Salton is a region in Southern California characterized by its unique desert environment and the expansive Salton Sea, California's largest lake. Situated significantly below sea level, this area features distinctive landscapes, including arid terrain, saline lake shores, and views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The geography supports a variety of outdoor pursuits, with opportunities for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
The Salton region offers numerous routes across several…
89
Routes
4.5
(81)
Average rating
984
People visited

4.9
(15)
113
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
14
hikers
12.3km
03:12
80m
80m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.3
(3)
6
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
32
hikers
11.3km
03:01
120m
120m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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19
riders
38.0km
01:38
220m
210m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
30
riders
70.7km
03:27
800m
800m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
27
riders
47.5km
02:04
260m
270m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

25
riders
83.3km
04:34
1,390m
1,390m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4
riders
42.5km
03:48
830m
830m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

3.3
(3)
39
riders
52.7km
04:19
680m
680m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(4)
37
riders
29.0km
02:32
550m
550m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

25
riders
42.6km
03:35
800m
800m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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23
riders
37.9km
02:20
450m
450m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
7
riders
43.4km
02:56
530m
530m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
13
riders
36.2km
02:11
520m
520m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
16.6km
01:00
120m
120m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
25
riders
71.9km
04:38
810m
810m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
14
riders
45.4km
02:56
570m
570m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
riders
40.7km
02:29
340m
340m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
43.9km
02:39
350m
350m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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9
runners
5.46km
00:34
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

9
runners
11.0km
01:15
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

6
runners
14.1km
01:28
50m
50m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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The Salton region offers diverse outdoor activities including Hiking, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The area's unique desert environment and the Salton Sea provide distinct landscapes for exploration. More than 13,000 visitors have shared experiences on komoot, with an average rating of 4.54 out of 5 stars.
The Salton Sea State Recreation Area features trails like the Bat Caves Butte Trail, which offers historical insights. The Rock Hill Trail at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is known for birdwatching opportunities. These trails showcase the unique desert flora and views of the Salton Sea. For more options, refer to the Hiking around Salton guide.
Yes, the Salton region offers easy desert walks suitable for beginners. These trails provide an accessible way to experience the unique desert environment and views of the Salton Sea. The Easy hikes around Salton guide provides specific recommendations.
The Salton region includes various trails that are suitable for families, particularly those offering easy desert walks. These routes allow for exploration of the unique landscape without significant difficulty. Specific family-friendly options can be found within the hiking guides for the area.
A prominent road cycling route is the Salton Sea Circumnavigation, a journey of approximately 125 miles (200 km). This route is notably flat and utilizes highways like 111 and 86, offering scenic views. Well-maintained bike paths are also found in adjacent areas such as La Quinta. Explore routes in the Road Cycling Routes around Salton guide.
Mountain biking opportunities are available in areas like the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreational Area, which borders the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Trails such as Kayla's Mountain Trail traverse sandy washes and canyons, offering easy to moderate difficulty. Dirt bike trails are also present around Painted Canyon. Consult the MTB Trails around Salton guide for more information.
Yes, the circumnavigation route around the Salton Sea can be undertaken as a touring cycling experience. Multi-day bikepacking trips are possible, such as a route from Mecca to Slab City using Coachella Canal Road/Gas Line Road. Cyclists should plan for limited resources in some stretches. The Cycling around Salton guide provides further details.
The Salton Sea itself is California's largest lake, a highly saline, landlocked body of water situated below sea level. The region features distinctive desert landscapes, drought-tolerant vegetation, and views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. It is also a vital stop along the Pacific Flyway, supporting over 400 species of resident and migratory birds.
The Salton region experiences a desert climate. While specific weather details are not provided, outdoor activities are generally more comfortable during cooler months. It is advisable to research typical seasonal temperatures for the Colorado Desert to plan a visit.
The Salton region is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 13,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Routes in the area have received an average rating of 4.54 out of 5 stars, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for the Salton region, including Hiking around Salton, Road Cycling Routes around Salton, and MTB Trails around Salton. Other guides cover easy hikes, touring cycling, running trails, and gravel biking.
The Salton Sea State Recreation Area can be contacted by phone at (760) 393-3052. This is a primary point of contact for information regarding recreational activities and camping around the lake.
Policies regarding dogs on trails can vary by specific location within the Salton region, such as state parks or wildlife refuges. Visitors should check the specific regulations for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area or other managed lands before bringing pets on trails.
Hiking terrain in the Salton region is characterized by a unique desert environment. Trails may include arid landscapes, sandy washes, canyons, and areas with drought-tolerant vegetation. Some routes offer climbs with historical significance, while others provide expansive views of the Salton Sea and surrounding mountains.
Yes, the Salton region provides opportunities for gravel biking. The diverse desert terrain, including canal roads and other unpaved tracks, is suitable for this activity. More information can be found in the Gravel biking around Salton guide.

