CAMPGROUNDS OF THE USA
The best free camping and campgrounds.
CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUNDS
SLAB CITY, CALIFORNIA
SALVATION MOUNTAIN

Welcome to Slab City

Slab City, CA

Slab City, CA

Slab City from the top of Salvation Mountain

Slab City is 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.

Slab City has a newspaper and library...
There is also a church in Slab City.
Another place installs solar panel systems.
There are clubs and organizations to join.
It is a small community...

There are a couple old bunkers in the desert
Opposite side of Beal Road from Salvation Mountain

You could camp in the old bunkers. They
are protected from the elements and would
stay nice and cool on hot summer days.

Slab on Coachella Canal Road

Slab signed by Samual J. Morgan
Oct.13, 1970

This slab was poured in 1970, years after
Camp Dunlap Marine Barracks had been
closed.

Extreme trash and garbage problems

It is impossible to believe the amount
of garbage.

Trash near Slab City

Trash near Slab City

The garbage in above photos is every
direction. Can't explain the exact source,
but once a place is trashed, it is easier for
other people to follow suit.

Part of the landscape...

Old vehicles are common sights
Somebody could make money in scrap metal.

Basketball Court

Old bus that has been burned...

Old bus that has been junked

Old bus that has been junked

Buses and trailers that have been stripped
are part of the landscape. A creative person
could turn one of these buses into a decent
shelter. Don't be surprised if you see our car
parked in the driveway and curtains on the
windows.

Coachella Canal

The Coachella Canal runs along the
east boundary of Slab City. There
are camp areas all along the canal
if you go south on Coachella Road.

Coachella Valley Water District
http://www.cvwd.org

Fisherman left several fish on the road

More dead fish on road.

You can see big, monster size fish in the
relatively clear water of Coachella Canal.
No trespassing or swimming allowed. It
is a serious crime to harm a Grass Carp.

Coachella Canal???
(Old canal running parallel to the new canal)

There is an old canal that runs parallel
to the new canal.

Litter from Virginia Brown

Litter from Virginia Harris

Litter from Megan Harris

Trash is from the above litterbugs

Above litterbug names are the same addresses.
Two people named Virginia at the same house
sounds like someone is using fake names???
This was from a new pile of household garbage.

Liberalism is a Mental Disorder... was
Micheal Savage here???

PHOTO HERE
Military bombing practice in the Chocolate
Mountain Gunnery Range. Notice the big
plumes of smoke. At night you can see the
flash of lights from the explosions.

There is a lot of noise for being out in the
middle of nowhere. You can hear freight
trains in the distance, unexplained bangs
and booms, or just cars that drive by.

Bullet holes in old vehicle...

Coyotes howling in the background can
unravel your nerves, but that is just nature,
and they avoid humans.

Grapefruit Grove on Flowing Wells Road

DIRECTIONS:
From Niland, CA
Take Main Street (East)
Continue on Beal Road about 3 miles
You will see Salvation Mountain
Continue past Salvation Mountain
Slab City is about another 1/2 mile

DISTANCES FROM NILAND, CA
Bombay 17 miles
Indio 56 miles
Los Angeles 183 miles

There are some hot springs and a shower
Between Niland and Slab City on Beal Road.
They are on the same side of the road as
Salvation Mountain, which you can see in
the distance. There is a sign that says,
"If Vehicle Is Here Please Stay Away"

Hot Springs between Niland and Slab City

The hot springs are near the three cement
columns. Temperature around 97 degrees.
Stay away if another vehicle parked here.

Shower between Niland and Slab City

The shower is near the cement building.
At first glance it looks intimidating. You
have to climb down a hole in the ground.
It actually was a great shower... especially
on a hot day. Water is about 75 degrees.

Guard Station marks the shower location

NILAND, CALIFORNIA
Niland is a depressing town, with alcoholics
drinking in the doorways and just the general
atmosphere... but you can meet some good
folks and wild characters.

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"

"The Great Deluge" signed by New York
Times Best Selling Author Douglas Brinkley

FROM THE BLOG:
Today we ran into New York Times Best
Selling Author Douglas Brinkley. He gave
us a personal signed copy of his new book.

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 north from Slab City

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...