Near Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Crowley Lake

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 15, 2013

1. Crowley Lake Marker

Inscription. Crowley Lake, widely known for its trout fishing, has yielded more than 40 tons of fish the first week of fishing season. It was named for Father Crowley, a beloved Catholic priest. who traveled this area extensively.

The White Mountain Range, to the east, is the home of the Bristlecone Pines, the world's oldest living thing.

The banded light and dark colored formations of the Sierra Nevada was once sediment deposited by an ancient sea and is approximately 450 million years old.

This basin is a caldera, created by the collapse of a large volcano over 500,000 years ago. The collapse was preceded by violent and tremendous explosions known as nuees ardentes, which caused the catastrophic ejection of approximately 35 cubic miles of super-heated material over an area of 450 square miles. This resulted in the extensive tableland seen to the east and south which is known as the Bishop Tuff.

Erected by California Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 34.502′ N,

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118° 45.149′ W. Marker was near Mammoth Lakes, California, in Mono County. It was on U.S. 395, on the right when traveling south. Located at the Crowley Lake Southbound Vista Point, a turnout on the southbound side of US-395. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Mammoth Lakes CA 93546, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It was also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Crowley Lake (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Crowley Lake (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); McGee Mountain Rope Tow #34 (approx. 2.4 miles away); Tragedy at Convict Lake (approx. 5.6 miles away); Convict Lake (approx. 5.6 miles away);

Photographed by Michael Kindig, September 15, 2013

2. Crowley Lake Marker

Owens Valley (approx. 9 miles away); Casa Diablo (approx. 10 miles away); Pine Creek Mine (approx. 13.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mammoth Lakes.

Also see . . . Find a Grave Memorial - Rev Fr John J. Crowley. (Submitted on April 2, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

Satellite image of me at the Marker image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Google Maps, September 15, 2013

3. Satellite image of me at the Marker

Marker is Missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 2, 2025

4. Marker is Missing

Other interpretive signs describe local history and geology.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 2,285 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 4. submitted on November 4, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.