A Journey to the Colorado River Ghost Town of Picacho, California
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2024
- In the late 1800s, Picacho, California was a thriving gold mining town of 2,500 people located on the Colorado River. But, by the early 1900s, mining slowed down, the steamboats were no more, then due to increased dams on the river, the water began to rise. Now, the townsite of Picacho is located on Picacho State Recreation Area, one of the most remote and least visited state parks in California.
Located north of Yuma, Arizona, on the California side of the Colorado River, Picacho State Recreation Area is accessed by boat on the Colorado River or by one of two dirt roads through the desert. In this video we took the 18 mile Picacho Road to access the park, passing by Picacho Peak (California's Picacho Peak, not the more famous one in Arizona) and the Picacho Gold Mine.
After arriving at the park, we hiked to the townsite, talking about the town's history and exploring the sites, such as the Picacho town jail, located in a cave, before exploring the ruins of two 1800s stamp mills.
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Again … thank you Steve for taking us along . i love to see the warm desert and these remote places. take care 👍🏼
My pleasure!
Picacho . One of my favorite places to go. Friends and family have been going there since the 70's. It can get real hot in the summer but the river gives some relief. The trails and the dock for the boats are a great place to hang out. I assume you didn't camp there, Steve. Nighttime is another adventure to enjoy.
I did not camp there. I really wasn't sure how many people would be out there and if there would be campgrounds available. There were plenty available to say the least.
Great memories had the opportunity to camp about every holiday weekend from 69 to 74 3 or 4 camopsites filled with family and friends the shear beauty and remoteness I really can't think of the words to describe it
Spent 4 years in Yuma. Picacho was a great place to recreate.
I agree....Picacho is an absolute gem!
I lived about 20 years in Southern California, and I used to visit many of the places you go!! THANKS FOR SHARING your trips with us!! It makes me miss the desert SO MUCH!!
Of all the travel channels, this is my favorite. Not only are the topics historical and interesting, Steve’s presentations are very easy to understand. His voice is not rushed and he dos not have an accent to filter through.
Wow, thank you!
Thank you Steve! As a So. Cal. native, I have enjoyed local and away travel videos. Some places are new to me, some I have been to, and some that I have driven right past but didn't even know about. I enjoy the history that you include with all of your productions. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for bringing the history of this unknown area to us! I can only imagine how beautiful it must’ve been to ride a steamboat up that river!
Yeah, before the dams you could take a steamboat from Yuma to just outside the Grand Canyon. Now you can walk across the river in Yuma though.
Tumco is a historic gold Ghost town that’s very close by to Picacho state park off Ogilby Road in Winterhaven. It’s worth a visit and has hiking trails around the ruins. I have enjoyed and explored the south east corner of California for many years, and still make several trips from San Diego every year. Thanks for the great videos!
Thank you. It was fun visiting PSRA with you. I camped there with friends during a couple of Easter Breaks from SDSU, probably '69 and '70. We were the only folks there. The campground was right by the river. It was quite pleasant, even magic. There were no fences, chain link or picket. Keep on exploring.
Found this on my friends Facebook page.
My mom and dad lived in Winterhaven CA, but not actually in the town (about a mile north of I8, off of Sidewinder Rd).
As soon as you said the name "Jose Mendevall" i ran into the house to tell my mom, and asked her if he was related to an old friend of hers, named Ernie Mendevall, and she said yes, that Jose was Ernie's grandfather.
Ernie is still alive and kicking, and has some land out by my mom's old property, where his friends, and family have camping gatherings.
I also own land in the same area. Was going to be my retirement home for me and my mom. Unfortunately couldn't find contractors, or a well driller, so ended up buying a home in the Yuma Foothills.
Anyway...loved the video. I didn't even know about the ghost town, despite having been to Picacho.
Have sub'd to your channel, and looking forward to more of your travels.
❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈🐕🐎
"Nobody calls it that." 🤣Great video, as always.
🤣🤣🤣 That was such a fun opening!
She heard me call it that for at least three days at that point haha
Great adventure / showing the history of this area. You always have fascinating and interesting content to watch ! Thanks !
