Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake is a reservoir on the upper Owens River in the Eastern Sierra region at an elevation of 6,781 feet (2,067 meters). It holds 226 million cubic meters of water behind Long Valley Dam.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power built Long Valley Dam in 1941 to create this reservoir for the Los Angeles Aqueduct system. The project was designed to secure water supply for the growing city.

The water body takes its name from Father John J. Crowley, a priest who worked to bring visitors to Owens Valley in the 1930s. His efforts helped the region welcome travelers before his death in 1940.

Crowley Lake Fish Camp on the shore provides the only access to the water with boat rentals and camping areas. The facility supplies anglers with everything needed for a day on the water.

On the eastern shore stand column-like rock formations that formed when volcanic ash reacted with snowmelt. These structures cover about 1,600 hectares and attract geologists from around the world.

Location: Mono County

Inception: 1941

Website: https://monocounty.org/places-to-go/lakes-rivers-creeks/crowley-lake

GPS coordinates: 37.61105,-118.74125

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30