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Location :
Opening Hours
- Monday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
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15 Reviews
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28 November 2017
Place is clean. Many picnic tables, large parking and camping spaces near the visitors center. Employees give good information about the lake and the area at the visitors center. When walking on the beach you can see the fish bones and dried shells.
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27 November 2017
I remember coming here about 10 years ago when we could actually get in the water, albeit on a raft. The water was not as bad as is now.
Now the water just looks dark, murky and polluted. Like a place out of a 1980's B rated movie flick, where a swamp monster drudges out, covered in seaweed and mud with a decaying animal stuck between it's teeth.
Now I'm not saying you shouldn't come here; you should, in my opinion. You should come here to see how unique the place is. Take in the sights and sounds of dead fish carcasses and variety of birds chillin' on the water to picking at them for food.
Makes sure you wear shoes when you come to avoid getting dead fish scales in your sandals.report this review -
20 November 2017
Great place to relax and enjoy yourself its quite and great views. Very friendly camp hosts. Clean bathrooms. We enjoyed Salten Sea and will be back.
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26 October 2017
This is a fantastic place to learn about the life cycle of inland lakes, and what pesticides do in ground water run off. The unique smell of decaying fish and salt, evokes memories of an old commercial harbor-very unexpected for an inland water body.
The abandoned and decaying structures in the surrounding settlements remind you of a ghost town from the 1950's, and the signage warning of algae blooms and the dangers of swimming in the noxious waters make you wonder at the exact cause of the population's disappearance.
The State Recreation area is meticulously maintained and offers beautiful views and a noxious smell, with plenty of parking and day camp areas. RV hook ups were available by the dozen, and we had our choice of picnic tables and bbq areas. The gift shop happened to be closed, but it appeared well stocked and unaware of the looming public health crisis this evaporating lake has the potential to cause.report this review -
19 October 2017
It's definitely worth seeing but it's pretty gross. Incredibly salty body of water, fish bones and carcasses everywhere. I saw some people fishing but I think that this place is probably mostly appreciated from the shore. Got some beautiful photos.
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31 August 2017
Hoping they keep the clean up here going! IT was a great place to spend recreational time for most of my life.
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24 August 2017
This is the worst beach I've been to and also maybe the best. What it lacks in golden sand it makes up for in dead fish and botulism birds. A remarkable amount of facilities for such a grim toxic place.
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05 August 2017
Personal opinion: Smells horrible! Sad to see many beautiful creatures dead. Water is contaminated. Won't never return to this place 💀
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29 July 2017
The Salton sea, otherwise known as humanities greatest mistake, is by far one of the worst treks I've made. When looking at a map, it seems intriguing that there is a sea in the desert of California, however, upon arrival the stench of thousands of fish carcasses penetrate your nostrils and cause nauseating symptoms. Other than the smell, the water was impressive as well. It had a beautiful brown hue such that of a septic runoff. If the Salton sea can become a statepark, I'm sure my local sewer would become one as well. Severely underwhelming and I felt cheated.
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20 May 2017
Probably one of my least favorite state parks anywhere in the country. Smelly, scummy looking water with a beach made up literally of dead fish bones as if it was sand. The Salton Sea is a man-made mistake and there is something "apocalyptic" about it. But it is worth a visit at least once. Check out the various modern ghost towns along the "sea" as well. People apparently swim and fish in the sea but I would do neither. The more salty than the Ocean water is contaminated with runoff from surrounding agricultural land. Algae blooms and fish die offs are common. It is interesting to learn that despite the fact that the current sea was a mistake, over millions of years, various natural bodies of water did exist here. Less scummy ones I imagine.
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15 January 2017
At first it seemed beautiful. Please be cautious about the soil, fish and water. Do your research before you go. If I had, I wouldn't have gone. I would not swim, hike or eat fish from the sea. As you approach the beach, there is a rotten stench from hundreds of dead fish carcasses.
The history is very weird and it seems as though this whole place could be contaminated. There are lots of videos on YouTube and reports on Google.
Be cautious, after reading the info and experiencing a filthy beach, we were amazed it was even open.report this review -
10 January 2017
Beautiful location with easy access to the beach and the huge variety of birds that come in the winter. Well done campsites with shade structures and bathhouses with individual bathrooms with hot and cold faucets, coin operated showers.
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01 January 2017
Bring your kayak or rent one and get on the largest lake in California. Ignore the people feeding you negative information about the lake. Yesterday, there was no smell and the water was beautiful. NOTE: I would not swim in the water. Stay in your kayak or on the shore. =)
It's $7 to get in to the park and that gives you access to a few other state parks that are close by. If you bring your own kayak it will cost you $5 to launch it. Renting a kayak will cost you $10/hour. Every employee that I have met has been incredibly nice.
Enjoy your time out there!report this review -
23 November 2016
Sites had hookups which was nice but also necessary in the heat. Not too crowded which was good. Wasn't much to do at the time I visited but I really just needed a place to crash and get out of the heat so that was ok. Sucks that you can't take your dog on the beach though.
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06 September 2016
Spotted this on the map on our way from Oklahoma to San Diego and figured it would be a neat little stop to at least rest a minute if nothing else and man, were we surprised! Don't let the smell turn you away! The visitor center was closed when we were there but the lady who runs it happened to be there and was so sweet to go ahead and open it for us. We watched the video on the history of the place and talked to her for a while. Awesome place for bird watching! Interesting history and some tough people still hanging on out there. One of my favorite stops on our trip. Highly recommended!
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