on water levels. I have not done it, but worth knowing.
Photography
Bring a wider angle lens. That is really all you need here. The scale of the columns combined with the clarity of the lake makes wide the obvious choice. Bring a tripod and an ND filter if you want the smooth water shots. You’ll appreciate less gear during that hike, I promise. When there was ice (very rare) during our last trip in February 2026, it was nice to have a bit of longer lens for compression. I had my 24-105 with me.
For timing, golden hour into sunset is your best bet. The sun sets perfectly to the left of the columns and gives you beautiful side-light with a lot of texture and depth. The light does a lot of the work for you if you are there at the right time. You can even shoot the sun through the columns. Early morning is probably less busy, but the sun is coming from the wrong direction.
Dogs
Yes, you can bring your dog. Remember there is no shade on this trail and no water source. Whatever you are carrying for yourself, bring extra for them.
The steep drop down to the columns is awkward with a dog on leash. Take it slow.
We brought our 12-pound dog on the last trip when we drove to the end. He did the drop down to the columns and climbed back up on his own, which honestly impressed me with his tiny legs. He prefers to be carried though.
Where to Stay/Eat
Mammoth Lakes is your base and has no shortage of hotels. I don’t have a strong loyalty to one spot so book what works for your budget.
For food and happy hour, Bar Sierra is my go-to. We’ve tried pretty much all the food in Mammoth over the years and this is by far the greatest and decently priced. Photos taken summer 2025.
The best adventures are the ones at the edge of something — a lake, a trail, a universe. Subscribe for Death Valley, Yosemite, and Valley of Fire. See you out there.