Swansea Cerro Gordo Trail

[wayoflife]

For Fathers Day weekend, Cindy and I decided to head up to the Owens Valley and do a little exploring up in the Inyo Mountains. It'd been a while since we've visited the areas surrounding the old ghost town of Cerro Gordo and so, we decided to start our adventure by heading up the Swansea Trail and then circle back down Cerro Gordo Road. Along the way, we made a stop over at the old Burgess Mine and spent some time over at the historic old salt tram and cabin along the ridge top. Here are a few pics from our trip, I hope you enjoy.

Leaving pavement near the old town site of Swansea...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344245

Heading up into the Inyo Mountains...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344251

Working our way up the canyon, you can just make out a couple of the old salt tram towers on the mountain side...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344257

Long road ahead...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344269

View looking out across the Owens Dry Lake and the Sierra's beyond...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344275

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344281

Paying a visit to the old Burgess Mine...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344332

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344317

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344320

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344326

Looking down into the Saline Valley...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344305

Looking south across the Inyo Mountains...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344546

Heading south along the ridge top...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344560

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344549

At the old salt tram...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344633

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344602

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344435

Tessa waiting for the next lift...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344392

Crazy panorama of the tram...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344615

View looking down toward the Saline Valley...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344404

Same line but looking west toward the Owens Valley...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344395

Down in the operating room is a large fly wheel/brake that stands about 6' tall...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344413

Drive shaft that's attached to it...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344431

Bull wheel that it once turned...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344419

More structure pics...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344497

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344683

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344515

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344620

Come on out, it holds me just fine...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344542

This is the old cabin that housed the workers of the tram, it has been nicely restored...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344494

Info about the tram is posted on the wall here...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344473

Cool artifacts from the area can be found inside - PLEASE DO NOT TAKE any of them...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344464

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344656

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344662

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344458

http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344476

The old outhouse...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344485

At about 9,000 feet up, it's still spring and the cactus were still in bloom...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344446

Moving on, the trail turns into a very narrow shelf road...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344710

You can see the entire Owens Dry Lake from up here...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344719

The old town of Cerro Gordo - this is a really well preserved ghost town but it's privately owned and the caretakers can sometimes be in a mood so, we just passed through on this trip...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344737

Back on pavement and heading for our home for the night...
http://project-jk.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=344749

I hope you enjoyed following us on our trip up the Swansea Cerro Gordo Trail. If you would like to see more of the pics we took, click on the link below:

Swansea Cerro Gordo Trail Photo Gallery (http://project-jk.com/wpg2?g2_itemId=344223)

[jhires]

Awesome pics!
I would be extremely tempted to take that Hires Root Beer can. However, I'd be good and actually leave it.

[firecrew1]

Looks like a great trip:thumb::thumb:

[JKAnimal]

Looks like a nice relaxed little weekend adventure. Thanks for posting those pics up. It is always really neat to see all the old mine equipment. :yup:

[JeepFan]

What an amazingly preserved location! Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing another awesome adventure. :thumb:

[sean.m.adams33]

Thanks for sharing! I love exploring all the old mines. Looks like a lot of fun.

[Hatewagon]

Wow. Great pics


MOFO - Original 9

[bthomas]

Thanks for sharing the pics! Looks like a fun trip. I love seeing some history that's still there & intact for people to enjoy.

[JKRay]

Awesome trip with lots of history and views!! Thanks for sharing! 👍


Ray ⛺

[simple4life]

Great Pics! Looks like a great trail!

[davidsonlaw]

I'm thinking about heading up there soon. How long did it take to get all of the way through?

[my_jk]

That mine looks like its in incredible condition. Will be in Lone Pine this weekend think I might check it out.

[Millerj87]

Great shots thanks for sharing Eddie


Sent from my iPhone on the west coast of florida

[toys4rocks]

That's what I would love to be able to do, just take off to the mountains and explore great places like that, but alas I live in Missouri and there isn't any place like that around here. Thanks for the pics and the inspiration looks like a great weekend.