Owens River, Water system in eastern California, United States.
The Owens River is a waterway in the Sierra Nevada mountains of eastern California that flows roughly 180 miles southeast through Long Valley Caldera and into Lake Crowley Reservoir. The river passes through rugged mountain terrain and supports multiple reservoirs along its course.
The river formed naturally in the mountains and supplied the valleys for thousands of years before human intervention. In 1913, Los Angeles constructed a major aqueduct system that redirected its flow to serve the growing city far to the south.
The river held deep meaning for Northern Paiute and Shoshone peoples, who depended on its waters and shaped their way of life around it for thousands of years. Today, this connection remains part of the region's identity and the land itself.
Fishing access is available at multiple points between Crowley Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, where you can expect to find trout populations throughout the season. The river is relatively easy to approach along most stretches, though some spots require short hikes to reach.
The water diversion had an unexpected consequence: Owens Lake dried up and became one of North America's largest sources of dust pollution, transforming the entire landscape. This environmental shift demonstrates how large-scale water projects can reshape entire ecosystems and affect air quality across the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
