Saline Valley | Places and Spaces

Basin and Range Province - Saline Valley and Inyo Mountains

Much of the inland western United States and Mexico is defined by a unique topography of elevation changes alternating between mountain ranges and flat arid valleys. This is referred to as the Basin and Range, and recognizable locations like the Sandia Mountains behind Albuquerque and Death Valley National Monument are included in that. They way these areas are separated by elevation changes there are unique eco-environments in ecoregion. Saline Valley and Warm Springs, a perfect example of the region, is basin located between the Inyo Mountains and Saline/Last Chance Mountain Ranges in the Mojave Desert of Central California.

The Salt Lake is only a few inches deep, Saline Valley, CA

Typical of desert mountains and valleys, because of the harsh conditions, rock and soil and water and plants create sparse landscapes. Saline Valley is rich in these landscapes, but once you look past the harsh arid appearance it shows a series of fascinating natural environments. There is a rugged dirt road in places suitable for off-road vehicles only that runs from south to north through the Valley. A basin and not actually a valley, the area is entered by high mountain passes at either end which are closed by snow in the winter.

At the center of the basin is a salt lake that has a pink hue and salt crystals lining the shores. Salt tolerant brush edges close to the lake. The lake may completely dry up during droughts.

At the north end of the lake winds have piled up tall sand dunes. These dunes have pockets of brush and evidence of animals with tracks in the sand and burrows. The rest of the basin floor is rugged hard scrabble. The gem of the basin is the free flowing hot spring surrounded by palm trees with pools and camping areas Going into the canyons of the Inyo Mountains there are creeks and seeps that flow until they disappear into the desert’s porous alluvial soils. The canyons with free flowing water have riparian ecosystems. The higher elevations in the mountains have remnants of the ancient forests, including stands of pines.

Pass and Grapevine Canyon, Saline Valley, CA

Sand Dunes, Saline Valley, CA

It would seem that such an isolated area would have limited evidence of human exploitation but that’s not the case. Mineral deposits drew miners to most of this mountains and basins region and there are waste and artifacts of these “diggings” in the basin and many of the canyons. The remnants of the Bighorn Mine in Hunter Canyon is a veritable junkyard, but are the abandoned buildings and machinery historical artifacts or just garbage. A more ambitious plan in the early part of the 20th century was to harvest salt from the lake bed. The remnants of the tramway built to transport it across the Inyo Mountains can be seen on the mountain side and the basin floor. The canyon riparian areas along Willow Creek have invasive species brought by humans. Even the enjoyable hot springs are an example of human intervention with the man made pools and the non-native palm trees. In 2019 the National Park Service has adopted a plan for protection of the area.