The Salton Sea is a large and hyper saline lake with high concentrations of minerals and salts. While many fishes no longer survive here due to increasing salinity, the primary fish species that currently inhabit are tilapia and the native desert pupfish. I have to say it's very smelly in this area, and the lake has a distinct rotten egg odor. read more

Salton Sea - Boating Near Me - Mecca, California

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i love everything about the salton sea. usually not busy at all which makes for a nice peaceful area. understanding the history and how the salton sea became what it is today is a true tragedy, but there's beauty in that. 10/10 read more

Salton Sea - Boating Near Me - Mecca, California

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This review is for Bat Caves Buttes which was a ~2.5 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. This was one of the very few hikes on AllTrails with a view of Salton Sea. Trail begins through the drainage pipes and was somewhat easy to follow up towards the Bat Cave Buttes. From a distance, you'll be able to see the buttes and the flag with the bench. The dirt trail was wide and sandy for the most part with absolutely no shade. Due to the terrain, it's impossible to 100% follow the AllTrails route but that's because there are various ways to get to the same destination. In other words, you really cannot get lost out there. There's a shortcut to the right of the butte that's a short and steep climb towards the bench with the flag. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/u4wUHjBY5GQ read more

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Water not safe. Air not safe We had a little history lesson from the park rangers at the Visitor Center. There are efforts to clean up the area including the US Government spending millions to help control environmental health issues from the toxicity of the lake. The first time we were here in July 2017 there were dead fishes washed ashore and bird carcasses along the shore. We returned in September 2019, they have somewhat cleaned up the area and the dead fishies were gone. When we visited last weekend the beach was cleaned up and even the Visitor Center was open. Salton Sea used to be a popular residential and vacation spot for families. "Regular" folks were not allowed to go and enjoy the same beaches as where the celebrities hung out at the hoity-toity Bombay Beach. So how was the Salton Sea created... this is what the Ranger at the Visitor Center shared... the Salton Sea was created when in the early 20th century an irrigation canal off the Colorado River burst and flooded the Salton Basin. Whoowee! Who wants to live near a beach!! New homes and other properties were built around this area and it became the go-to location for people in LA looking for more space and a coastal environment. Even though its sandy area is cleaned up the water is in no way safe. Review #1533 updated read more

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Only in California! That's how I would describe the Salton Sea: unique, strange, bizarre, one of a kind! It is not for everyone, it has a certain kind of poetry that might not be for some people. It's a man made sea, not the healthiest water, not meant for dipping. The place is huge with many parts, entrances, stopping points so do look into it ahead of time. I checked it out a few times, various areas. Great place for artists, inspiring enviroment to take photos around, explore, enjoy a less crowded area of our state! Be in nature, a different kind of nature. One of a kind spot, worth visiting if you love the desert, water, cool decay! read more

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Better than expected. I was expecting a boring lake with nothing around it, but it was bigger and more interesting than I expected. We first turned into the Visitor's Center which was closed, but still had a lot of the educational plaques / interpretive signs / informational signs placed outside to read. The visitor center has a large free parking lot and a brand new bathroom facility that was open though the center was locked. Also, you can walk all the way to SALTON SEA's edge and it was beautiful. A fighter jet flew over our heads which is, apparently, a common occurrence since the base is just on the other side of the mountain. We hopped back in the car and drove further south until we hit Bombay Beach. It's still part Salton Sea but is its own destination. I'm not sure how it came to be, but it's become a giant art installation and is also a must see. Make sure you set aside 90-150 minutes exploring SALTON SEA. read more

