Helendale, also known as Silver Lakes, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the Victor Valley of the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino County, California. It lies along historic Route 66, between Barstow and Victorville, with Helendale used by the USPS and Silver Lakes by the US Census. As of 2020, the population was 6,317.
Historically, the area was inhabited by the Mojave and Serrano tribes. European exploration began with Francisco Garcés in 1776. Originally called Point of Rocks, the area was crossed by several trails including the Mojave Trail, Spanish Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and Mormon Trail. Key historical events include Jedediah Smith’s 1826 expedition, John C. Frémont and Kit Carson in 1844, the Mormon Battalion in 1846–1847, and Edward Beale’s Camel Corps in 1857. The Pony Express and stagecoach stations also passed through the area, though one stagecoach station was burned by Paiute Indians around 1863.









