Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
Salton Sea State Recreation Area
3.5
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
59 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
20
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
11
dnaleciz
Moreno Valley, CA405 contributions
May 2021
Spent five days in a camper exploring communities around the Salton Sea during the Memorial Holiday. Made the mistake of making a quick stop at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area, just to observe the huge, below sea-level expanse of water in the middle of nowhere. Entrance fee is $7.00 per car ($5.00 for seniors). Salton Sea State Recreation Area covers 14 miles of the northeastern shore and has long been a popular site for campers, boaters, and anglers. Not sure if any fish are currently alive in the Salton Sea. It appeared that most of them were rotting on the shore of floating belly up. What little water remains in the manmade lake is rather disgusting looking and murky, (would not recommend swimming in this sea) and there is a strong aroma of rotten fish, hydrogen sulfide, and toxic chemicals in the air. Will discourage campers from remaining overnight. If the wind is blowing in your direction, you will surely lose your breakfast. If you look closely, you will notice that the shore is made up of crushed shells and grave rather than sand. Shore line is littered with the remains of long-ago dead fish and birds. Green slimy algae also cover the beach. Noted several birds (ravens and hawks) flying around the area and feasting of the remains of dead fish. An extremely disgusting place, and not worth the entrance fee. Recommend passing this Recreation Area up.
Written 2 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy R
Cathedral City, CA1 contribution
Oct 2020
The Salton Sea is quite interesting to read about but not interesting at all to see. It is a big body of stinky water with NOTHING around it. And when i say nothing i do mean nothing - no towns, no restaurants, no nothing. Not worth the drive.
Written 19 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovethebeach048
Tigard, OR60 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
I don’t understand the positive reviews on this place. Save your seven dollars and don’t drive out there to go to a barren out-of-state visitor center. Not to mention the fragrant smell. Giant sign of Caution when you drive in saying do not touch the water and do not let your pets water do you due an algae bloom.
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathryn G
Centuria, WI200 contributions
Apr 2021
The sea is toxic. It killed a friend's dog and you have to look rather hard to find the warnings about the place on their own site. Steer clear if you love your animals. I would not let any children near this toxic mud pile either. Save your seven dollars and just drive on to your next destination.
Written 9 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderlust_Bee
Seattle, WA242 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
You’ve got to see it. A salty sea in the desert?!? Really interesting geological info makes you want to know more. The Visitor Center has a great video, knowledge staff and books with more info.
Be prepared to head south to Bombay Beach too then on to Sonny Bono Reserve.
Be prepared to head south to Bombay Beach too then on to Sonny Bono Reserve.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CATTSAR
Provincetown, MA22,650 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
For years I thought this was a hostile place, nothing could be further from the truth. Re-formed in 1905-07 during flooding from the Colorado River, its actual history dates back millions of years. The visitors center is a good place to start, there are pamphlets and info on the recreation area as well as on the sea itself and the incredible animal life it sustains. There is an eight minute film on the sea, its history and recreation area. There is also a gift shop.The water is actually quite clean and safe to swim and fish in. It does have a high salt content that continues to challenge the fish. Over 400 species of birds have migrated through this year and millions of fish call this home.The multiple depths and conditions have created hospitable environments for a large variety of fish. Great efforts are being made to keep the sea alive. The beach is white and made up of infinite barnacle shells as well as mineral sediment, and it is quite beautiful. The Ironwood Nature Trail brings you through some of the different beach environments. At about a mile long it is worth taking. Bring water if you do as the sun is getting stronger. There is a camp shop offering basics if needed. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Written 7 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura L
Hudson, NH1,265 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Stopped here to see the beautiful Salton Sea after hiking painted canyon. It was a novelty for us to see, so we went. Stopped at the aaron sea state park, which was a HOT, dry, empty parking lot of a place on a Saturday. There's a campground there, and apparently people fish talapia out of that water, but whaaaaa? I touched it to say I did it, but dang, the place smells and there's dead petrified fish along the edges. Not a day at the beach like this North Easterner would envision. Park ranger kid said that it's shrinking every year, getting saltier in the process, and will evaporate in 70 years. So glad we got to see it!
Written 10 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Local50
316 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
After watching the documentary about the Salton Sea a few years ago, I had always wanted to see it in person, and I suggest watching it before you go to appreciate what used to be here and what needs to be done to save this amazing place. It was much more beautiful than I expected it would be. Yes, it did smell and I would not recommend getting in the water, but it is an extremely beautiful, isolated and interesting place. It's deserted, but I could just imagine how people used to come here in it's day and enjoy the beauty that once was. If you are truly interested in learning much more about the sea, do some research and travel around the entire body of water and visit all the small towns/areas that are still inhabited. You will find an appreciation that is misunderstood by many people. My husband still doesn't understand my fascination with the Salton Sea.
Written 23 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael G
1 contribution
Apr 2021
Quite Simply the Gates of Hell --- Do not Patronize the Salton Sea, do not Pay 7 Dollars to The Rec Site…Avoid it at all Costs…. If you want to see it, photograph it from the top of San Jacinto at a Safe distance…. Curiosity on our part drew us into a nightmare…. Make no mistake this is California’s Dirty Little Secret…It is a Toxic and Deadly Wasteland. My Wife and I lost our Beloved Dog to Hydrogen Sulfide poisoning of the Air at the Rec Site on April 6, 2021, two days after Exposure at The Salton Sea... California says that this is a Family Friendly place, it is not. In Retrospect we found The California Parks and Rec does give warning buried on its page but you have to look thru the tabs, giving them complete protection from liability…There are NO WARNING SIGNS POSTED as to the Imminent Danger you’re in at The Salton Sea... Google says its Dog Friendly, Do not believe it for a second, because they are only going off the California Parks and Rec Site…THIS PLAYS KILLS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES or Within its Realm…California claims to be trying to do something about it but they won’t close it off to the public and are still taking revenue from the Place and looking the other way…. It is an Environmental Disaster of Staggering Proportions… Thousands if not Millions of People are at risk when the Lake overturns…The Lake is Full of Biological and Chemical Agents from Runoff, Weapons Testing and out right Environmental Mismanagement on the part of The Coachella and Imperial Valleys …. We Learned a huge lesson…. Learn from Us…. Keep your Family and Pets Safe…..STAY AWAY FROM THE SALTON SEA!
Written 9 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rssrob
West Kelowna, Canada732 contributions
Feb 2020
Tried to get down to the sea in several spots but the sea has receded so far that you can no longer access the sea.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. When we were there we asked about fishing. Levels are low as noted in other answers. Actually, they're dramatically lower. But that doesn't mean you'll not catch anything. Just have realistic expectations. The area really smells "Fishy". It was a cool site. Interesting. Have fun
Written 17 July 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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