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Beautiful place and sad to see it so abandoned. It's really cool to see all the other abandoned architecture that surrounds it. My bf and I drove out about an hour from where we were staying at the time to visit this place and everyone warned us about the terrible smell. It's really not that bad or maybe the day we went, didn't have such a strong odor. It had a very faint sulfur smell for miles but VERY faint. Again, might've been a breezy day and I'm sure it gets worse on those hot days. Definitely a nice drive out to see this place if you don't mind the smell. It's quiet and relaxing. Not much out there but you can't get too close to the sea or the smell gets stronger and you also start to sink into the sand which isn't good. Would've loved to check out more abandoned areas but a frequent visitor we bumped into told us about how dangerous some areas are such as gangs at night and just a bunch of homeless living in the abandoned buildings and areas. Come check it out during the daytime with company! IG: @ammysalamii read more

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Visitor center was very informative. Enjoyed the video presentation. The park ranger was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions regarding the area. We also enjoyed the hikes in the park. Leave early before it gets too warm! read more

A sea or lake in the middle of the desert. In the 50s the nearby communities that had hotels would offer sailing, water skiing, etc; nowadays it is toxic, the smell is horrible! The view is beautiful. It's unfortunate that people polluted it. It's worth seeing if you're in the area. read more

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I don't get it. How is this a tourist destination. There is nothing scenic about it, unless there is one place somewhere around it that is the place to go. It was a giant dead lake that smelled like methane gas mixed with sulphur (a men's bathroom at a heavy metal show about three bands in - if you've been there, you know that gross smell). You can't get right up to the water because you sink into the packed, wet salt - and I mean up to your knees in a second. There are tires that have been abandoned up and down the beach. Otherwise, nothing. Seriously wondered why we drove 90 minutes from Palm Desert to see this nothing burger. Skip it. read more

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Gross To start, this page says "Salton Sea" but the address is for the campgrounds. I am giving a review for the Salton Sea, not the campgrounds. The campgrounds should have a separate page for the campgrounds. This lake is a cesspool of carnage. The color of the lake is sort of a poo water brown,and it doesn't smell much better than that. I'm not sure if there are any living creatures in the lake, but I definitely wouldn't eat anything that came out of it. They need to put up signs telling people to not go in the water. Also, don't try driving your truck anywhere close to the lake, even if the ground looks dry. It's a big sink hole and there are a lot of tire marks out there from trucks that got stuck. I would not recommend going to this place. read more

What an amazing 5 days we had here! I have heard & read SO many negative things about the Salton Sea, I was a bit trepidatious, but KNEW I had to see this place before the sea eroded any further. We stayed at Mecca Beach, water side, full hook ups - it was a perfect site, partially shaded, and we loved the fact you didn't have to back your rig in....you could park parallel to the water to take in the view. The campground, although in need of a little overhaul, was clean & camp host Bill was super friendly. The park rangers also drove through everyday. For the first 2 days we had the place, virtually, to ourselves. By Friday the lower campground was pretty full, but campers were respectful and quiet. We took a bunch of day trips over the course of our stay: Bombay Beach, Slab City, Bautista Date Farm & across the sea to Salton Sea Beach & Salton City. We actually found out, that all the reports of the sea being unswimmable were false. Park Rangers told us we could ABSOLUTELY swim in the water (next time we will). As for the smell you may hear or read about, it was hardly noticeable. At times when the wind blew across, you could smell something, but was no worse than the smell of the ocean. Salton Sea gets a bad rap.....and I think that rap needs to be changed! read more

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Fascinating place. The "Sea" is not swimmable. I personally wouldn't touch it with a pole. But if you can stand the smell it can provide you with a momment of quiet calmness. The recreation area is neat, well staffed. Bathrooms are clean and look to have been updated in at least a few years. Showers outside. To clean your shoes because no one should be in the water. The drive up is pretty cool. The area is full of agriculture! Onions, broccoli, peppers, and Date trees! We went on October 10th, 2024. On the drive back down to Orange County, we took the 111 S hitting up Shields Date Garden for, of course, date shakes and Medjool Dates. Dinner at Bill's pizza and some gambling at the Palms Springs Casino. Day trip. read more

