Exploring the Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California, created when irrigation canals from the Colorado River broke. In the 50's and 60's the area saw a boom in resorts and recreation as new "beach front" property was available and attracted hordes of people. Those days are long gone and although the ultra saline sea is dwindling, the area has become somewhat of a wildlife haven for birds. The juxtaposition of urban decay and flourishing wildlife make this an eerily magical place. Be forewarned; it can be a little smelly at first, but you'll get used to it.

The sea is very large so there are many areas to explore but the best location by far is Bombay Beach on the south east portion. I recommend getting here about 1-1.5 hours before the sun goes down so you can see explore for a while before watching the dramatic sunset. There are plenty of places to park and you can start exploring in any direction. The lower section of the town was flooded decades ago but many decrepit treasures remain to explore; ruins of piers and docks, abandoned structures, power lines, and corroding car bodies.

Once the sun goes down the real beauty starts as the sky turns an amazing pink and the water reflects the sky's gradient colors. The water is so still and the reflection of the sky so clear that it can be hard to see where the sky ends and the water begins. Move to different parts of the beach and play with the reflections as they make for excellent photos. Depending on what time of year you visit, you might be able to see the Milky Way once it gets dark as there is not a lot of light pollution.

After dark, head on over to the Ski Inn for a patty melt (Bourdain approved). I also recommend grabbing a $3 Fat Tire and chatting with the locals about the area. It always makes for a perfect end to the day.

To get to Bombay Beach from San Diego, take I-8 East for 132 miles then take the exit for CA 111 North towards Imperial County. Follow the 111 for 38 miles and take the Avenue A exit towards Bombay Beach.