Seeing Salton Sea from a plane
California's largest lake was created by accident in 1905, when the Colorado River broke through an irrigation canal and flooded a desert basin for two years. Look for a long lake ringed by pale exposed shoreline.
8 of our routes pass it. California · rated 6 of 10
The easy pick
San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth: sit on the left, 15 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Atlanta | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 22 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Dallas-Fort Worth | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 24 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to Orange County | Left | 31 min after takeoff |
| Phoenix to San Diego | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 35 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Dallas-Fort Worth | Left | 15 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Phoenix | Left the other side is usually better on this route | 17 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Denver | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 18 min after takeoff |
| San Diego to Chicago | Right the other side is usually better on this route | 18 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Salton Sea from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (5 of 8). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Salton Sea from a plane?
Mid-flight: see the table for when on each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Colorado Desert Mexicali San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm San Jacinto Peak San Gorgonio Mountain Los Angeles (LAX) Atlanta (ATL) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Phoenix (PHX) All routes