You can't put down the Salton Sea, it's not its fault that it isn't what is used to be! Mother Nature destroys and people do too. On my big birthday last year, all I wanted to do it go to Joshua Tree, try a stay in a tiny house, listen to U2 on vinyl, visit my favorite roadhouse in the country, experience a sound healing bath and visit the Salton Sea! All of this with my husband and my fur babe in tow. Did I mention hitting up one of my favorite boutiques nearby or eating some good food we found on Yelp too? An adventure of sorts... Yes, the Salton Sea was eerie in a way, but yes it is beautiful too. Some things living, some things dead. Good photos, bad smells. It's all here. The visitors center is one of the best in the state system, with much historical information on what happened to this glorious body of water. Many souvineers to be had. I picked up a beach walking stick made locally which I think is pretty special. If you get a chance, go, learn and explore. It's a natural wonder. #SaltonSea #Eerie #Beautiful #Adventure read more

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Must see once! Interesting place. I especially enjoyed seeing Bombay Beach. The campground at Mecca was great also.....!!!! read more

Nice place with boat launch and recreation areas, camping, picnicking, hiking and many other activities. $7 parking fee for day use and nominal boat launch fee. Lots of pergolas for provide shade for family to gather and BBQ. We find this area, the city of Mecca with lots of date and citrus farms, very charming. Thank a Farmer today for the food on our table ! read more

Salton Sea is a desert lake that is off Highway 86 from Indio to Brawley-El Centro. It was formed when a overflow of a canal diverted in a low area that was prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. We went there the first time about 5 years ago and pass by it often now, stopping to just see the water level, on our trips out of El Centro. The smell from the dying fish and drying salty sand blowing toxic dust made our visit memorable-and not in a good way. In the 1950's, the Salton Sea was a big recreation area for LA area residents. They came for water sports- boating, bird (such as the endangered white pelicans) nesting, and fishing, and formed resorts and, even, a North Shore Yacht Club. Unfortunately, the water level is decreasing causing the resorts and beaches to be deserted and fish and birds to have large die-offs. It is sad since it is such a beautiful area and the only large wetlands in the area. Water flows into and out of the valley alternately, creating a freshwater then a saltwater lake then a dry desert basin as water levels decrease. The natural cycle of filling has been about every 400-500 years but the sea is expected to decrease even more between 2013 and 2021. Hope floats, though-and I hope even higher in this salt lake. In January 2018, Riverside legislators just came up with a plan to save the Salton Sea by trying to dam up one end- if they find funding and if the sediment will hold up a dam. Let's hope their plan works to bring the sea back to the beauty and to serve as a wetland for fish, birds and a nature area for all. read more

Very different experience. Middle of the dessert with nothing around but the sea and a small town which looks like something in a horror film. Lot of unique and quirky art installations that you must drive thru the streets to find them. Very cool and unique thing to do if you are on a weekend trip in Palm Springs read more

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This place isn't on everyone's bucket list but it was on mine. I love looking at maps and just seeing all the hidden beautiful and eccentric treasures out there. We were driving back from Yuma AZ and I made sure to go through this area on our way back to Los Angeles. We are in the COVID-19 pandemic and it's nice to walk around without having to put on your mask. If you love odd ball out of the ordinary places then make sure to put this one on your bucket list. read more

Salton Sea - Memorial Day 2020 - Boating Near Me - Mecca, California

I've always wanted to see this huge lake, the largest lake in Cali, made by accident in 1905. Now, it's toxic, unsafe for swimming, boating, and living. O'my, how beautiful the lake is off the freeway as you're traveling through; but, when you stop, park, and venture to the beach, you'll be overcome by the smell of sulfur and death. It's an unbearable smell! How can that be? The mountains look like they're hand painted oil on canvas; so, so beautiful. But, the crunch of the white sand, well, we thought it was sand, but, as we soon figured out, it was crushed fish bones and the like, just makes that painted picture fall apart. I'm so glad I went to see it and the remnants of the past. I would've given it 5 stars but, every breath you take, really is toxic. read more

