RV Camping near the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

We went there for a day trip while staying Yuma. It was something to do, we're not birders so we probably don't need to go there again. Anza Borrego on the west side of the Salton is more interesting and you could just take a day trip to the state rec area from there. There looked to be a decent snow bird RV park or two farther north and along the east side of the lake.

I camp there often. Birds and sunsets are great. Bono refuge is closer to Calipatria. Stinks, yeah, but not so much in the camp areas.

I live in Palm Desert which is 15 or so crow miles from the sea and I got to tell you it is LOW on my destinations of choice. When the lake turns, the fish die, and the smell goes up with a south-west wind that makes you think your neighbor is getting his septic tank pumped. Not always, but our beautiful city does get odorous. There is a section to the south called Slab City with the promise of water recreation and winter temps in the 70s. Broken dreams. It now is the lowest point at 100 feet below sea level and receives agricultural and storm run-off. Birds like it, but what do they know.

Salton Sea State Recreation Area
100-225 State Park Road, Mecca Ca.
760 393 3059

Max length RV 35 feet
RV site W/hookups

It is amazing how many people believe what some idiot reporter gives as facts, Google the satellite photos of the Salton Sea it is still very wet and watery, you can see it from the Laguna Mountains in the County of San Diego lots of miles away, it will eventually dry up many, many years from now.

navegator

WyoTraveler wrote:
Heard that Salton Sea was now a dried up swamp land. Used to be a beautiful huge lake. In the 60s they sold lots of properties around the lake now worthless desert on a dried up lake. Guess birds took over the swamp area. Sure was a beautiful week end camping area in the 60s.

X10
I just watched a documentary of the Salton Sea. Unbelievable how awful it is. It's a sewer of an abandoned subdivision with real undesirables squatting there.

Here is a couple of short clips back to back. The full documentary is on America Reframed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhB2ZvHVFls



Maybe there is a part upstream that is nice but the 'actual town' that Sonny Bono was going to try and save never happened. I certainly would not go there!

Wrong, the Salton Sea is not a dried out swamp land. Yes, it has shrunk, but it is still a vibrant refuge for migratory birds. And yes, it remains a beautiful lake, but it is endangered.

Salt Creek, part of the Salton Sea State Rec Area, is a primitive camp great for birds and for colorful sunsets. It is on the east side of the sea. Further north, headquarters camp has hookups.

The sea is not what it was, but it is certainly not dried up. I camped there just before Christmas.

Heard that Salton Sea was now a dried up swamp land. Used to be a beautiful huge lake. In the 60s they sold lots of properties around the lake now worthless desert on a dried up lake. Guess birds took over the swamp area. Sure was a beautiful week end camping area in the 60s.