Thank you.
Best Opening Ever Steve! Your wife chiming in on cue about "Yuma being called The Rome Of The Desert" 🤣 You nailed it Steve when you showed that first view of The Colorado River @ 7:10 and it really did up the value of the scenery! I'm one of those morbid Souls who enjoy a good Cemetery up close whether it is a Huge Spread of a simple resting place! The Drone shots really showcase the vastness of that area! The Jail Cell was crazy to see and was surprised no names were carved into the walls from jailed visitors! And in keeping with Murphey's Law, it's no surprise that you and your wife saw all those Burros as you were leaving! They wanted their Own Premier on The Sidetrack Adventure Reel! Thanks & Cheers From COW-lumbus, Ohio MOO 🙏
Thanks! I think she was tired of hearing me call it that. .
@@SidetrackAdventures 🤣🤣🤣
I'm from the Imperial Valley never knew! Greeting from TX
@@ceciliavillasenor9130 Salute! 👋
I grew up in the far west, back in the 50s and 60s. I miss the terrain and history so much - thanks for allowing me to revisit and/or discover new facets of this amazing region from home my young friend.
Steve, my dad and I spent about ten years visiting this site. We fished the Colorado in our tri hull boat every July. We learned the hard way to camp downstream and head upstream in our boat to fish. Pacacho became that camping spot for about ten summers. When we fished, it was for perch or bluegill during the day. Then, at night, these fish became our bait for 10 plus pound channel catfish, using a rock cod pole and rig. Often, blue catfish. The stories I could tell about Pacacho. I saw the Mine Grave site. Not so many fences, then. The laborers were Chinese, and the Graves were 4 foot long or shorter. It was an adventure getting our boat on a trailer to this campground. There used to be a small store near the launch ramp.
They seemed to have construction near the ramp so I didn't get too close, so I can't tell you if there was still a store. Seems like an amazing place to camp and probably extremely peaceful.
Yeah that store has been gone for about 10 years now it was just one guy running it. He told me he was going to move his store to either Salton Sea or somewhere nearby that.
Great way to binge on a cold western NY Saturday. Very informational videos and well narrated. ❤️
Very cool. I was there 30 years ago and the campground was full and there was a lot of boating activity. Beautiful area and the canoeing is sublime.
Your adventures fill my lunch breaks with views of nearby history. To see the stories being told for future generations brings me joy. Thank you steve.
Thank you Steve for another GREAT adventure.
I have an original leatherbound copy of Wander of the Wasteland signed by Zane Grey which had been my father's when he was a boy.
I had no idea the setting was Picacho!
When I was a kid my boy scout troop did an annual 2 day canoe trip down the Colorado River. The campground at Picacho is where we would spend our first night. It's been over 30 years since I've been out there. Thanks for the video!
Wow never would have guessed Picacho was once a town, but then we shouldnt be surprised due to the abundance of resources in our state. Also love the cave jail. Probably the most cost effective jail ever made! "Like"
Oh my goodness! I've been curious about this place for a number of years, since I researched it (online) as a setting for the opening scenes of a (as yet, unfinished) historical novel! Not sure of how to pronounce the name at the time, it was Peak-a-Cho in my head, lol. Thank you so much for the great info, and some leads where I can find out more about what was going on in the area in 1861. I'm also fascinated by the Chocolate Mountains nearby (now a Military range, off limits), and curious about early trails, perhaps Indian Pass, that would lead to the area now occupied by the Salton Sea. Strange I never found anything about the mining town, though now the name Paymaster Landing makes more sense. I've driven through the general area on the 78, through Glamis to Palo Verde. Your channel is so great for us locals who have passed by these places with no idea what was there. Also love your choice of music. I'm sure I'll be viewing this one again. :)
I heard Indian Pass is in rougher shape, but I'd love to take that road.
Fascinating as ever and a total contrast to the Roman road! Extremely remote location now but of course the steamboats would have made it seem much less out of the way. We used rivers for transport a lot more back then. Seems as though the mine is still economically viable if it is still in operation. What really struck me was the contrast between the dry and dusty desert scenery and the lush green ribbon of land by the river, very noticeable. Thanks for another excellent bit of old west history Steve.