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A wonderful and peaceful place to stop by for the day or even to spend a few nights while on a road trip. You cannot get into the water but it's a serene view and a great place to rest. read more

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I remember coming here about 10 years ago when we could actually get in the water, albeit on a raft. The water was not as bad as is now. Now the water just looks dark, murky and polluted. Like a place out of a 1980's B rated movie flick, where a swamp monster drudges out, covered in seaweed and mud with a decaying animal stuck between it's teeth. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't come here; you should, in my opinion. You should come here to see how unique the place is. Take in the sights and sounds of dead fish carcasses and variety of birds chillin' on the water to picking at them for food. Makes sure you wear shoes when you come to avoid getting dead fish scales in your sandals. read more

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This place is so bizarre. - From far away, it looks pretty. - Up close it stinks terribly. - There are dead fish everywhere - in the water, on the shore. Recently dead, dead for a long time, crushed up pieces of dead fish. - There are lots of birds. - There is nothing to do around here. - The neighborhood by the sea is really sad. It looks like New Orleans, post Katrina. I am not sure what happened here. - We saw people still living in this neighborhood. I felt bad for them. If you intend to walk on the actual beach, WEAR BOOTS!!! It is not sand, it is ground up shells and fish bones and you sink into it when you are walking. Please see the picture of me, without feet. It was disgusting, I sunk into the piles of nastiness. Shells and bones got in my shoes, when I got back to the car I actually left my socks on the street cause they were so gross. Interesting place. Don't need to go back, but glad I went once. read more

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When I was about 8 years old in the mid-1960s, my grandparents on my dad's side owned a 35 foot camper trailer they kept on a property they owned on the west shore of the Salton Sea. I think it was called Desert Shores. It wasn't much to write home about, but it was a place they could go to get away from the Los Angeles area for a long weekend or short vacation. On occasion, my dad would drive my mom, brother, and I there to visit with them and to do a little fishing on the lake. My grandpa had a nice little fiberglass boat with a 50 horsepower motor on it. We'd load up the boat with our fishing gear and snacks and head out on the lake to fish for corvina. Corvina are actually an ocean fish that are found in warm temperate and tropical waters, such as those along the southwestern side of the Central and South America coasts. Corvina are a hearty good tasting white-fleshed fish that range in size from a pound or two to over 20 pounds. They are related to ocean White Sea bass. They were introduced to the Salton Sea in the early to mid-1950s. By the mid-1960s their population in the lake had skyrocketed and we would easily catch our limits, which I think was 5 fish per day per person. They were a great fighting fish that I think strongly contributed to my lifelong love of all types of fishing. Sadly, the increasing salinity of the lake, increased water temperatures, poor water quality, and decreased oxygen levels wiped the fish out by the 1980s. read more

Let me just say I wouldn't recommend coming here during the summer months. It get super hot and you start sweating within minutes. My bf and I came probably on the hottest day of the year and when we went outside to fill out the yellow permit we were assisted by flies! Thy came out of no where and wouldn't leave. We drove off and had about 20 of them in the car. Trying to paper swat them out of the car was a mission. The lake itself is really nice. The smell wasn't too bad this day. We wanted to visit here to see all the dead fish but we barely found any. Maybe it's the wrong season to come. It was still fun. I read that you have to pay to enter but there wasn't a ranger at the post and we weren't staying long so after the fly incident we just drove in stayed about 5 mins and left. The lake is really big and looks fun if it wasn't 100+ degree weather. read more

Amazing views, and peace and quiet out here most of the time. I towed my brand new 50' yacht out here to launch it, but it appears they're doing repairs to the boat ramp. Also. I was told that there was valet parking, but I saw no signs of any valets. read more

