Salton Sea
Salton Sea
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
392 reviews
Excellent
99
Very good
151
Average
81
Poor
37
Terrible
24
shipfotog
Santa Barbara, CA91 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
So a show on Salton Sea a few months ago and while visiting Palm Springs took the short drive to Salton Sea. It’s like nothing you can imagine. Don’t go without understanding and doing your research.
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S B
Long Beach, CA61 contributions
Jan 2020
I was very glad we toured around the lake. Give yourself time to stop by the Salton Sea Visitor Center and watch the movie about the history of this huge lake. We drove around the lake and made various stops. Took about 4 hours. Definitely worth the time to explore. Bombay Beach has some art in town and by the beach.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melissa w
Cincinnati, OH1,247 contributions
Jan 2021
After seeing a documentary on the Salton Sea, I was sure to add in a stop during our 12 day National Park/National Monument road trip. It did not disappoint and was one of my favorite parts. We visited Bombay Beach and Mecca Beach on the east side. Bombay was great and has the art installations. I'd recommend 4WD if you attempt to drive down to the beach instead of parking in the lot and walking (cars were getting stuck in the sand). We were supposed to camp at Mecca Beach (closed, thanks covid) but stopped because it has nice picnic areas. Mecca Beach was much cleaner and we even scored a shower in the campground restrooms. I'd highly recommend both Bombay Beach and Mecca Beach as they offer very different scenery. We also attempted to find an old dock/yacht club on the west side of the sea without success. We made a full day out of it by also visiting Salvation Mountain, East Jesus, and finishing in Ocotillo Wells State OHV park.
Written January 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jroslie
Puyallup, WA1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Couples
Yeah the Sea stinks. Dead ‘bones’ make up the beach. There aren’t ANY posh resorts, five star restaurants or gated communities. The affluent south ‘Californians’ avoid talking about this area until they need to flush the commode. (Did you know they may be mining your precious electric car batteries from here one day?) What did you expect for a body of water below sea level, in a hole out in the desert, and on the Mexico boarder??
You say you don’t like the Salton Sea and it’s surroundings... “Get on the 10 and get out of here!!”
Your right, this place is awe full.
Veamos proximo ano!!
You say you don’t like the Salton Sea and it’s surroundings... “Get on the 10 and get out of here!!”
Your right, this place is awe full.
Veamos proximo ano!!
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan B
Leroy, OH308 contributions
Jan 2022
We made a day trip clockwise around the Salton Sea. Tanked up near Mecca. Started on Rt 111 southeast. First stop was the Visitor's Center at Salton Sea State Rec Area. Stopped in to pick up some written and verbal information. Ask to watch the short video. Walked out back, then over to the water's edge to see the sea up close! Continued driving south on Rt 111 to Bombay Beach on the right. You can drive right up on the beach and take in the art displays, then drive up and down the streets in the neighborhood and take it all in. Continue south on Rt 111 to Beal Road. Turn left. A few short miles down is Salvation Mountain. Definitely stop here! Fascinating accomplishment of one man and his artistic vision! No charge, but you can make a donation. The Slabs is right behind Salvation Mountain. We drove around a bit. The book and movie INTO THE WILD took place here, so was very interesting. Drove back out to Rt 111, continued south to Schrimpf Road on the right. Turn right (a dirt road in the middle of nowhere!) At Davis Rd, turn right. Park along the side of the road and walk over to the mud volcanoes! Definitely worth taking it! We then took the back roads south to Westmorland for a stop at Date Shakes (119 Main St). Excellent date shakes, many varieties of fresh dates in all size packages, along with lots of other date goodies. From here we headed north on Rt 86 up the western side of the sea. We stopped at Salton City for a late lunch at Johnson's Landing Restaurant - a great little family place for excellent burgers and home cut fries ! The entire trip around the sea including lunch took maybe six hours total at a leisurely rate and was extremely interesting and enlightening. Would highly recommend!
Written February 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
waynefromcali
Yucaipa, CA4,410 contributions
Mar 2021 • Friends
A place like no other! Thats what I was thinking as I explored The city of Salton Sea and the Salton Sea California State recreation area Park located in Southern California.
Salton Sea is a huge blue salt lake, beautiful to look at and almost a ghost town with less than 400 residents and the abandoned buildings from days gone by-yet theres an odd attraction to explore this huge salt lake.
There are birds that fly around the lake that makes for nice pictures or grams!
You can visit from the west side or on the east side by the city of Mecca.
During the summer months the Salton Sea has an "interesting" fragrance from the salt and agricultural water runoff in the salt lake.
Its an interesting place!
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#saltonsea #saltlakes #greatsaltlakes #birding #seetheusa #waynesalvatti #salt #californiastateparks #meccacalifornia #mecca #explorecalifornia #visitcalifornia #ilovesaltonsea #besttravel #quirkyplaces #bombaybeach #interestingplaces #scenic #dontswimhere #ghosttowns #filmsnotdead #bringyourcamera #swa #southwestairlines
Salton Sea is a huge blue salt lake, beautiful to look at and almost a ghost town with less than 400 residents and the abandoned buildings from days gone by-yet theres an odd attraction to explore this huge salt lake.
There are birds that fly around the lake that makes for nice pictures or grams!
You can visit from the west side or on the east side by the city of Mecca.
