Garlock

Garlock is a ghost town in Kern County, California, sitting at roughly 2,169 feet in elevation about six and a quarter miles east-southeast of Saltdale. Its roots lie in the gold industry, which drew settlers to this otherwise remote corner of the California desert.

Today Garlock is an unincorporated community in name only — visitors find sparse remnants of its former life scattered across an arid landscape. The setting itself tells the story: a quiet, sun-baked expanse where the past quietly erodes. Photography and historical sightseeing are the realistic draws here.

Access is best in the milder months of spring and fall. Summer heat in this low desert elevation can be punishing, and while winter rarely brings impassable snow at 2,169 feet, cold nights and occasional storms are worth factoring into plans.