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It was quite interesting to finally sea, err, see this lake. So much was dead and decaying but that in itself was interesting. The only life I truly saw was one duck in the water, and it didn't look happy. I could turn this into a scientific adventure, having recently been to Death Valley, but suffice it to say that it's worth the visit. read more

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2-12-18 Chemicals from date farms and other crops near by have polluted the Salton Sea. There are dead fish and fish skeletons all over the beach. It smells terrible. Paid $8 To get in. Honestly they should have paid me to go in! Not worth the money. Staff inside gift shop were very unfriendly. Dogs can go but not on sand and beach area. I can't imagine letting dogs, kids, etc go down to beach. State has given up on this park. Skip it. Not a pleasant place to visit. Only cool thing was beach didn't have sand but finely crushed shells. Woukd never come here again! read more

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I don't think you can review a "man made" - neglected water body especially one the government in CA and the feds elected to set of as an example of their terrible thinking and disregard to the environment. This place is a wonder that man created and man doomed! It's cool to visit and take photos, not sure if you can swim, you would not want to anyway. The park service (state park) was very small, no merchandize specific to the attraction itself sold at the gift shop/park's office. You should visit this when visiting Salvation Mountain and Bombay ruins. read more

If and when you are in the Coachella Area, do yourself a favor and stop by this Californian artifact. The "sea" used to be a fresh water lake where glamorous people went for vacay but then turned into a salt water lake somewhere in the 60s. And now dead fish line its shores. It's a quiet place to spend the afternoon or even camp out. Check it out. read more

Salton Sea - One of the many dead fishes on the shore of Salton Sea. - Boating Near Me - Mecca, California

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Enjoyed a trip out there with the family. There really is not much to do there, but kind of fun to go see the lake and walk around it for a bit. Lots of birds and other stuff swimming around. Worth's quick stop on your way to Phoenix if you want a quick break. read more

Are you an artist? Do you like deserted landscapes? Or simply enjoy smelling dead fish? If so, the Salton Sea is the place for you! Gather a cozy group of your friends together and take a day roadtrip around the Salton Sea. Keep the party small unless you've been to the Salton Sea before and know what the heck you're doing. Invite only people up to the challenge. NO SISSIES ALLOWED. Don't bring any princesses who can't stand sweating, have to pee every hour, get hungry too much, or complain about everything! Take one car. There will be detours. MANY detours. You'll make sudden change of plans, especially if there's a dirt road that evolved into a dead end and you're racing against the sunset to see all the sights. Be prepared for spontaneity :) My buddies and I drove in from the north of the Salton Sea, checked out the east side first, made our way down to Calipatria, and completed the full circle by seeing the west side. Check out these places on your drive: ***BOMBAY BEACH: http://tinyurl.com/7s2ku3c ***SALVATION MOUNTAIN: http://tinyurl.com/83pzu4e ***SALTON SEA MUD VOLCANOES: http://tinyurl.com/8xa2b7x ***SALTON SEA BEACH MARINA: http://tinyurl.com/78pulud Pack an ice box full of water and other goodies. I recommend fruits and veggies as they will keep you refreshed. If you want food, to-go a meal before entering the boundaries of Salton. It's cool if you want to eat at the scattered diners around the sea, though from what I hear they're a bit greasy. Haven't ate the food around here myself, but perhaps it's worth a try. Last but not least, enjoy yourself! The Salton Sea is quite a sight. It's such a pleasant surprise to know such a place exists a drive away from Los Angeles! read more