During the summer months the Salton Sea has an "interesting" fragrance from the salt and agricultural water runoff in the salt lake.
Its an interesting place!
.
.
.
.
#saltonsea #saltlakes #greatsaltlakes #birding #seetheusa #waynesalvatti #salt #californiastateparks #meccacalifornia #mecca #explorecalifornia #visitcalifornia #ilovesaltonsea #besttravel #quirkyplaces #bombaybeach #interestingplaces #scenic #dontswimhere #ghosttowns #filmsnotdead #bringyourcamera #swa #southwestairlines
Written March 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pamela Burger C
3 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
The salton sea is a beautiful place to see, it’s
still a great place to see and enjoy. The state park says you can go Hiking trails, and shoreline access are available for recreational use.
Biking, hiking, kayaking, wading, and wildlife watching are also permitted. Access to Picnic tables. Most the beaches are open and Salton city has Air gliding area going on most the time.
There are many beautiful birds to see. Hopefully if GM Motors are successful like they say at drilling for lithium, it has shown promise, that will tremendously bring it back to full life. We all need that because if the Salton sea is not taken care of, it will affect many places from Salton sea, to Palm Springs and all the way to Los Angeles
still a great place to see and enjoy. The state park says you can go Hiking trails, and shoreline access are available for recreational use.
Biking, hiking, kayaking, wading, and wildlife watching are also permitted. Access to Picnic tables. Most the beaches are open and Salton city has Air gliding area going on most the time.
There are many beautiful birds to see. Hopefully if GM Motors are successful like they say at drilling for lithium, it has shown promise, that will tremendously bring it back to full life. We all need that because if the Salton sea is not taken care of, it will affect many places from Salton sea, to Palm Springs and all the way to Los Angeles
Written February 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh A
Columbus, OH262 contributions
Mar 2020
Took a detour on our way back from Borrego Spring to drive through Salton City. How depressing. There really isn't a city, town or anything but a few dilapidated houses. Can't imagine what anyone does there. Not a store, grocery or gas station in town. There is a small gas station (very expensive even by CA standards)/convenience store on the highway that goes past the town. Interesting to see, but don't expect much. We had driven down the East side of the sea last year, and there was more to see on that side, but still, a sad sight. Lots of birds have found a nice home there.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt V
San Francisco, CA249 contributions
Dec 2020
Took a random road trip out here today from Palm Springs (about 1:15 each way).
Stop 1: Bombay Beach, which was shockingly barren but cool. It really sums up the area pretty well and pretty quick. There were some great photo ops along the waterfront which I enjoyed. The town itself was a fun and weirdly quirky town.
Stop 2: Slab City. Coming from SF and having attended several Burning Man events, this place struck a familiar chord. Artistic, off-the-grid huts where people live out life the way they see it.
Stop 1: Bombay Beach, which was shockingly barren but cool. It really sums up the area pretty well and pretty quick. There were some great photo ops along the waterfront which I enjoyed. The town itself was a fun and weirdly quirky town.
Stop 2: Slab City. Coming from SF and having attended several Burning Man events, this place struck a familiar chord. Artistic, off-the-grid huts where people live out life the way they see it.
Written December 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John B
Lowell, IN188 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Drove all around the park. Don’t waste your time with the west side The East side is by far the better side Didn’t camp but checked everything out. Would make for a great camping outing. Quite a few rv spots. Lot of beach in the state parks Had a great time walking around and checking out everything Had a picnic lunch at one of the covered tables
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen G
La Habra, CA
Hi,
I am dying to visit the Salton Sea (planning to go in early January) but am very sensitive to odors and am afraid that I won't be able to take it. Is it really bad enough that I shouldn't go?
Thank you,
Karen
ruthandvern
Wilton, CA16,052 contributions
As close as you’ll be able to get to the water it should not affect you.
TravelingVixen
Phoenix, AZ34 contributions
Hi there! About 4 years ago, I visited the old abandoned resort part of Salton Sea...the area had remnants of the Salton Sea Beach Marina sign, old hotel & snack bar etc. Does it still exist? If so, where? I went out there today & couldn’t find anything like what I saw before. Any help would be appreciated!
camara21
Chebeague Island, ME81 contributions
As I recall, when you approach the area on Grapefruit Blvd (Rt 111) just as you turn into the recreation area, there's an abandoned shack on the side of the road. Not sure if this is what you're looking for?
We found the interpretive center interesting, especially the looping filmstrip played in the back room. Be sure to see the entire film as there is non-essential info back-to-back with fascinating history and aquaculture.
tivogliobene
winnipeg, manitoba39 contributions
We are planning a day trip to the Salton Sea but would also like to visit salvation mountain and east Jesus. What would be the best route from Palm Springs and would appreciate info re rest stops and restaurants
Jim K
Indio, CA681 contributions
The best road from Palm Springs is Highway 111 to Niland. Turn left on mail and follow the road to Salvation mountain and beyond to Jesus and Slab City. There are rest stops at the Park Ranger Station at Salton Sea. Get there now to see the Sea as it is going to be shrinking rapidly from now on.
LouZag
7 contributions
Best places to visit? Most interesting sites?
Best location for birding? Which birds are present at thus time of year?
Antonia S
San Diego, CA
Openbaar vervoer van af San Diego
lbindc2015
Washington DC, DC10 contributions
In Afrikaans? Daar is geen....!!!!
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