About this trail:
The dramatic road that runs over the ridge tops of the Inyo Mountains is one of the most beautiful in the region. The trail also passes the well-preserved remains of the sal tramway. The trail leaves Swansea, besides the tumbledown stone building that was once a stagecoach stop, and follows a single-lane, stony formed trail toward the Inyo Mountains. The trail is easy to follow for most of the part; it is well used with few turns. It climbs up the alluvial fan to enter a canyon. As it climbs, there are good views back over Owens Lake to the Sierra Nevada.
The trail within the wash is lumpy, loose, and gravelly as it climbs gradually to enter a vehicle corridor through the Inyo Mountains Wilderness. As you climb into the mountains, the salt tramway becomes visible. Look for it standing out starkly on the crest of the hills. The wooden tramway towers are well preserved in this dry climate.
The trail undulates steeply as it enters the range, at times with grades up to 25 degrees. At some spots, it is difficult to get traction on the shale surface. The views improve as you climb, with the Sierra Nevada coming fully into view. The driver will want to keep his eyes on the road, particularly around some of the narrow and rough sections of shelf road. The shelf road is narrow, with very limited passing places at times.
A spur leads 1.5 miles to the site of the Burgess Mine, where there is an excellent view over Saline Valley and the Nelson and Panamint Ranges. There is a small cabin left at the mine, plus tailings heaps, diggings, and some stone foundations.
The main trail now runs around the head of Craig Canyon, with a dizzying, sheer drop-off into the canyon, and down towards Saline Valley. It passes under a section of the salt tramway, which sits next to the control station tender's cabin. The cabin and tramway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is one of the most accessible points along the trail to reach the tramway, where it plunges down off the range, heading north toward Saline Valley.
The trail finishes by wrapping down off the range to join Cerro Gordo Road at the ghost town of Cerro Gordo. The town site is privately owned, but tours can be managed by calling ahead. The final section of the trail crosses private property around Cerro Gordo. Please remain on the main trail ;-)
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Off-Road, Offroad, 4x4, Toyota, Land Cruiser, FZJ80, FJ80, California, Remote, Overland, Swansea, Trail, Cerro Gordo, Ghost Town, Saline Valley, Salt Tram, Tramway
23 ноя 2019
