California's Lost City: Exploring The Salton Sea

Art installation next to the Salton Sea.

You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it today, but in the 1950s and ’60s, the Salton Sea was at its peak popularity as a tourist destination. The warm waters made it an ideal spot for boating, fishing, and waterskiing. Resorts, marinas, and housing developments sprang up around its shores. Over time, however, the Salton Sea was filled with agricultural runoff, leading to massive fish die-offs. The decaying fish caused foul odors and ecological decline, driving away tourists and damaging the region’s economy. Because of this decline, the area has essentially become a ghost town. However, this area has also bloomed into a cool and unique place to explore, and possibly even create some works of art, making it an excellent place to spend adventuring for the day.

Everything near the Salton Sea can be accessed via Highway 111 . I always like to start at the "bottom" and work my way back up. Also, I would highly recommend that you pack food for your trip. Restaurants and restrooms are slim to none in this area, so be prepared and plan ahead.

Here is my suggested day itinerary for exploring the Salton Sea, in order to see everything interesting:

• First, head down to the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. There are a lot of amazing birds in this area if you are interested in wildlife.

(Pro Tip: Bring a pair of binoculars for better bird viewing.)

• If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can try and search the nearby Niland area for mud pots. The area is geothermal, so there have been times we have explored the mud and found bubbling thermal pots. Proceed with caution on this one though, it is best to admire their bubbling from a distance. Also, if it has recently rained, the mud can be problematic for vehicles.

(Pictured: Geothermal area and bubbling mud pots.)

• Next, drive to Slab City/East Jesus, a nearby community known for its unique "off-grid lifestyle". Take a self-guided tour of the area and experience the unique local art scene. Due to the diversity of this area, please note that things are constantly changing, but I find it is always interesting to look at.

(Pro Tip: You do not need to get out of the car to explore this area. We usually drive around and stop to get out if something interests us.)

Plane installation at Slab City.

• Salvation Mountain is a must see—before COVID you could walk around on top of it and inside of it, but I am not sure if you are still able to do this now. It is still worth the trip either way, and usually the volunteers working are very informative and kind.

(Pictured: Photos from Salvation Mountain.)

• After this, visit Bombay Beach and the Bombay Beach Ruins, the remnants of an old community located along the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. Many of the original home structures still stand today and they have been turned into unique art installations that you can roam about freely. Take a stroll along the beach and view the ever-changing art pieces and installations. Be careful though, as these buildings were abandoned they have potential to fall apart.

(Pro Tip: If they are open, the Ski Inn is the only place in this area to use the restroom. Please make a purchase as well, if possible!)

(Pictured: Bombay Beach and ruins.)

• Next, head over to the Salton Sea Visitor Center. They have a small museum and boardwalks to get close to the water so you can admire all the lovely fish bones (it is pretty neat, in my opinion!) This would also be an ideal place to use the restroom.

(Pro Tip: The Salton Sea stinks, if you are sensitive to smells you may want to skip getting close to the water.)

(Pictured: Fish bones near the shore of the Salton Sea.)

• Now you will want to head over to the Dos Palmas Preserve, which is a palm tree canyon that comes up out of nowhere in this barren landscape. You drive for a bit on a dirt road until you are able to park and take the San Andreas Trail. This is an easy hike, and totally worth it! Do your research for the best GPS location to map yourself to for this one.

(Pictured: San Andreas Trail in Dos Palmas Preserve.)

• Lastly, stop at the International Banana Museum and see if they have finally reopened. This was my favorite stop by the Salton Sea, but they closed during the pandemic and have yet to reopen. They had AMAZING banana ice cream, so I hope they come back soon!

(Pictured: International Banana Museum décor and ice cream.)

As time goes on and water levels decrease, exposed lakebeds create air quality issues and trigger environmental concerns for nearby residents. Efforts have been made to address the Salton Sea’s issues, such as implementing restoration projects and water management plans, however, I would recommend seeing this unique area before it falls into a further state of decline.