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Do you like adventure? If yes, proceed to #1 if NO, proceed to #2 1) First of all, congratulations on being awesome. Second of all, you will love the Salton Sea. A day trip from San Diego, the Salton Sea is a unique and extraordinary endpoint with many crazy side adventures along the way. We drove out and stopped by Borrego Springs to take pics of gigantic metal dinosaurs, horses, elephants, and more. ( http://www.galletameadows.com/ ) , took a fun little hike through a slot canyon, and visited the one-of-a-kind and very colorful Salvation Mountain. ( http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2042 ) We planned on getting to Bombay Beach by sunset, but ran a bit late. Tis okay! The colors after the sunset were unbelievable. Also unbelievable was the stench of the fish and the utter abandonment of the area that's been left to nature. The reflection of colors painted onto the stillness of the lake was like nothing I've ever seen. Bombay beach is the place to go for some great photos! With a mix of beauty and decay, Salton Sea is captivating. This area also has a ton of birds, so if you are a birder and haven't made it out yet then get to it! There are some natural areas around there that are supposed to be awesome as well. There is no place like the Salton Sea. It is an experience and adventure. If you like adventure, you owe it to yourself to go check it out! Pack a cooler of drinks and food, get some good jams, and hit the road! 2) You will not enjoy the Salton Sea. read more

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I like anything weird. I love ghost towns. I love history. I love the desert. This is a no brainer. And of course in California, any excuse to get away from people for a minute. This is the place to explore and get crazy pictures you might not get elsewhere. Yes there are dead Tilapia along the shore line. I am one to explore. I noticed most people(probably a lot who's reviews you are reading) did not go to far from there vehicles. I hiked along the shore for awhile, climbed some hills, found caves, and looked at wreckage. Nothing like peaking through the windows of abandoned buildings. Its definitely got that apocalyptic feel which I am totally down for.....Dooms day preppers ain't got sh#t on this place...... There was what I think is an abandoned RV park, it was crazy. Its like people just left there things there. If you're into adventure and exploring check it out. If your into being prissy and not veering to far from your neighborhood or coffee shop, this is not the place for you. There were other parts of the Salton Sea where I expected the sand people from Star Wars to pop out and start shooting.... read more

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Not a place to vacation. My interest in visiting was more out of historical fascination and the need to witness a post apocalyptic town, a real estate burst, and an ecological nightmare. How can a place that Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin frequently visited, and home to Sonny Bono and The Beach Boys, boasting the most productive fishery on earth, change into this, within a few decades? It's a really interesting place to visit, so I actually recommend it in that sense, but understand the context of this place before you get super confused. The salton sea is big, measuring 35mi x 15mi (actually a huge lake). It appears bright blue, looking pretty from the highway, but take a walk on the beach, and you'll know what I mean... it smells really bad as you approach the water, and the sand is actually pulverized fish bones. Dead fish carcasses get washed up on the beach, so there's plenty of flies flying around. Enter into town, and there's abandoned houses, furniture, with graffiti everywhere. This is home to thousands of people who are content with their community, low cost of living, and low crime in the streets, so no disrespect. Simply put, it's an interesting place to visit. And it's less than an hr drive from Anza Borrego State park, less than an hour from Palm Springs. The highway is covered with thousands of palm tree groves... Other points of interest include a banana museum, dates park, a history museum, bombay beach, sonny bono wildlife reserves, but yeah, it's pretty desolate. I've never seen anything like it... read more

Salton Sea - http://www.vice.com/read/i-went-to-californias-post-apocalyptic-beach-town-salton-sea - Boating Near Me - Mecca, California

Review Haiku: It smells like dead fish! Sand is made of bones and skulls. Gorgeous and unique. Google Salton Sea for some weird history on the place! The smell wasn't too bad at the Salton Sea Visitors Center. Its where you'll find the "sand" is truly made of dead fish, fish bones, and mollusk shells. Its pretty cool! Driving around the Salton Sea and exploring places like Bombay Beach is where you'll find the true fish stink! - Its a great place to spend the day exploring the sea and all the quirky things around it... read more

