Salton Beach

Located on the northern side of Salton City in Riverside County, Salton Beach is a small beige sand beach.  The beach is situated on the east shore of the Salton Sea and, at 223 feet below sea level, is part of the lowest sea level community in the United States. 

Salton Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so visitors must prepare accordingly.

Salton Beach offers a few fun activities, including swimming and walking.  Swimming is permitted here, but we recommend staying away from the Salton Sea due to the high arsenic and selenium levels.  Occasionally, visitors may also detect foul-smelling organic debris, such as decaying fish, gasoline, and salty odors.  Although people don’t come here for regular beach activities like swimming and sunbathing, Salton Beach is a popular destination among photographers and tourists who want to explore abandoned places.  Dogs are allowed here, and it is open from sunrise until sunset. 

Salton Beach does not offer an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Salton Beach is easy - the beach has free street parking spots along Grapefruit Boulevard, which is easily accessible by State Highway 111.

Unfortunately, the draining and increasing salinity of the Salton Sea damaged the ecosystem and drove local businesses and landowners out of the area, turning Salton City into a deserted town. 

There are many attractions near Salton Beach.  Dos Palmas Preserve is a wildlife preserve spread over 14,000 acres in the midst of the dry Colorado Desert.  It is home to a large oasis, a wetland, numerous date fan palm trees, and many endangered species such as the Yuma rail, Orocopia sage, black rail, American avocet, black-necked stilt, bufflehead, desert woodrat, flat-tail horned lizard, leaf-nosed bat, least bittern, osprey, lesser scaup, snowy egret, and loggerhead shrike.  The Living Desert Zoo and Garden is spread over 1,000 acres and is home to many endangered species of desert animals, including bats, rabbits, hares, tortoises, snakes, rhinoceroses, giraffes, bighorn sheep, and many birds.  In addition, it hosts many interesting events, exhibits, interactive animal feeding, and animal petting sessions.

Town Square Park is a dog-friendly neighborhood park that offers many amenities, including a splash pad, a playground with swing sets, restrooms, picnic areas, picnic tables, benches, barbecue grill facilities, water fountains, public art pieces, a rose garden, wifi, and trash cans.  Salvation Mountain is a hillside utopian environment created by a local resident, Leonard Knight, that is made up of adobe bricks, discarded tires and windows, automobile parts, and thousands of gallons of paint.  It features numerous murals and areas where Christian quotes and Bible verses have been painted.  If you are looking for another attraction near Salton Beach, The International Banana Museum is a small museum that has set a Guinness World Record and offers an interesting collection of over 25,000 banana-related items.   In addition, the museum has a gift shop and a cafe.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Salton Beach.  The Plaza Restaurant serves amazing burritos, tacos, chile Rellenos, rancheros, enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, and burgers. Unique Bite Eatery serves delicious sandwiches, burritos, burgers, spaghetti, pork, poultry, meat, beef, and seafood.  Mariscos El Capitan serves incredible salads, rancheros, enchiladas, tostas, tacos, fajitas, sushi, burritos, and seafood.  A Mi Estilo Mexican Restaurant serves tacos, nachos, burritos, and quesadillas.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Salton Beach, Ski Inn serves delicious burgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, and beverages.

If you are looking for a hotel near Salton Beach, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star The Chateau at Lake La Quinta is 40 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a golf course, and a fireplace.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton, which offers many amenities including  an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a spa,  tennis courts, restaurants, and six golf courses, including a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.  Another moderately priced option is the 4-star Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, which offers many amenities, including an outdoor and indoor pool, a spa,l hot tubs, a fitness center, two golf courses, tennis courts, and three restaurants.  Another reasonably priced option is the 3-Star Quality Inn & Suites Indio I-10, which offers many amenities including a heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast.  If you're looking for another good and reasonably priced hotel near Salton Beach, the 3-Star Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.