Anza Borrego Flowers / Borrego Springs CA

East San Diego County, Borrego Springs CA

San Diego Backcountry
600,000 acres of SoCal desert

BLOOM: March thru May
Anza Park elevations range from low to high. Lowest near eastern border of park (next to the Salton Sea) to the upper reaches of the western slopes @ 4000′ of the Laguna mountains. Lower elevations sprout up first; Higher elevations bloom later (along County Rd S-2) Drive from Warner Springs to Salton Sea = Back Road Highway # S22 is a great route to take thru the park – for the full gamut in vegetation & altitude.

anza wildflowers include – Arizona Lupine, Barrel cacti, Brittlebush, California Primrose, Cheesebush, Creosote, Desert Chicory, Desert Apricot, Desert Hibiscus, Desert Lavender, Desert Pincushion, Fiesta Flower, Fishhook Cactus, Gold-Poppy, Ghost Flowers, Ground Cherry, Fagonia, Prickly Pear, Monkey Flower, Ocotillo, Rigid Fiddleneck, Rock Daisy, Sahara Mustard, Sand Verbena, Short-Wing Deerweed, Spanish Needles, Spectacle Pod, Trailing Windmills, Turpentine Broom, Whispering Bells, Wishbone Bush

Anza Borrego Camping: Palm Canyon and RV Resorts

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2012 CaliforniaWildflower Reports

(check back here, around early March)

local links:

Anza Borrego Desert
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego National History Association
Borrego Campfire Restrictions
Desert USA Reports
Hellhole Canyon Hike
Palm Canyon Hike
Pictograph Trail
Total Escape Adventures Campouts

nearby towns:

• BOMBAY BEACH
• BORREGO SPRINGS, CA
• JULIAN, CA
• MT LAGUNA
• PALOMAR MTN
• RAMONA, CA
• SALTON SEA
• WARNER SPRINGS

East San Diego County, Borrego Springs CA

San Diego Backcountry
600,000 acres of SoCal desert

BLOOM: mid-March thru May
Anza Park elevations range from low to high. Lowest near eastern border (next to the Salton Sea) to the upper reaches of the western slopes @ 4000′. Wide, deep, sandy, long desert washes, native petroglphs, wind caves, slot canyons and split mountain. This uncrowded state park has the most acreages than all of the parks.

OPEN CAMPING

Camp in a developed campground, a small back country site or camp primitive on nearly any dirt road. Car camping to 4×4, this park has lots to offer folks wishing to really escape. No ground fires allowed, so bring your metal campfire bucket and large trash bag to carry out your ashes. The last thing you want is to scar these pristine white desert washes.

DESERT WILDFLOWERS

Steep rocky canyons on the Laguna mountain foothills can be challenging terrain, so bring good, sturdy hiking boots. Wildflowers can be abundant on certain years. Lower elevations sprout up first; Higher elevations along County Rd S-2 & S-22 bloom later in Spring. By June 1st most of the color is gone in and around Borrego Springs, so this is a real Winter and Spring vacation kinda spot. California desert wildflowers include primrose, barrel cactus, prickly pear, monkey flower, ocotillo & many more.

ANZA BORREGO WILDFLOWERS

see also BORREGO SPRINGS

find you way easily with the Anza Borrego Desert Map

This is the largest State Park in California and “open car camping” is allowed on the back roads. (also referred to as primitive camping, free camping or 4×4 camping) One of the few places in Southern California that you can camp outside of a developed Campground and still have a campfire. You gotta bring a large metal bucket to have your campfire in – as ashes scar white sandy washes and ground fires are not allowed.

CITY & BAYS & BEACHES:

San Diego picnic parks

BACK COUNTRY MOUNTAINS & DESERTS:

• Desert View Picnic, Laguna Mountains – large open spaces surrounded by pines
• Aqua Dulce Meadows, Mount Laguna, CA inside Cleveland National Forest – hike in camp area, bring your hammock
• Pine Creek Road – large open spaces surrounded by pines; Cleveland National Forest
• Sunrise Highway, Laguna Mountains – plenty of meadows or side roads off to the right have plenty of good meadows & woods; Cleveland National Forest
• Potrero Hills Park, W of Campo, CA – Oaks, boulders & hills on Hwy. 94
• Anza Borrego State Park- almost anywhere is great, as long as it is not in the hot summer months. (May – Sept)

[ NOTE: 2007 wildfires in San Diego may have burnt some these areas, so have a plan B as a backup ]

Maps Mountains / San Diego Maps

• CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST MAP
• AGUA TIBIA Wilderness Map
• ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK MAP
• SAN DIEGO BACKCOUNTRY MAP (Tom Harrison)
• PCT Trail Map – Southern California
• PINE CREEK /HAUSER Wilderness Map
• CLEVELAND FOREST TOPO ATLAS

Maps are the key to finding your very own slice of heaven in the Wilderness. Online map sources can barely get you to your city destination correctly, much less the remote waterfall you desire. You will need a real map for your adventure. A topographical map, with all the details, dirt roads & hiking trails. If you are seeking to stay away from the touristy crowds, this is the best possible place you can be…. on this site, searching for ways to make it happen – this weekend.

