The southern area of Anza Borrego or as I like to call it , "the forgotten side" of Anza Borrego is often overlooked when it comes to desert flower season. Desert flower seekers tend to frequent the well known locales near Borrego Springs and other more accessible areas of the park. While it is true those areas, can put on a spectacular display, unfortunately you usually get the crowds along with it. Our preference is to search out the hidden washes and canyons of the south, climbing up boulder littered hillsides and hopping over stands of cholla in an attempt to get that one perfect flower picture. The downside is that you tend to go home... [More]

We parked the Land Cruiser and prepped for the hike up the remote canyon. Beautiful sunny morning as we began our hike up the East Fork of Carrizo Gorge. Most of the way to the palm grove is uphill, which fortunately meant we would have a downhill trek back the the Land Cruiser. Found one Mylar balloon on the way up. Unfortunately Mylar balloons can take years to biodegrade. Not sure what kind of footprint this was. It is good to be back in Anza Borrego. This one actually stuck in pretty deep. :O After a two hour trek up the East Fork we arrived at the Carrizo Palms. Plenty... [More]

Last weekend during a trip to Fish Creek we stopped to snap a shot of Elephant Knees in the Split Mountain Region of the Anza Borrego desert.   The Ocotillo seemed unaware of this year's drought and put on a nice display of blooms.  Tweet this //

We took a quick day trip out to find the remnants of the ancient petrified forest in the Anza Borrego Desert. Millions of years ago the landscape of Anza Borrego was quite different. Instead of large expanses of dry desert, the area was covered with rivers, streams, woodlands and creatures long since forgotten. Annual rainfall was estimated to be close to 25 inches or more a year which is a far cry from the current 5-6 inches a year. The expanding Colorado River delta eventually covered up the forests, burying the trees for millions of years leaving a snapshot in time.  Thanks to a clue from a member of the Anza Borrego Forum, we set ... [More]

Anza Borrego Off Road - Driving through Split Mountain in Anza Borrego [More]

We spent the morning exploring the amazing artwork of Richard Breceda around Borrego Springs. Back in 2008 Breceda was commissioned by Dennis Avery of Avery Denninson label fame, to create the life size metal sculptures and place them around his vast desert property called Galleta Meadows. The life size sculptures bring to life, creatures that roamed the area from prehistoric to modern times. In our short tour we found mastadons, large dinosaurs, sabre tooth tigers as well as a 350 ft serpent that seemed to pass directly under the road (not sure how that one fits in but)    The late Mr. Avery... [More]

Compilation of some of our best Anza Borrego Trips It is really hard to pull out a "best of" trips since every trip has its' own merits. We have been exploring the Park for years and still feel there is so much more to see. The above slideshow of trips, are one's that have been memorable . Some are quick 30 minute hikes while others take a bit more effort and may not be suited for everyone. Some areas are sensitive and are best left undiscovered. Please do not ask for locations of pictographs. Do the research and explore. Simply click on the image and you will be taken to that particular trip report. As we explor... [More]

We were invited by our friends J & E to meet up for a day hike out in Anza Borrego. Our destination was a windswept area known as "The Slot", a narrow passageway through the eroded badlands below Borrego Mountain. After a short drive from J & E's Borrego Spring's home we exited the pavement onto the soft sand dirt road, and bounced our way towards the trail head. We parked the vehicles and followed the trail of footprints leading down into the maze below. Immediately the sandstone walls rose around us and we found ourselves squeezing through the ever narrowing labyrinth. At certain points we even had to turn sideways to fit thru bef... [More]

Despite the allure of its' name the Well of Eight Echoes located off the S2 is one of those attractions that leaves you scratching your head.  The well is a 1 foot plus wide steel pipe that apparently extends close to a hundred feet into the ground. In its heyday before visitors filled it with pebbles and who knows what, you could yell down the opening and listen for a gradual decrescendo of echoes.  There are a couple conflicting stories on the origin of the well; one is that the pipe is what's left of a fountain head from a failed cotton growing venture in the 1920's, while others claim it was an attempt at drilling for oil... [More]

Adjacent to the S2 highway in the Anza Borrego Desert , is a small turnout marked by a historical landmark sign . It is easy to drive right by without giving it a second notice which is unfortunate. The sign, numbered 472, marks a significant spot, where in 1847 a battalion of Mormon volunteers led by Philip St. George Cooke blazed a new wagon route west. The narrow route was widened using only handtools to allow the passage of wagons and equipment on their way into California. To circumvent the steep dry waterfall , the still visible trail was carved up along the canyon wall and continued west through the Anza ... [More]