Have you ever gone somewhere so unique that weeks later you are still thinking about what you experienced? That's how I feel about the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is a place like no other that takes reusability and sustainability to intriguing heights. From its art work made of the most random seeming objects (like toilets') displayed across Bombay Beach, to a beach made up of fish bone, to the stunning art of Salvation Mountain, to the peace and serenity of viewing wildlife from a volcanic butte, the Salton Sea will have you looking at life through new eyes.
Embarking on an adventure to the Salton Sea with family and friends is a great way to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. There is something unique and thought provoking for every type of adventurer.
Salton Sea
A bit about The Salton Sea
The Salton Sea was formed in 1905, when silt blocked the path of the Imperial Canal along the Colorado River, causing it to change course. Water from the Colorado River flooded into the Salton Sea for two years until the Southern Pacific Railroad fixed the canal and diverted the river back to the Imperial Canal.
In the 1950’s, many people visited the new Salton Sea for sport fishing and vacationing and considered it to be the Riviera of the Americas. Shore and seabirds were also attracted to the area. Without the flow of fresh water from the Colorado River, the Salton Sea became more salty and polluted over time. Vacationers left the area, leaving buildings abandoned. As the salinity of the sea rose, many fish died, leaving only tilapia and desert pupfish in the sea. Thousands of sea birds still flock to the sea, making it an ideal place for birdwatching. If you look carefully at storm drains and plastic tubes near roads and ditches, you might even see a burrowing owl!
What you can see and do at The Salton Sea
Salton Sea Recreation Area fishbone sand
Salton Sea Recreation Area is your best stop for seeing fishbone sand. My family and I were surprised that we actually did find small fish vertebrae and a few fish facial bones all over the beach. I've been told that this and other areas of the lake are smelly, but maybe it just depends on the time of year (algae blooms) and how the wind is blowing. We didn't smell anything.
The visitor center offers the opportunity to sign up for guided tours of the area and bird viewing locations.
(Image of fishbone sand in Can You Spot it Section below.)
Bombay Beach
Visit Bombay Beach with an open mind. in the mid 1900's Bombay Beach was a thriving beach vacation destination. As the salinity of the lake rose tourism fell and left Bombay Beach to die.
Now Bombay Beach is a great place to see for yourself how nature can reclaim the land by breaking down abandoned buildings. This is also a hot spot for local artists to build sculptures and other artwork from reclaimed wood and other items that might be others might consider trash.
Follow the road along the North side of the buildings (5th street). Here you will find a Ave B, Ave C and Ave E. You will find ruins and artwork on the beach off of all three streets.
The airplane is located along 1st street near the southern end of the street near Ave H. The airplane looks like it is diving straight into the ground!
Bombay Beach
Salvation Mountain
Salvation Mountain is a man-made mountain of adobe clay, hay bales, and support beams created to spread the message that “God is love”. The Bible verses and colorful images that adorn this three-story work of art were made with over 100,000 gallons of paint!
While this is a free attraction, be respectful, take lots of pictures and please don't step on the paint.
Rock Hill Butte
hike 2 miles round trip starting at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge parking lot. This hike is an incredible way to see wildlife at the Salton Sea.
Rock Hill Butte is a small dome volcano at the edge of the Salton Sea. The hike itself is flat until you get to the butte then its s short hike to the top of the butte. Take your time, we saw a coyote and lots of shorebirds as we hiked and from the view at the top of the butte. Binoculars are a must have on this hike!
Salton Sea Rockhill Trail at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Southern end of the Salton Sea. This is the area of the Salton sea where you can see volcanic buttes, duck ponds, bubbling mud pots, and geothermic powerplants.
This is also the best place to do some birdwatching. Check the storm drain tubes near the parking lot for burrowing owls. There is a visitor center with restrooms, nearby hiking trails and a structure you can ascend for possible views of wildlife and the Salton Sea.
Salton Sea Pro Planning Tips
- Season: Best time is Oct.-May when it's not so hot.
- Difficulty: Easy, short walks
- Time Needed: Day trip
- Cost: $7 Salton Sea Recreation Area parking or Free with CA State Parks Pass, Free Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Free Salvation Mountain
- Bring lots of water.
- Prepare to drive. It takes about 20 minutes getting from place to place.
- Bring enough food for the day, there are no food locations on the route.
- Explore with an open mind, ready to see a different world.
- All the art you will see on your trip including Salvation Mountain were made from repurposed wood and other materials. Some of which you might see in your trash or recycling.
- The Sonny Bono Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge is one of the better places for birding, including seeing a burrowing owl. Look at all the metal and plastic pipes near ditches and roads. Many pipes have been purposely placed as homes for the owls.
- Binoculars are a must for viewing birds; keep a close eye to see other wildlife like coyotes and bobcats near the birds.
- Contact the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge to go on a free guided hike: (760) 348-5278
- All the power plants you will see are geothermal power plants, meaning they produce clean, renewable energy from steam built up in the earth.
- Salvation Mountain is great for kids to walk around.
- Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge has two small hikes; Rock Hill Butte, 2 mile round trip, and the Hardenburger Trail through the duck ponds, .7 mile loop.
Dig Deeper with a Learning Adventure
If your planning a trip to the Salton Sea with your kids and want an easy way to learn about why the Salton Sea is so unique then check out The California Adventure Activity Book. This is a great resource for your family. It includes our Top 10 CA Desert destinations (Including the Salton Sea) with activities for each location and fun earth science lessons. It's like your own Junior Ranger program for each location. Here are some of the things included:
- 10 adventures in the CA Desert
- 10 Earth Science Lessons
- 10 Hands-On Science Activities
- 10 Coloring Pages
- 1 Sticker Map
- Reward Tickets
- 10 Scavenger Hunts
- Journal Pages
More Salton Sea Favorites, Can you Spot it?
Salton Sea bonus! If you keep your eyes alert you will see some of the unique and incredible things that make The Salton Sea so incredible.
Fish Bone Sand
As the salinity of the Salton Sea rose, many species of fish died. Their bodies drifted to the beaches and decomposed, leaving behind their bony skeletons. Over time, these skeletons have been breaking down into boney sand particles.
Great Blue Heron
The great blue heron hunts fish and other small water animals. They stand still looking into the water, and as their food comes near they will jab their long beaks into the water, stabbing their prey! When these birds fly, they tuck their long necks against their body in an “S” shape.
Broadleaf Cattail
The broadleaf cattail’s leaves look like thick, long grass. It can easily be recognized from its dense, brown spike that looks like a corn dog! When these spikes flower they become a white fluffy mass. Much of the plant, like the lower stalk and young flower spikes, is edible.
Burrowing Owl
Burrowing owls make their homes from small tunnels in dry, open areas. Unlike other owls, they will hunt grubs and small animals during the day (usually in the morning and evening). Over 70% of the burrowing owl population is found within the Salton Sea ecosystem.
California Brown Pelicans
California Brown Pelicans have good eyesight and can spot fish as they fly over the water. They dive into the water head first to catch their food! They breed on islands without mammals to protect their eggs. The parents take turns sitting on eggs and feeding chicks!
Salton Sea is truly a unique destination. From its nature preserves, migratory shorebirds, to its unique art, there is something there for everyone to enjoy.
Locals of the Salton Sea value the area so much that the have made sculptures and other works of art out of these buildings, which can be seen at Bombay Beach. Residents at Salvation Mountain and East Jesus have also reused what was considered trash to make many works of art. How different would this world be if we all could rethink what we call “waste?”