BACKPACKERS BACKPACKING MAPS -

Mount Whitney & beyond the High Sierra. DanaMite stocks all the California Wilderness maps. Most are printed on waterproof plastic now & are tear-resistant.

• California Wilderness Maps
• Tom Harrison Topo Trail Maps
• California Recreation Maps

CAR CAMPING MAPS -

Planning on camping outside of the developed campgrounds & finding that perfect stream side spot without the reservation & the fees? Then you will need a free fire permit (from a ranger station), plus a good map of the forests & a vehicle capable of handling the rugged the back roads. We even carry regional maps in a set, so you can get the whole area at a discounted price.

• California National Forest Maps
• Map Sets for California
• Recreation Area Maps
• Topographic Map Atlases
  

CALIFORNIA OFF ROAD MAPS -

Wanna take that 4×4 vehicle somewhere really special this season? Camp well beyond the masses, way down that dirt road. We stock OHV maps for SoCal, the deserts & all the National Forest maps too.

• California Desert Maps
• California & Baja Offroad Maps
• California National Forest Maps

CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUND MAPS -

Start your search on the perfect campground or camp site with the destination in mind. Mountains, deserts, coastal. Parks & forests all have their own maps with all nearby camp grounds listed. We stock all the National Forest maps, as well as some State Park & National Park maps

See all California topo, hiking, camping maps

RV camping at it's best in the Sierra; This rig found themselves deep in the alpine lush meadows with towering trees and a view and a very private camp site.

San Diego Desert Camping

Primitive desert camping close to SD – yipee!

Interstate 8 EAST from SD / exit Ocotillo. SD county road # S2, the south end near the State Park boundary. Gorgeous every season but summer. Great winter camping close to SoCal. This  dirt road in in a desert wash area, which starts west – off the paved road. The signed white desert wash is a suitable drive for passenger cars (most years). But you best have 4×4 f the rain gets going good. Low riders should watch for the ridge lines – as the are naturally rockier places and could take out an oil pan of a mini SUV (at a high rate of speed).

The large morterro boulders at the far end of this route have nice views of the Imperial desert floor. Better from the top of the boulders too; numerous primitive camp sites surrounding the big boulders too. No toilets; no shade; no water; minimal vegetation. At night the stars are heavenly, but you can see city lights from Calexico and Mexicali. From the boulder you can hike or mountain bike up to the “old goat trestle” and numerous historic train tunnels @ Carizo Gorge (not to be confused w/ Carizo Plains in Kern Co). Moderate hike, all day adventure. Bring lunch and water!

SAN DIEGO Backcountry Map
this waterproof map has the entire State Park covered

When you decide to stop the car, look around for the best spot. Park off the road way and preferably in a turn out or camp spot. Turn off the engine, get out of the automobile, stretch your legs, breathe, look, close your eyes – tight and breathe deeply, then look around you again. This particular place is special, you can just feel it. Walking around the boulder area, be cautious of snakes. On the boulders – closely examine them, climb on them, get to the top; you will find the (NativeAmerican) Indian grinding holes.

great side trip option: Across the paved road (SD County Road S2) on the opposite side of the valley is a nice hike to Sand Dollar Hill. (I’m sure this isn’t the real name, but I will add that later). Dirt road leads up to a dirt parking area for hikers. Busy lil place sometimes. These desert dirt hills have wind caves and chunks of sand dollars scattered all over them. The real ocean floor way out here, east in the Anza SD desert… how cool is that?

great side trip option: Canon Sin Nombre is just up the road a piece, N on S2, on the EAST side of the road. Amazing viewpoint turn out, right on the highway, overlooking the impressive topography and badlands. If you have a high clearance SUV or any truck you can drive down into the sandy tight, rocky wash. It meets back up with another main wash way back there. Tons to explore back here. Off roader should think Tread Lightly on this turf and primitive car campers should use a Leave No Trace approach. White sand, deep sand, caves, smoke trees, and the best slot canyon climbing & hiking this side of the Anza State Park.