Imagine driving the narrow road in the middle of the desert through endless dunes from both sides. Then, the scenery changes in a blink of an eye and you are driving through very rural agricultural area covered with corn fields and in 10 minutes the scenery changes again and you are passing a huge lake. That’s how Imperial county looks. Located just 2 hours drive from San Diego and Riverside It makes a great day trip from San Diego area. Here is my list of best things to see and do in Imperial County.
Best things to see and do in Imperial County
Visit Anza Borrego State Park
Anza Borrego Desert State park is the best place to see desert bloom in California. The park is open year round, but the best time to visit the park if you want to see the bloom is early spring. Check the official park website for blooming season details. While only small part of the park is part of Imperial county, you will pass the park on you way to Salton sea. Stop by visitor center to learn a bout desert history and nature.
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Weekend in Borrego Springs
Wind caves
Imperial county is a home for unique stone formations called “wind caves”. Located on the east end of Anza Borrego desert park, wind caves hike is very popular activity during winter and early spring. Wind caves is one of the coolest thing I have seen in the desert.
How to get to Wind Caves?
Take 78 East to Ocotillo Wells and turn right to Spring Mountain road south, drive about 3 miles and take first right on unpaved road near Fish Creek Wash. Even though SUV is strongly suggested, you can make it there on 2WD no problem. The drive to the trail head is very cool and the road goes between two mountains. Once you get to open area you will see the trail head. The parking is not parked, so you can park anywhere is long as you are not blocking other cars.
Wind Caves trail
The trail is short, but steep and the view is amazing. Bring some water for you hike and enjoy. I can’t wait to go back and hike it again.
Visit Salvation Mountain
Salvation mountain is man made mountain located east of Niland. The mountain is a creation on Slab City resident, Leonard Knight. This is the a very unique place in the country and probably one of kind hand made mountain covered by latex paint in the world. This religious monument made of adobe clay covered by several layers of latex paint. Originally from Vermont, Leonard Knight traveled to Arizona and later to Niland , California to promote his love to God by creating a large air balloon to carry the message.
After several failed attempts he dedicated all his time and energy to building Salvation Mountain. He moved to Slab city in 1984 and dedicated 28 years to creation of Salvation Mountain. His first mountain creation collapsed, so he spend 14 years to create a Salvation mountain the way it looks now. You can read more about the history of Salvation Mountain on Salvation Mountain official site.
The mountain is very fragile, but open for walking. You can walk the yellow pass up the mountain. The mountain is closed during the rain due to fragile nature. With all my luck, it was raining during my visit, so was not able to walk up the mountain. I will have to come back some day.
Best time to visit Salvation Mountain
The Mountain is open year round, but the best time to visit is winter and early spring during. It looks super bring and shiny during the sunny day. The yellow path up the hill around the mountain closed during the rain.
Visit Slab City
Drive another 2 minutes up Beal Road and you will find yourself in Slab City, the “Last free place in America”. Similar to Salvation Mountain, Slab City if one of a kind place in California. IT is a fairly large community of people living of their RVs that come to the area to spend winter in the desert. Slab City is not an official state establishment. It does not have electricity or running water. This place is a free spirit community community that is not officially controlled by state or federal government.
The community was initially established on the top of old concrete slabs, that is where Slab City name came from. There’s some permanent housing built in the area and more than 100 people that live in Slab City year round.
The I had a shot conversation with the girl at Salvation mountain and learn some interesting facts about Slab city. While the area considered lawless, there are some locally established rules and regulations that residents must follow. I also learned that there is a library in the city that has wi-fi and even a local concert stage called Range where locals have concerts at night.
Is Slab city safe?
I did’t feel unsafe or uncomfortable during the short time that I spent there. The community is truly unique and special and I want to return some day to spent time there, talk to people and take some tour that locals offer to visitors.
Imperial Sand Dunes
Have you ever been to Morocco or Namibia? If not, you can see sand dunes here, in California in the middle of Imperial County. Imperial Sand dunes The area is heavily use by ATVs, but you can still walk around on the sand and even slide in sleds.
If you are shooting for a picture of untouched sand dunes like the picture below, your best bet is to get to the Imperial San dunes recreation area early in the morning.
The best time to visit Imperial Sand Dunes is winter and early spring during the golden hour. The sand might still be hot even in winter, but it cools down relatively fast when sun does down.
Salton Sea
Salton sea was formed in 1900 as a result of accidental runoff from irrigation canals built to bring water to Imperial county. Several attempts to stop the runoff failed. So, water was flowing into freely into the Salton sink for almost two years making the Salton Sea.
The first sign of getting closer to the Salton Sea is a strong dead fish smell. So, does it worth visiting Salton sea after this incredible introduction? Yes, absolutely, but with right expectations.
The most popular area around Salton Sea is Bombay Beach, or it’s ruins. This famous recreational area in the past now totally abandoned place. There are couple of modern art boards, graffiti and Bombay beach drive in, art creation that looks more like old car cemetery of junk yard.
While I’m not a fan of Baombay Beach ruin, I absolutely love Salton Sea state Recreation area located by the east shore. The area is not super popular, so you can get there couple of hours before the sunset, bring some food and enjoy the view.
What is your favorite place in Imperial county?
