Cerro Gordo , Swansea Salt Tram, and Alabama Hills

SW_UT_FJ

SW_UT_FJ

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

1,642
Hurricane, UT
First Name
Russ
Last Name
Wright
Member #

10697

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KA7HOS
Took a nice weekend trip back to Death Valley. Half the group met in Las Vegas and then we picked up a couple of rigs at Father Crowley’s overlook AKA Star Wars canyon. Watched the jets and enjoyed lunch before continuing to Cerro Gordo. The next morning we took the salt tram shelf road to the crossover station. Then we continued down the tram road into Lone Pine and to Alabama Hills for the night. Beautiful country and great company.
ee1cf467c4fd76ccadcbba22351179fa.jpg
c97381c37f9a4d780bea9ce06cb51335.jpg
e8f428be14e2c5767a3f72ef829266ee.jpg
44e0d0e76cf0d5c24a21e5f179cbd96a.jpg
c7a8f8380323ee0e8a5fabc74204ab12.jpg
132fdfa863ae6dfbc26931fb37c8640c.jpg
d63840d724b7121aeb29fd9e9e4ca175.jpg
44e0d0e76cf0d5c24a21e5f179cbd96a.jpg
df3b844315473e0c8bf6ce2f75fc86a4.jpg[/IMG]
74fff060b21a0bf9f0e70d52ab7fa958.jpg
adf8e76baf9aed69831a6d7d4aaac0d0.jpg
b676da1ed2f0656ca962d00b5bd2f53a.jpg
320c038df85af9b558e07916d78d4849.jpg



Sent from my iPad using OB Talk
 
  • Like
Reactions: JCWages, Ashton, v_man and 1 other person
MEU(SOC) said:
What days were you there?
Click to expand...

We spent Friday evening at Cerro Gordo , Saturday we drove the salt tram road and camped that evening at Alabama Hills. Sunday morning we grabbed breakfast in Lone Pine and headed home.


Sent from my iPad using OB Talk
 
I'm heading up to Cerro Gordo this Saturday. The website for the ghost town says "no camping" in several places, but seems like you did this not very long ago. Is the actual camping policy different than what the website says? If no camping immediately within the ghost town, are there other spots for dispersed camping along the way nearby? If it makes any difference, we will be arriving after dark.
 
Paul Varese said:
I'm heading up to Cerro Gordo this Saturday. The website for the ghost town says "no camping" in several places, but seems like you did this not very long ago. Is the actual camping policy different than what the website says? If no camping immediately within the ghost town, are there other spots for dispersed camping along the way nearby? If it makes any difference, we will be arriving after dark.
Click to expand...

I understand ownership of Cerro Gordo has changed and so have some of the rules. I haven’t been back since the changes so I can’t speak firsthand. There are plenty of spots to camp past (above) Cerro Gordo toward the Salt Tram. If you’re wanting to camp lower/warmer, Alabama Hills is close by and then you could day trip Cerro Gordo and the salt tram.
 
The road continues past Cerro Gordo into what is called San Lucas canyon. SLC will take into the far western reaches of death valley.

You could find plenty of spots in SLC or when it opens up at a much lower elevation.

I spent a night off a side road in SLC. I'd wager a paycheck you would be the only campers in the area.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Paul Varese and SW_UT_FJ
I'm planning on taking a trip here in October. This will be our first trip over there.
 
Sale of the property closed on Friday, July 13th. $1.4M! If only...

Found this on the sale of the property and the new owner: Brent Underwood (why does that name sound familiar?)

Looks like it has it's own website but that might be from the previous owners. There is a contact phone # listed although i don't know if it's still functional: 760.689.2443

CerroGordo Info.png

I wonder if one can go safely from being a Trespasser to a visitor? (how much is this gonna cost me?)

Hope he doesn't turn it into an amusement park atmosphere.

And I hope they can extract all the historical stories that the old caretaker tells while we still have him! They're Gold!


Dan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JCWages and SW_UT_FJ
I spent this past weekend hanging out around Cerro Gordo. Got a tour from the caretaker, Robert. Met the new owners Brett and Aron. All were very welcoming. Although you cannot camp immediately in town anymore, camping is allowed anywhere you can find a turnoff outside of town. I would not reccomend it though since the valley leading up to Cerro Gordo creates a wind tunnel. They have a crew of workers living in the main bunkhouse working on renovating the hotel to try to get it open for guests ASAP. I was disappointed to see them using materials such as synthetic decking to replace the old stuff. They should have used wood to preserve the original aesthetics. One of the owners told me they were going to remove the huge pile of tailing to open up the view between the hotel and the mine elevator. Seems to me like they want to change it so much it is going to lose some of it's original character.

We hiked to the top of Cerro Gordo Peak where the wind was wicked! Awesome views.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SW_UT_FJ
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom