Free campgrounds and camping
CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
SALTON SEA SAND DUNES
NAVY TEST BASE (OLD)
Salton Sea Test Base (SSTB)

Salton Sea Test Base was established in
the 1940's. Involved with the Manhattan
Project and used for atomic testing. The
site was also used for conventional missile
testing. The site is being transfered to BLM
and other agencies...

http://www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/
temp_issues/222-saltonsea.html

The Salton Sea Authority wants to take
ownership of 15,000 acres that include
the site and sell the land for homes.

Sand Dunes on west shore of Salton Sea

Not sure of the actual name of these
sand dunes, not on the map and an
internet search produced no results.

Main road covered with sand

Main road covered with sand

The main road towards the Salton Sea
was covered by sand dunes and was
impassable. There was a primitive dirt
road that worked it's way around the
south of the sand dunes...

Power lines along road towards Salton Sea

Spur road with camp areas

This is some serious boondocking, not
sure of the official status of the land, but
there's no signs and nobody around.
There were some old firerings.

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Sand Dunes on the Salton Sea

Salton Sea was created in 1905 - 1906
Original Size: 45 miles by 17 miles wide
Original Surface Level: 195' below sea level
Today: 35 miles by 15 miles wide
Surface Area: 360 square miles
Surface Elevation: 228' below sea level
110 miles of shoreline
Average Depth: Less than 20'
Deepest Area: 50'
Summer temp. is 92 degrees
Winter temp. is 55 degrees

Beware of Unexploded Ordnance

Parts of the former Salton Sea Test Base
were used by the Department of Defense
for Navy and Marines Corp field training.
Unexploded ordnance and dangerous
explosive parts may remain in this area.

DIRECTIONS:
From Palm Springs
Take Hwy.86 south
The road and turn is unmarked...
Almost exactly 3 1/2 mile north from the
junction of Hwy.86 and Hwy.78 or about
4 miles north from the check point

There is an immigration check point
northbound on Hwy.86. with long
lines of cars. This day was over an
hour wait...

SALTON SEA
Tourist Information and Travel Guide
For more information about the Salton
Sea and surrounding area.

Salvation Mountain

Leonard Knight's Salvation Mountain could
be described with numerous phrases, from
a brilliant work of art or a toxic waste dump.
It could be a religious monument... but one
thing for sure...

Leonard Knight

Leonard landed here in 1983 when his hot air
balloon would fly no farther. Only planning to
stay a couple days, but about 100,000 gallons of
paint later and you have Salvation Mountain.

SALVATION MOUNTIAN
This is a separate page with more photos and
information about Salvation Mountain. Listed
under "Tourist Attractions"

SLAB CITY
Slab City is just past Salvation Mountain.
An abandoned military base (Camp Dunlap
was a WW2 Marine Barracks) that has been
squatted by hippies and snowbirds. All that
is left are the concrete slabs of the buildings.

Birds at Niland Boat Ramp

Sunrise at Niland Boat Ramp

NILAND BOAT RAMP
Imperial County Niland Boat Ramp and
Fishing Access has been abondoned, the
County Park closed... but you can camp
out here. About 10 miles north of Niland.

Box Canyon Road
Box Canyon Road is north on Hwy.111
(Photo is of camp area and not the actual
road, which is a paved surface.)

BOX CANYON ROAD
Box Canyon Road is east of Mecca, CA

Mecca Hills / Painted Canyon

PAINTED CANYON ROAD
Painted Canyon Road is near Box Canyon

CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range
is to the east. Explosions and weird lights...

Snow Geese near Sonny Bono NWR

Red Hill Marina