Swansea-Cerro Gordo 4x4 Trail

Sagebrush Reconnoiterer

The Historian
Joined
Oct 21, 2024
Messages
203
Location
North Central Nevada
For those who would like some off road challenge to their off grid camping. This trail is found in the southern Inyo Range southwest of Lone Pine, California. Along the way, one can enjoy history in the form of the remains of the salt tramway that ran between the narrow gauge railroad in Owens Valley, and the salt deposits in Saline Valley; as well as the ghost town of Cerro Gordo.

This video of a run with two buddies, overnighting at the tramway summit station. It is in two parts.


 
They must have done a lot of work on the road because I don't remember it being difficult at all.
The first time I ran it in 2002 it wasn't bad at all. A major flashflood in the summer of 2003 stripped the top soil on the long uphill in the bottom third, deepened the gullies, covered the approach with alluvium.

full


A Motor Trend comparison test showed the lower route far worse than it has been when I lived in nearby Big Pine (moved away in 2008).

When I lived down there I used to take the trail at least once annually, leading friends around the loop. It's a fun and scenic trail.
 
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For any interested, here is a page from my former website in a .pdf format, of photos taken over several years and a number of trips over the trail. Some of the right side photos are partially cut off due to the conversion from .html to .pdf, but enough there to still get a good view.
 

Attachments

  • swansea_photoessay.pdf
    2.7 MB · Views: 17

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