Salton Sea

At the southernmost point of the U.S. state of California, in Riverside and Imperial counties, there lies a shallow, landlocked body of water known as the Salton Sea. It is situated on the San Andreas Fault within the Salton Trough, which extends to Mexico's Gulf of California.

You would never imagine that the lake was a well-liked holiday destination in the 1950s, with resorts dotting its eastern bank, if you were driving south on a lonely stretch of the 111. However, rising salinity and pollution brought on by agricultural runoff have converted what was once a luxurious getaway into a place only those with a penchant for the abandoned and decaying will find appealing. Fish bones crunch underfoot as you explore abandoned constructions along the shore. The Ski Inn, one of the last remaining restaurants in the area, is your best choice if you grow hungry. Make sure to see Salvation Mountain, a rainbow-colored slope bearing the inscription "God is Love," the enormous folk art monument created by the late local Leonard Knight.

Miles from L.A.: ~165
Suggested round trip time: 2 days

Location: California