It’s really amazing to me that steam boats used to ply the Colorado. What a time that must have been. 👍🏼
Let me compliment you on the outstanding video’s and historic information you provide. Very professional. Another great one here ! Thanks.
Thanks Steve. Hey ! You called it " The Rome of the Desert ". And maybe, from now on, we will.(it kinda sounds good) We'll figure out something later. Have been thinking of visiting Picacho, and now I have a truck to do it. Will be working my way south soon. Had Yuma in mind, no time like the present.
awesome my friend
The graphics you added to name the mountains was a nice addition. Well done sir!
You're making me homesick Steve. A sentimental journey for me.
Nice one Steve! Appreciate you rate the dirt road as well.
That Picacho Cemetary is a trip. Dia de Los Muertos for sure ha. 🎃
I came into Picacho from the west about 25 years ago, a very rough, class3+,with blowsand, in a Honda civic hatchback! My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message.
They say that road from the west is much rougher than the one I took.
@SidetrackAdventures that's what class 3 roads, high clearance and preferably four wheel drive. I had lifted my hatchback over an inch and have good driving skills, but the hundred yards of blow sand was the trickiest. You should check out Kelso, me and my girlfriend go there and walk the wash that parallels the railroad tracks, we find lots of goodies.
Love your trip videos. We visited several sites using your tips on our Mojave trip last week. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Hope you had a great trip. There's so much to see in the desert.
Fascinating! Great job on history, current situation, drone shots, etc.
Thank you.
Very cool!
I made this trip and hike in either 2006 or 2007, and actually drove my VERY lowered '48 Plymouth out to the park. I didn't have any issues then, but 15+ years!
I was rounding in the hospital late and went back to my call room for a quick bite, during which time I had started this presentation and then propped up my phone so as to watch while I was relaxing between patients. Half asleep, I heard the extraneous comment about Rome (“Nobody calls it that”). I laughed until I almost choked on my salad. Spontaneous or rehearsed, and in light of your typically formal and well-constructed presentations, that has to be one of the funniest things I’d seen in sometime.
Thanks for the comedy relief.
BTW, as always, great presentation!
Great job as usual Steve and family! Also enjoyed your recent Appian Way/Italy video for a change of pace. I hope you had a great vacation
Thanks. I had a lot of fun in Italy, but its great to be home. Driving beats flying any day!
Fascinating video Steve. You go to a lot of trouble to show us these unusual places. Please keep it up.
Great video, Steve. What an interesting little spot. I'm so envious of you living in a part of the country so near the historical ghost towns, deserts and mountains, scenic highways and old roads, and all of the other great stuff you get to explore. Your channel is top notch, among the very best productions of its kind on TH-cam.
I like your videos of the old west mining towns ghost towns all empty from bygone years
In the 20 years I've lived in Yuma, have only been up there once for our friends's wedding on the river. But, had no idea there was a ghost town. Much easier to get to is the TUMCO Historic Mine off of Ogilby Road. With cool(ish) weather, it will be nice to get to see the ghost town at Picacho.
Love these videos by Steve. He finds colorful, off the road places that are interesting, and always have lots of anecdotal information to flesh the videos out. Good job, Steve
Man, I enjoy everything about your videos!
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I'm learning more about my home state than I learned in a while in jr high. We moved just before I was to go into the 8th grade. I'm now 66 almost 67 I finished school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I really enjoy your videos
Thank you Steve. I enjoy all of your videos but this one is extra special as I go out to Picacho Peak often in the winter. Such a beautiful area.
Another fantastic video. Love History allot. Take care 👌🇺🇲
You can make a walk around the block interesting! 😀
Thanks, it probably depends on the block though.
It gets better every time I see it
Very nice work. Appreciate you going into this remote out-of-the-way place. It’s ungodly blisteringly hot there in the summer. And that’s being nice. The heat just beats down on everything. Really surprised there is still any wood remnants left. Gorgeous country in the fall winter and early spring.
