San Carlos is a former settlement in Inyo County, California.^[1] It was founded in 1863 and was located on the east bank of the Owens River 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Independence,^[1] close by to the west of the later site of Kearsarge, California.

Tensions in the area ran high as the residents of San Carlos with their cattle ramped up pressure on the local Indians, causing the latter to launch attacks on the town's population. San Carlos and nearby Bend City competed to become the seat of the then Coso County. Several artifacts remain of San Carlos, including the ruins of stone buildings as well as old smelting tools.^[2]