How to drive the off-road trail to Crowley Lake Columns in California?
The Crowley Lake Columns are a series of volcanic stone pillars located on the eastern shore of Crowley Lake in California’s Eastern Sierra. Accessing the columns requires driving through a network of desert tracks east of U.S. Highway 395 that turn into a technical 4x4 challenge near the water.
| Road facts: Crowley Lake Columns Trail | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mono County, California (USA) |
| Distance from Highway | ~16 miles (25.7 km) |
| Surface | Dirt, Deep Sand, and Ruts |
| Requirement | High-Clearance 4WD Mandatory |
How is the road to Crowley Lake Columns?
The journey starts on Benton Crossing Road and moves into a maze of dirt tracks towards Layton Springs. While the first miles are mostly packed dirt, the final descent to the shoreline is a steep, heavily rutted hill that requires precise wheel placement to avoid high-centering. The surface is a mix of loose volcanic rock and deep, soft sand that can trap vehicles without proper tires. A high-clearance 4WD is required; AWD crossovers often get stuck on the final ramp or in the sandy patches near the columns.
What are the hazards of driving on the Crowley Lake shoreline?
The main hazard is the changing water level of the lake. During late summer and fall, the water recedes, exposing the columns, but it leaves behind a soft, silty shoreline that looks solid but can act like quicksand. Driving too close to the water’s edge is a high risk for heavy vehicles. The tracks leading to the columns are not maintained and feature sudden dips and washouts that can damage bumpers and suspension components if taken too fast. Cell service is non-existent at the bottom of the cliffs, so you must be able to self-recover if you lose traction.
When is the best time to drive to the columns?
Accessibility depends entirely on the lake's water levels managed by the LADWP. The columns are most visible and reachable from late August through November. In winter and spring, snow and mud make the desert tracks impassable, and higher water levels often submerge the road along the beach. Sudden thunderstorms in the Eastern Sierra can turn the dusty tracks into a slick slurry in minutes, making the climb back up from the shore extremely difficult on the rutted sections.
What vehicle preparation is needed for Crowley Lake?
Standard street tires are not enough for the deep sand sections near the columns; you need tires with aggressive sidewalls and the ability to air down for better flotation. Carry a portable air compressor, a shovel, and recovery boards. The heat in the high desert puts stress on the cooling system during the slow, low-gear crawl back up to Benton Crossing Road. Check your spare tire and fuel levels before leaving Highway 395, as the sandy driving will burn through fuel much faster than the highway miles suggest.
Pic: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stunning-hexagonal-columns-at-crowley-lake-28638901/