Steve the burros are amazing once the night comes. We did a lot of camping a few miles up the river and the burros are so loud at night you can also hear them in the river from time to time. I would really suggest camping out there for a few nights. so peaceful.
Awesome and thank you for the travel review of this area. Amazing and totally informative. Take care and continued safe travels.
Thanks!
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
'California's Gold'....thanks for the tour!
Fascinating. Thank you.
I see several comments about how quiet these locations are. I lived in Blythe for 18 years when I was young and I could often hear the blood pumping through my ears when out in the desert. It's scary and puts you right next to the feeling of mortality and the measurement of life in number of heartbeats. I appreciate the brevity of your videos. No time wasted trying to be entertaining. Perfect presentations. You're the Desert Huell.
Outstanding video! I was stationed in Yuma from 1967 to 1971. I used to crawl down in those old wooden mine shafts WAY before they were fenced from the public . I had a lot of photos of the old mine shafts but all were lost when my home burned to the ground in 2009 There used to be some Chinese graves closer to the road. Are they still visible? You have obviously been doing your homework on the history of the area. I loved Yuma and I am a rattlesnake hunter and used to go roaming around in the river bottoms catching huge diamondback rattlesnakes. I will definitely subscribe to your very interesting channel. Good luck and keep up the great work! Semper Fi...
Ah yes a cool hot place to enjoy nature:))) i lived in Yuma az. circa 1970s , we use to go trail ride our dirt bikes there all the time , the last time i was there was 2008 riding on Honda Quads :) we got lost and were going in circles , running low on fuel :( then one of the precious Burros led us ot to a few of their trails , that then led us to safety wow i will never ever forget the angel Donkeys:)))))))))
Thanks again Steve! Fascinating as usual.
Terrific video Steve. Thank you! I would love to visit Picacho sometime. I really appreciated learning about it.
Excellent video Steve!
Pichacho peak is an icon of the local news station in Yuma. I checked out that road myself but gave it a "no go" due to the loose, fine gravel in some of the washes. I only have a 2wd Ford Transit but wouldn't hesitate in an AWD/4x4. There is free camping on the BLM portion where it splits off. Some State Land too, in addition to this specific site. Military also use this land to practice landing and takeoffs of their VTOL aircraft.
Awesome video. All your videos are very well done and show us all these cool old places. Your videos make me want to visit CA.
Excellent Steve. Thank you
40 years ago, my brother missed that big hairpin turn and drove off the cliff in a 1968 Ford bronco… Lol he still alive! Nice video
Thanks again Steve for another great video. I learn so much from your efforts and appreciate YOU doing the hike which would probably kill me off!!! Keep 'em coming because my Wednesdays are much better for it. ........Russell D. (no MLB now, so cold turkey until April!!!)
God , it’s been about 40 years since I’ve been out there now (😳) and needless to say I can see that some stuff has changed ,while some still kinda looks the same from what I can remember. The one thing that is still burned deep into my memory though was how serenely peaceful it was . Very , VERY quiet out there if you were fortunate enough to have a day like you did in this video with minimal other visitors. I remember some great fishing too , mostly large mouth bass & some carp if I recall . Maybe a catfish or two. Anyway thanks as always for sharing this with us!!😎👍. C-ya on your next adventure 😉
Thanks Steve for another ride along and hike. See you next Wednesday.
Beautiful Steve, thank you.
David
Excellent....thank you
Great topic. Thanks!
Love your videos. Just fascinating.
Another great video Steve! I lived in Yuma for 40 years and my wife and I enjoy your videos so much. We have been to many of the places that you have featured along the i-8 quarter. Thank you again Steve. I just want to let you know how much I enjoy your work. Be careful out there!
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.
Another great and appreciated report. Thank you ;- )
Our pleasure!
I like your new graphics on this, especially when detailing the mountain peaks.
Thanks for the video! I like the longer videos 👍🏻
Thank you
Great vid Steve and welcome home.
Thank you.
Thanks, that was a great tour.
That area was once very lush and rainy during the Miocene epoch 😮 wow.. Great video btw
Great 👍 thanks be..safe my friend
Thank you.
I like the way you explain things.