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Salton Sea...you may have heard of it because of the documentary called Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea or if you pick up the LA Times today you will see an article about it. Well when I was a kid in the 70's my dad...I don't know why...loved to take us camping here in the summer. It would be about 120 degrees with hard dirt everywhere and the sea which is HUGE was of course salt water and the floor of the sea was squishy red clay that oozed between your toes which always grossed me out. You also had to beware of the barnacles too because they were on the rocks amongst the clay and they cut your feet. I suppose the main reason we came here was because we could ride our motorcycles and yes at the age of 6 I had my own motorcycle a Honda Trail 90 to be exact. Now the sea's salinity has become worse and thousand of fish dye from lack of oxygen, then the algae blooms, then the fish thrive, then the fish dye and the cycle continues. Sonny Bono was trying to get federal funding to help with the lake but he died and so did the help. Too bad really for those poor folks that still live there. read more

At 220 feet below sea level, this is one of the most surreal places I have ever visited. The nearby desert beauty is amazing, but the Salton Sea is dying. We first stopped at the Salton Sea Recreation Area Visitor Center. Aside from two volunteers and one ranger, the place was deserted. At the center, we watched a short video that detailed the sea's history. The sea is an artificial construct, originating from a diversion of Colorado River water. However, since water is no longer diverted from the Colorado, and other sources of water to the Salton are inconsequential, the sea is evaporating. The volunteer told us that the sea's water level was dropping by 2 feet every year. We left the center to go on a hike along the shore. The first thing we noticed was a stink. It smelled like horse manure, but was really decaying piles of dead tilapia fish along the shoreline. From a distance, the beach appears to be white sand. In reality, the "sand" is little shells. I couldn't tell what the shells were, but I suspect that they were barnacles. You don't want to walk barefoot here. We then went on another nearby trail a bit away from the sea that goes through the desert flora for about 1.5 miles. This was very nice. We returned to the trail head/visitor center around dusk, and boy does it get cold fast in December once the sun sets. What I found bizarre is that even though the Salton Sea is is drying up, it's obvious a ton of money has recently been spent on building/refurbishing picnic shelters and restrooms. As a matter of fact, the restrooms at the visitor center were the plushest and cleanest...by far...that we have seen anywhere! This is all the more amazing that despite the sunny day, other than a couple of senior citizens in Winnebagos, we were the only people around. So despite California's budget woes, why are they making costly improvements to a place when nobody comes here anymore? read more

I don't see why people hate this place. Yes, documentaries have made this place look like a post-apocalypse wasteland and the Salton Sea does have its fair share of problems, but it is still a place of beauty despite those problems. The Salton Sea Recreation Area has a lot of area to hike, explore, watch wildlife and just relax. A really nice campground, as well- in fact I strongly suggest this campground over any other one on the lake. Nice area, fire pits, showers (though they are pay $1 will pay for about 10-15 minutes?), and easy access. When I visited I saw it as a beautiful place with vast wildlife. it is a shame that the lake is practically dying. It is sad to see the dead wildlife alongside the shore. But it is what it is. Best check this place out and enjoy it before all of the Solar Energy tyrants move in and kill it all. The sunsets are beyond beautiful and when i was there, the place did not smell so bad. In fact, it smelled no worse than any salt water bay. I still would not swim in it, but still. Highly recommended. read more

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We were definitely impressed with this place. Easy 5 stars! We came very early and there was nobody here. The park representative where we entered was very nice and helpful. It was only $7 to park, which was relatively cheap for an entire car load of people. The representative provided us with directions on where to park, etc. You park and are free to roam around the park as you please. There are signs for COVID social distancing and masks. You do not have to wear a mask out by the water, only if you can not remain 6 ft from others. There was definitely an odor, however the odor of the Salton Sea was not as pungent as described in some of these reviews. I would imagine that during the summer months, in 100+ degree heat, the odor would be more pungent. The sand seems to be a thick layer of broken up shells and when you get close to the water, the "sand" is layers upon layers of barnacle shells. There are lots of birds at the water and it is very quiet! Great for taking photos. I'd recommend you bring a tripod because there aren't many places to put your camera for a photo. The restrooms were up next to the visitor's center and they were very clean! Overall, it was a great experience and I'd recommend this place to others. read more

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