Total Escape Outside » Wildflowers

Anza Borrego Wildflowers

DanaMite — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:58:48 +0000

Desert Wildflowers / Anza Borrego SP

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:

Memorial Day California

DanaMite — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Memorial Day Trips

Late May is a fine time to be in California. Spring is warming up, rains are fading and school is finally out. This 3 day holiday weekend known as Memorial Day weekend, unofficially kicks off the start to the summer season and launches us into warmer weather. Most folks wanna be outside and having fun on their days off. BBQs, family picnics and street fair traditions are quite common. The Sierra snows are melting fast, rivers are raging, wildflowers blooming and all the lakes are full. The coastal areas may have some clouds and fog as the June Gloom announces its presence.

Memorial Day Weekend

Camping in California is one of the most popular things to do over the busy holiday weekend, making any well-known outdoor destination congested and unpleasant. Campgrounds are usually full up and reservations are required. The first come, first serve camp spots are best secured on the Thursday night, before the weekend.

You should try to have a secondary Plan B ready, if your favorite campsite (A) is already taken. Free camp fire permits and primitive camping can often mean more responsibility, but the rewards of peace and tranquility as neighbors are well worth it. Drive a bit further down the road for more secluded spots. This year, a 4×4 might be recommended on snowy dirt back roads in the backcountry. A good snow pack in the High Country means that all rivers, creeks and lakes are maxed out. Use extreme caution around all waterways, wear life vests and make your weekend a pleasant and safe one.

RIVER CAMPING
LAKE CAMPING
GOLD COUNTRY
SEQUOIA CAMPING
CA BACK ROADS
CREEKSIDE CAMPS

day trips for the weekend

Borrego Park

DanaMite — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 03:35:21 +0000

Anza Park / Borrego Park

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

Mount Pinos Recreation

DanaMite — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:08:30 +0000

Mt Pinos Campgrounds – Los Padres Camping

A little bit of high altitude, alpine forests in SoCal. Mount Pinos campgrounds are the ones on the way up to Mt Pinos 8831′, on the paved route to the top parking lot, Mount Pinos Road. Only 2 campgrounds take reservations & can be busy in summer months. Chula Vista Camp (at the top parking lot) has an amazing wildflower meadow w/ group camp area. Drum circles are common on summer weekends.

Mt Pinos parking lot is well known among RVers, astronomers & cross country skiers. If the 2 snow gates are open, you’ll find RVs camping out here until winter officially starts. The peak to peak trail from Mt Pinos to Mt Abel 8243′ starts at this parking area & trail head. Cool ski hut that no Forest Personnel every seems to be operating. Portable toilets available.

In the mid-winter, snow is almost guaranteed up here. Families & sledders flock to this region for snow play causing major traffic jams & parking problems. On the busiest of weekends w/ a recent snow storm, you may find several miles of vehicles, backed up from Pinos to the freeway (causing 10 miles of traffic jam in the mountains). It is not uncommon to see CHP managing traffic flow on the weekend. Snow play areas are located at the top on Pinos, if the gates are open. If not the “Y” – where Cuddy Valley meets Mil Potrero Hwy. is the main destination. This is a very busy intersection, as it is the main route entering Pine Mountain Club, located 5 miles to the west. Be considerate! Do not litter and please park OFF THE PAVEMENT; keep kiddies, sleds & BBQs out of the road ways.

campground	elev	spots	veg	toilet	water	notes
Chula Vista Campground	8300′	12	pines	vault	no	walk-in camps & RV lot
McGill Campground	7500′	50+	pine	vault	seasonal	closed in winter
Mount Pinos Campground	7800′	19	pine	vault	seasonal	closed in winter

The pinyon pine forests surrounding Mount Pinos Recreation Area is Los Padres National Forest, where there is every kinda camping imaginable. Outdoor resorts such as Pine Mountain Club & Mil Potrero Campground all the way over to rugged backpacking, or back road motorcycle 4×4 camps – with maybe one camp fire ring (still intact). Windwolves Preserve, Quatal Canyon, Cerro Noroeste, Lockwood & Cuyama Valley.

Group Camping Sites in Los Padres Forest

map of the regions -

nearby towns -

22S12 – Sequoia NF

DanaMite — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:02:04 +0000

Big Meadow: Forest Road# 22S12 – Cherry Hill, Sequoia National Forest

Take Sierra Hwy. N of Kernville, past Fairview & over the Johnsondale bridge; Right turn on Sherman’s Pass Road & drive up to a signed intersection (near a snow gate). Turn right on Big Meadow Road, aka Forest Service Rd# 22S12. This is a very long road which is paved for the first few miles. 22S12 becomes a graded dirt road, suitable for horse trailers; it forks off to other smaller dirt roads, as it progresses through the forests & dead ends back by Cannell Meadow. The main routes are passenger car accessible, but some of the smaller dirt roads can get quite bumpy. A truck or SUV would be advisable to explore these secondary routes. Some areas have suffered from wildfire July 2000.

Horses & equestrian camping are very popular in this region. The developed Horse Meadow Campground can be found on the right via road# 23S08. Located at 7400′ elevation w/ 41 spots.

Side routes include:

#23S14 Cherry Hill – a few camp spots near creek & a meadow with views at the very end
#23S41 Poison Meadow
#23S13 Salmon Creek
#22S07 Big Meadow – this is a graded loop road around the “Big Meadow”. Plenty of primitive camp sites around Big Meadow, but they are the first ones to fill up during a popular summer weekend. The region is perfect for backpackers or day hikers wanting to access Manter Mdw. & the Domelands Wilderness.
#24S13 feeds the last stretch of road to Rattlesnake Meadow. Taylor Creek near 24S43, features numerous waterfalls leading to the South Fork of the Kern River
#24S12 Cannell Meadow & Pine Flat. The Cannell Meadow National Recreation Trail runs thru here, from Big Meadow down to Kernville, CA.

Sequoia National Forest

Sequoia National Forest MAP

DOME LAND Wilderness MAP

Nearby towns include: