Swansea-Cerro Gordo 4x4 Trail

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

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.

swansea4x4_10-2003_pt1.wmv

drive.google.com

swansea4x4_10-2003_pt2.wmv

drive.google.com

 

[craig333]

They must have done a lot of work on the road because I don't remember it being difficult at all.

 

[kmcintyre]

Wow, from 2003!

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

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.

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 200.

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.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Wow, from 2003!

When you get my age, that was only yesterday ...

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

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.

 

[camelracer]

Does anyone have any trail information on the section between the Salt Tram and Cerro Gordo. I'm leading my 4x4 club through there memorial day weekend and would like some information. The last time I did the trail was in '22 or'23 before the storm that flooded Death Valley. I've heard there are some washouts on that section of the trail.

I just watched a video of a group going from Swansea to the transfer station but the video stopped there. That video showed some slight trail damage but nothing that would stop us. I'm curious about the section of trail that goes down into the canyon between the transfer station and Cerro Gordo. I tried calling the Bishop BLM office but they were no help. She asked me to take pictures and send them to her if we get to that area.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

You might try a reconnaissance run in from the Cerro Gordo side with a dirt bike, quad or side by side before committing yourself to the long drop into Boiler Canyon from the north.