Your 5-Day California Itinerary To The Places Tourists Are Not Supposed To Go

Explore California’s lesser-known treasures with this unique and carefully crafted itinerary. Journey beyond the usual tourist paths to discover ghost towns frozen in time, where weathered buildings and silent streets tell stories of a bygone era.

Wander through eccentric art colonies that transform abandoned spaces into vibrant canvases of creativity and expression. Each destination offers a rare glimpse into a side of California that often goes unnoticed, full of eerie charm, rich history, and unexpected beauty.

1. Bodie State Historic Park: The Frozen-In-Time Ghost Town

Step into the past at Bodie State Historic Park, where time stands still and history lingers in the dry mountain air. Preserved in a haunting state of “arrested decay,” this ghost town offers an unfiltered glimpse into the rugged life of an 1880s Gold Rush community. Nestled among rolling hills and sagebrush under wide, open skies, Bodie’s weathered buildings and wind-worn wooden facades whisper stories of a bygone era.

As you wander the desolate streets, the crunch of gravel beneath your feet is often the only sound, amplifying the eerie silence that surrounds you. Peering through dusty windows, you’ll see scenes frozen in time, tables still set with plates and glassware, store shelves slumped under the weight of forgotten goods, and classrooms where old schoolbooks still lie open on creaking desks. It’s as if the townspeople vanished in an instant, leaving behind only the echoes of their daily lives.

The final 3-mile stretch to Bodie, a dirt road weaving through the arid landscape, adds to the sense of remoteness and anticipation. In the warmer months, this rough path becomes passable, welcoming daytime explorers into a world where history feels startlingly present.

2. Cerro Gordo Ghost Town: The Private Mountain Of Silver And Sin

Perched high in the rugged Inyo Mountains, Cerro Gordo stands as a striking reminder of a wild and lawless past. Once renowned as California’s largest silver producer, this remote mining town still carries the echoes of gunfights, hard-bitten miners, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. The weathered buildings cling to steep slopes, telling stories of grit and survival amid harsh mountain conditions.

From its lofty 8,500-foot vantage point, the panoramic views stretch endlessly across the surrounding peaks and desert valleys, offering breathtaking vistas that capture the raw beauty of the Eastern Sierra. The crisp mountain air, combined with the stark silence, transports visitors back to a time when Cerro Gordo was alive with the clatter of mining carts and the bustle of prospectors.

Because Cerro Gordo is privately owned, visits require prior permission, preserving its fragile character and history. Access involves navigating a steep, narrow 8-mile dirt road that winds through the rugged terrain, best tackled with a high-clearance vehicle, especially during winter when conditions grow more challenging.

3. Bombay Beach: The Accidental Art Colony On The Salton Sea

At the edge of the vast, shimmering Salton Sea, Bombay Beach defies expectations and conventional notions of beauty. Once a lively resort town, it has since transformed into a striking open-air gallery where bold, imaginative artistic expression breathes new life into abandoned homes and forgotten spaces. Weather-beaten structures, their peeling paint and broken windows, now serve as evocative backdrops for site-specific installations that turn decay into compelling creativity.

With its haunting, post-apocalyptic vibe, Bombay Beach draws a diverse crowd, from curious travelers and photographers to artists and free spirits; especially during the enigmatic Bombay Beach Biennale. Though the festival’s dates remain a well-kept secret, the town’s unique art scene is alive and accessible year-round, inviting exploration and inspiration at every corner. A perfect starting point for your artistic journey is the iconic local Ski Inn, where visitors can soak in the offbeat atmosphere and connect with the community that keeps this unlikely cultural hub thriving.

4. Ballarat: The Desert Outpost Of Legends And Outlaws

In the heart of the vast and arid Panamint Valley, the ghost town of Ballarat quietly preserves its storied past. Once a bustling miner’s supply point, the town carries whispers of a rough-and-tumble Wild West, including links to notorious figures such as Charles Manson. Scattered around the site, rusted vehicles and crumbling adobe buildings stand as weathered relics, their faded walls and peeling paint telling silent tales of days long gone.

Isolation is Ballarat’s defining character, an untouched outpost surrounded by sweeping desert plains and distant mountain ridges. It invites those who crave solitude and the chance to step back in time, away from the noise of modern life. Accessible via a rugged dirt road, the town offers a small campground, perfect for adventurers looking to rest beneath star-filled skies. From here, explorers can set out on challenging 4WD trails that wind into the towering Panamint Mountains, promising rugged terrain and breathtaking vistas.

5. Rhyolite: Ruins And Art On The Nevada Border

Though technically just over the border in Nevada, Rhyolite is an essential stop on any California desert tour. Once hailed as the “Queen City of the Desert,” its crumbling ruins still whisper stories of a dazzling past marked by ambition and sudden decline. The skeletal remains of its grand bank building stand as silent sentinels, while the quirky Glass Bottle House, crafted from thousands of recycled bottles, continues to captivate visitors with its unique charm and ingenuity.

Just adjacent to the ghost town, the Goldwell Open Air Museum introduces an unexpected artistic dimension to the stark desert surroundings. Towering large-scale sculptures, including the hauntingly beautiful, ghostly rendition of The Last Supper, rise dramatically against the barren landscape. This cinematic blend of history, art, and desolation creates an unforgettable experience, inviting visitors to wander, reflect, and lose themselves in a world where creativity and the past collide in spectacular fashion.