That is good presentation.
Gracias!
I like your videos. Lots of information and not that long. Enjoy
Howdy, love this adventure vlog 💜 I love the POV walk and talk
Actually, considering how hot it gets in the desert, having to 'sleep it off' in this 'naturally cool' cell 9:05 was probably a blessing in disguise!🤣
Wow muy hermoso lugar, gracias por compartir, saludos y bendiciones
Thank you for the great videoes,seeing them every week from Norway,this was very interesting.
Another great one Steve. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Best channel on TH-cam. So relaxing and exciting at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Nice tour, thanks 😊
You do a real good job giving us the info !!
Always a pleasure to tag along with you brother,safe travels!
Another amazing video! I'm constantly checking in on your channel.
I'm surprised it's not used more. Although your road trip is so isolated and deserted, a view from Google Maps show that it's right up river from Yuma. I would think it would be more visited from this area by boaters (above the dam, of course). Anyway, thanks again for a trip to unknown California. Sidetrack Adventures indeed!
I think it just isn't well known, or people might be scared off by the road out there?
Loved it, thank you
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!
Really enjoyed this one.
Love ur humor !!
Thank you for this. I tried to get out there when I lived in imperial valley but never made it sadly. I have since moved to Nebraska. Thank you again adventure buddy
Excellent video with great historical insights!
Thank you.
You make very interesting videos. Thank you.
Great work Steve 👏
Another Great video. 👍
Steamboats on the Colorado…have never seen. Thank you for that!
Your comment about woodcutters for the riverboats made me wonder where in the world did they find wood to cut. Maybe there used to be wood around, especially by the river where there was water.
Near the river and in the washes coming down the mountains, but that's about it.
They needed a lot of wood! It wasn't just steamboats -- the stamp mills were steam-powered also. And there was a narrow-gauge railroad operating for a few years that hauled ore from the Picacho mine to the stamp mill.
There aren't too many species of trees to choose from out there, but along the river and in washes you can find...
- desert willows - The willows in the video are not actually willows (genus Salix), they're desert willows (Chilopsis linearis). They're not related to regular willows but the leaves are long and thin and droopy like willow leaves so that's how they got their name. They don't grow more than 25 or 30 feet high.
- cottonwood - The only trees that grow really big are Fremont's cottonwood, which can reach 100 feet. The wood has a reputation for smelling like cat urine when burned green. The entire Colorado River below 6500 feet is in their native range. And they can grow up to 6 feet per year.
- blue palo verde
- three species of mesquite - nice firewood
- catclaw acacia
There are also California fan palms all around the low desert but they grow in spring-fed oases, they're not common near the river according to Calflora.
Both desert willows and cottonwoods require flooding in order for their seeds to sprout. Before there were any dams the Colorado River could be counted on to flood in the summer. The average discharge at the Gulf of California was 22,500 cubic feet per second, but it was highly variable from 2,500 cubic feet per second in winter to more than 100,000 cubic feet per second (about 4 1/2 times the average flow) during the summer from Rocky Mountain snowmelt. Since the river's been dammed flooding is rare so it's a lot less hospitable to desert willows and cottonwoods.
There are about five or six species of saltcedar that were brought to the US during the 1800s from China, North Africa, and Eurasia. They occupy the same niches as cottonwood. and desert willow (riparian) and also the same niche as California fan palm (spring-fed oases) and they escaped cultivation in the southwest US sometime in the mid- to late-1800s. They like when the river floods but they don't require it in order to reproduce like cottonwoods and desert willows do, so they're much better adapted to the dammed (not wild) Colorado River than the native trees are. So today saltcedars are everywhere along the river from southwestern Colorado all the way to the Gulf of California. Saltcedars can be trees depending on species, but they're generally shrubs so not nearly as good for wood.
One interesting place is Cottonwood Island which was 291 miles upstream from Picacho. It's been submerged under Lake Mohave since 1951 when Davis Dam was completed. But before any of the dams were built, this island was about 10 miles long and three miles across and covered with cottonwood trees. And enormous amounts of driftwood from upstream accumulated there so they didn't even have to cut the trees down.