Salton Sink, Geographic sink in Colorado Desert, California.
The Salton Sink is a depression in California's Colorado Desert that sits approximately 269 feet below sea level. It separates the Coachella Valley from the Imperial Valley and holds several water bodies, including the Salton Sea, which receives water from agricultural drainage and natural springs throughout the region.
An ancient lake called Lake Cahuilla once covered this region until about 3,000 years ago before eventually drying up. Its disappearance shaped the landscape we see today and influenced how later settlements managed water in this naturally arid area.
Indigenous peoples made this area their home for millennia, creating fishing communities that thrived along the shores of ancient waters. Archaeological finds reveal the tools and practices these groups used to sustain themselves from what the land and water provided.
The sink is best explored during cooler months when desert heat is less intense and travel conditions are manageable. Access to some areas may be difficult due to water bodies and uneven ground, so planning ahead is important.
The Salton Buttes are volcanic formations within the sink that display wave-cut benches marking where water levels reached in the distant past. These natural markers reveal how much larger ancient lakes once were in this region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
