Anza Borrego

We're back from a week exploring Anza Borrego State Park--taking advantage of the dry and more or less warm weather to see a part of the desert we'd only stopped in once before.

DAY 1: We left home in the morning and drove south to eat lunch near Patterson. I'd read about some fossils quite near I-5 on Del Puerto Canyon Road, but we failed to find them. On the other hand, we didn't look that hard. But it gave us a nice break on the drive. We checked into a hotel in Lancaster in time to rest up a bit, and then ate dinner at a Peruvian restaurant: Pollo a la Brasa, there. Excellent. A modest place, but delicious food.

Day 2: after breakfast at the hotel, we drove to the Borrego Springs Campground...but it was closed until 2pm.  Fair enough, We ate our lunch and spent some time in the visitors center. Two good movies there, and we chatted with a ranger, Anna, who gave us some very sad news. Because we didn't have 4X4, she thought that there were very few trails in the park that would be suitable for us. Hmmm. We drove the campground, set up the van, checked out the open air toilets, and went for the one hike she had suggested, the Borrego Palms Canyon trail. It was lovely, easy, and fun--I think we saw about ten people on the hike. Because the campground is nestled into the western hills, and this was January, the sun set early, and our campsite was in the shade by the time we returned. It was cold. We decided to eat our dinner in the van. After dinner, we took our usual stroll around the campground, charmed by the coyotes we heard singing in the dark.

Day 3. We waited for the sun again before making breakfast in camp. Happily, the campground gets early morning sun. Basing our plan on Anna's advice, we drove to the Slot Canyon and Calcite Mine loop. She was concerned that the road might not be good, but we learned later it was regularly maintained. It was easy. We loved the hiked through the slot, and even the slog up the hill to get to the road back to the parking area.

Great hike, and we really only saw a few other people. We were done well before lunch, so we drove to the Salton Sea, which was only a few miles away. What a sad area. Homes built on the promise of a resort, and the water is now miles away. We did drive up to the Torres Martinez Reservation Casino on the promise of cheap gas. It was cheap. And we ate an enormous torta from the Mexican restaurant there. We drove back to the campgorund via the Galleta Meadows sculptures, which are littered throughout Borrego Springs. By that time we were ready for our afternoon rest, but before lying down we met a law enforcement ranger in the campground who was much more encouraging about hiking. She gave us some new suggestions. Thank you!

After our nap, we noticed some kind of law enforcement action at the campground--lots of vehicles, flashing lights, and a lot of questions to someone in a small car near the restrooms. We never learned what that was about. We went back to the visitors center to see another movie and get more info that back to eat dinner at dusk in the van again. Another walk through the campground in the dark, and we were off to bed.

Day 4. Once again we ate breakfast after the sun came up, and then drove two miles to Hellhole Canyon for a great hike up to Maidenhair Falls. This was a nice adventure (Anna had suggested it would be too difficult for us. It was not--despite the "graves" at left.) And when we got back to the visitors center in time to eat a late lunch, the staff there was delighted to learn that there was still some water at the base of the falls. Apparently, no one had been there and checked in some time. And this time we talked to Rick Hulls, a volunteer closer to our age. He was great and suggested a couple more interesting hikes for us. After lunch we hiked Little Surprise Canyon, whic had more interesting rocks than the two previous hikes.

From there checked in to the Borrego Valley Inn for a shower and a night it a bed. It was lovely--beautiful views, gorgeous furniture. really nice. We ate dinner at Red Ocotillo which was yummy, if too much food.