Crater Mountain

Name: Crater Mountain
Acreage: 6,760 (BLM), 500 (INF)
Location: southeast of Big Pine

Natural Values:

Rising up two thousand feet from the valley floor, the dark Crater Mountain seems like a living entity. With its monster-like jagged spines of cooled lava, and with little vegetation growing on the young mountain, it may look foreboding at first glance.

Yet it is Crater Mountain's rugged simplicity that makes it charming. The dark, ominous rocks are actually light as a feather and full of tiny holes. These holes are the result of air mixing with exploding lava, and subsequent quick cooling. And, though plant diversity is low, the area is popular with Tule elk, chukar, and many species of lizards. Furthermore, it is critical winter habitat for the Goodale mule deer herd.

Cultural Values:

Crater Mountain was used by the Big Pine Paiutes for seed collecting, seed processing, and hunting. It also has some petroglyphs, or native rock art, and is thought to be a sacred area.

Recreational Values:

Bordering the Sierra and overlooking the Owens Valley, the view from atop Crater Mountain is phenomenal and not to be missed. It is easy to avoid the rocky outcroppings, making the technical aspect of the dogged hike up Crater Mountain relatively simple. For more information about hiking up Crater Mountain, check out the attachment below the Crater Mountain WSA map.