Chloride City

Chloride City is an abandoned mining town in Inyo County, California, now consisting of scattered ruins and foundations. The site contains old buildings, mine adits, shafts, and remains of ore processing structures located at roughly 4,770 feet elevation in the Funeral Mountains.

The town was founded in 1873 following silver discovery near Chloride Cliff and quickly attracted miners seeking their fortunes. After declining around 1880, it saw brief revival in 1908 when investors reopened mines, but was fully abandoned by 1918.

The town takes its name from chloride minerals found in the surrounding hills. Visitors can see how miners adapted to harsh desert conditions, including dugout homes built into hillsides that provided natural insulation from extreme temperatures.

The site is easily accessible by car via Highway 190 and can be explored freely at your own pace. Bring water and sun protection as the desert environment is exposed and harsh, and wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking over rocky terrain and old structures.

A grave for someone named James McKay sits among the ruins, though little is known about this person. Visitors can also spot old automobiles and mining equipment slowly rusting away in the landscape over the decades.