In early November, a few colleagues and I traversed the challenging 4×4 trail that skirts the ridge line of the Inyo Mountains, from Cerro Gordo high above Owens Lake, to the remaining historic-era structures of the Saline Valley Salt Tram. Although subject of a heroic restoration project several years ago, the summit structure remains exposed to the elements, of course, but it is also exposed to the rigors of heavy visitation. While most visitors are impressed by the remains and awed by the effort required in its construction, vandalism, whether purposeful or simply irresponsible, is an on-going concern. Our task was to map the summit structures using three-dimensional photographic tools with imagery obtained by drone. After the adventurous but grueling drive, we set up camp and prepared for some early morning flights. I am not an authorized drone operator, so I spent much of the time exploring the ruins and photographing from the ground.
Saline Valley Salt Tram Collection
The tram transported salt from Saline Valley over the ridgeline of the Inyo Mountains and down to Swansea at the shore of Owens Lake. Dozens of stanchions in various states of preservation mark the route from one side of the mountains to the other; the stanchions, leading to and from the summit station, supported and guided cables and their swinging carts; they can still be traced today across the distance. It is an amazing story of engineering and effort, for a relatively short-lived operation.
Saline Valley Salt Tram Collection
I am not typically interested in photographing structures, but these stoked an interest, especially given the uninteresting light and weather on the perfectly blue-sky, fall days we experienced on our little project expedition. I would have better luck during the changing weather once I was back in the valley bottom – I was headed back to the landforms of the Olancha and Cartago margins of Owen Lake at the foot of the eastern Sierra.
Keep going.
Please respect the natural and cultural resources of our public lands.
I came across this site when looking for historic photos of the salt tram, showing what it looked like when it was first constructed. Would still love to see some…thanks for posting these!
Thank you so much Meredith. I saw that one of the lower towers was damaged recently; I’ll never understand why that has to happen. I’m not typically one to photograph architecture, but these are impressive.
How long does it take to get there after you pass Cerro Gordo Mine. My friend and I are heading up that way to hunt for fossils and we are debating going to the Tram. I’m not so inclined to spend the night.
Hi Taylor, I stopped a few times to look around, and let other folks pass (the road has long narrow stretches), but it wasn’t more than a couple hours slow drive time, one way. Not a bad day trip, in season. Be safe and leave it better.
Were you planning to go to Union Wash for the fossil hunting?
Hey Bob, thanks for visiting TrailOption! I have yet to get into the Saline Valley, which is a big gap in my exploration. I’ve wandered the Union Wash alluvial fan many times, but I haven’t thought about the fossil possibilities there. Because I mostly study young landforms, I often overlook the older rocks and the cool stuff in them.
I have been on the Daisy Canyon side many times and the upper tram tower are deteriorating very quickly from 10 years ago from the severe weather and snow. At the bottom at Saline Lake the USNPS is rebuilding a couple of the towers, one was a definite vandalism. My name is on the log at Control Station 2.