Mojave Desert Gems: Salt Creek Reserve & Christ of the Andes
The Mojave Desert in the Soutwest has always been among our favorite treasures-off-the-beaten-track destinations. From the fields of Joshua Trees in the East Mojave Preserve to the thermal delights of Tecopa Hot Springs, the desert is alive and full of hidden surprises. We have in previous articles already covered several such destinations but would like to turn to two desert gems that very few visitors ever get to see during their Mojave explorations. Both can be covered within an exciting day trip from Las Vegas, and can be combined with several other highlights of the Desert Southwest. They are the fragile wetlands of the Salt Creek Reserve and the paranormal site of the Christ of the Andes.
We embark on our journey on Interstate 15 towards Primm, NV, stop there for refreshments and shopping, then cross over into California and continue to the small town of Baker about 60 miles further. Here we leave I-15 and head north on SR 127 in the direction of Shoshone, CA and Death Valley National Park. Upon leaving behind Baker and the interstate, the view opens up to spectacular desert scenery marked by Joshua Trees, brown desert mountains and shortly thereafter the white sands of Dumont Dunes. A few miles before the Dumont turn-off, a small trail veers off to the right and leads to the parking lot of the Salt Creek Reserve, a true hidden desert oasis and part of the Mojave's fragile ecosystem. Here several desert springs along with winter drainage from nearby Silurian Valley converge to form Salt Creek, a major tributary to the Amargosa River. This source of fresh water in the harsh desert environment provides living room for Mesquite Trees, shrubs and marsh land, which are in turn the natural habitat for numerous animal species including big horn sheep for drinking, Gamble Quail and about 150 other different bird varieties.
From the parking lot, we walk along a narrow trail with partial views of the Dumont Dunes on one side and the open desert of the East Mojave Preserve on the other. We cross several bridges over small canyons and the reach the main course of the Salt Creek, marked on both sides by lush vegetation, an unusual site in the Mojave Desert. Here we can observe birds and learn more about this fragile habitat, which the Bureau of Land Management, along with several other government agencies, is trying to preserve by ensuring continuous water flow for the benefit of both the indigenous fauna and flora. The area around the Salt Creek Reserve also includes several openings and squares perfectly suited for picnics and BBQs, as well as numerous trails that invite us to further explore this magical desert oasis.
Following our visit to Salt Creek, we resume our drive North on SR 127, to enjoy several other regional highlights, such as the small town of SHOSHONE, gateway to Death Valley National Park, or we turn right on Old Spanish Trail Hwy to head to our favorite desert thermal springs in Tecopa. A true hidden gem of the paranormal kind, we can find further down on Old Spanish Trail Hwy in Cathedral Canyon. Just beyond the California-Nevada stateline crossing from Inyo over to Nye County, we reach a small dirt road to our left, Cathedral Canyon Rd. Following several miles of unpaved surface, a square opens up with abandoned cars, immediately adjacent to a canyon. Here we can already sense the paranormal, as so often the case in Southern Nevada and the Desert Southwest.
To our right a canyon opens up in what looks like a former cave church, featuring numerous smaller caves that used to function as side wings to the cave cathedral itself. Remnants of sculpures can be found in those side wings adding to our impression this site was still used not long ago as a place of worship. The clearest indication comes in the form of a huge Jesus statue in the center, with no arms or head. This statue gives the name to the entire venue, Christ of the Andes, and has been the subject of wild speculation as to its origins and religious purpose. Information regarding the Christ of the Andes is scarce - both online and in book stores. It has been the site of several investigations of the Paranormal Ghost Society (http://www.paranormalghostsociety.org/) as well as a chapter in an interesting book on "Weird Las Vegas & Nevada - an Alternative Travel Guide", truly attesting to this site's reputation as a treasure off the beaten track. It only received media coverage once, in 2007, as a featured site on Weird America (http://www.weirdamerica.com/2007/02/28/weird-america-at-cathedral-canyon). Here the paranormal meets the bizarre in what is among the unlikeliest locations of a place of religious worship. With a strange sense of amazement we head back to Old Spanish Trail Hwy connecting to SR 160 to either continue our drive towards Pahrump or to return to the equally surreal casino lights of Las Vegas in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
We embark on our journey on Interstate 15 towards Primm, NV, stop there for refreshments and shopping, then cross over into California and continue to the small town of Baker about 60 miles further. Here we leave I-15 and head north on SR 127 in the direction of Shoshone, CA and Death Valley National Park. Upon leaving behind Baker and the interstate, the view opens up to spectacular desert scenery marked by Joshua Trees, brown desert mountains and shortly thereafter the white sands of Dumont Dunes. A few miles before the Dumont turn-off, a small trail veers off to the right and leads to the parking lot of the Salt Creek Reserve, a true hidden desert oasis and part of the Mojave's fragile ecosystem. Here several desert springs along with winter drainage from nearby Silurian Valley converge to form Salt Creek, a major tributary to the Amargosa River. This source of fresh water in the harsh desert environment provides living room for Mesquite Trees, shrubs and marsh land, which are in turn the natural habitat for numerous animal species including big horn sheep for drinking, Gamble Quail and about 150 other different bird varieties.
From the parking lot, we walk along a narrow trail with partial views of the Dumont Dunes on one side and the open desert of the East Mojave Preserve on the other. We cross several bridges over small canyons and the reach the main course of the Salt Creek, marked on both sides by lush vegetation, an unusual site in the Mojave Desert. Here we can observe birds and learn more about this fragile habitat, which the Bureau of Land Management, along with several other government agencies, is trying to preserve by ensuring continuous water flow for the benefit of both the indigenous fauna and flora. The area around the Salt Creek Reserve also includes several openings and squares perfectly suited for picnics and BBQs, as well as numerous trails that invite us to further explore this magical desert oasis.
Following our visit to Salt Creek, we resume our drive North on SR 127, to enjoy several other regional highlights, such as the small town of SHOSHONE, gateway to Death Valley National Park, or we turn right on Old Spanish Trail Hwy to head to our favorite desert thermal springs in Tecopa. A true hidden gem of the paranormal kind, we can find further down on Old Spanish Trail Hwy in Cathedral Canyon. Just beyond the California-Nevada stateline crossing from Inyo over to Nye County, we reach a small dirt road to our left, Cathedral Canyon Rd. Following several miles of unpaved surface, a square opens up with abandoned cars, immediately adjacent to a canyon. Here we can already sense the paranormal, as so often the case in Southern Nevada and the Desert Southwest.
To our right a canyon opens up in what looks like a former cave church, featuring numerous smaller caves that used to function as side wings to the cave cathedral itself. Remnants of sculpures can be found in those side wings adding to our impression this site was still used not long ago as a place of worship. The clearest indication comes in the form of a huge Jesus statue in the center, with no arms or head. This statue gives the name to the entire venue, Christ of the Andes, and has been the subject of wild speculation as to its origins and religious purpose. Information regarding the Christ of the Andes is scarce - both online and in book stores. It has been the site of several investigations of the Paranormal Ghost Society (http://www.paranormalghostsociety.org/) as well as a chapter in an interesting book on "Weird Las Vegas & Nevada - an Alternative Travel Guide", truly attesting to this site's reputation as a treasure off the beaten track. It only received media coverage once, in 2007, as a featured site on Weird America (http://www.weirdamerica.com/2007/02/28/weird-america-at-cathedral-canyon). Here the paranormal meets the bizarre in what is among the unlikeliest locations of a place of religious worship. With a strange sense of amazement we head back to Old Spanish Trail Hwy connecting to SR 160 to either continue our drive towards Pahrump or to return to the equally surreal casino lights of Las Vegas in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
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