Olancha-Cartago

Olancha and Cartago are settlements in the Desert Region of Inyo County, California.

Olancha (originally Olanche) and Cartago (originally Carthage, Daniersburg, and Lakeville) are near the southern tip of Owens Lake, which is mostly a dry lake. The lake held a significant amount of water until the rivers and streams that flowed into it were diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct in the 1910s. Cartago is near an abandoned settlement known as Carthage, and its current name is taken from the Spanish name for the ancient Pheonician city of Carthage in modern day Tunisia.

• 🌍 Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns (From Cartago, go 6.5 miles north on U.S. 395 to a dirt road marked with a historic site sign. Turn right and follow the dirt road for one mile.). 24 hours. Historic kilns that were used to produce charcoal to power the smelters for the Cerro Gordo Mine. free. 

• Gus's Really Good Fresh Jerky, 580 South Highway 395, Olancha, ☏ +1 760 764-2822. Open every day from 8AM to 7PM (8AM to 8PM in the Summer). A converted gas station, it's advertised all along Highway 395 as selling "World Famous Jerky" — including beef, elk, turkey, and other dried meat products. Their selection of honeys, dried fruits, nuts, and olives is also quite impressive.