Anza Borrego Wildflowers (San Diego, Calexico: camp, vacations, land)

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

I tried booking a hotel room on the 18th of March and all hotels with in 2 hrs radius of Anza Borrego State Park are fully booked. seems millions are anticipating the bloom and thought this date is the full bloom

As Eastcoastbias noted, from San Diego, it is an easy day drive to Anza Borrego -- you don't have to stay overnight! I am half an hour from downtown San Diego, and it takes me a little over an hour to get to the Southern edge of Anza Borrego via the 8 (get off in Ocotillo) then take S-2 to the Southern Entrance of the park. That will loop over to the road to Borrego Springs, or you can go back up to Julian.

If you're coming from out of town, any hotel in central San Diego with easy access to freeways will put you in driving distance of Anza Borrego.

I was out in the desert again yesterday and the wildflowers are really popping along the 8 freeway going down the pass after Jacumba. Around Ocotillo, there are some nice displays of desert sunflowers, and in a couple of days things in the park along S-2 will really be beautiful. The Arizona Lupines are starting to bloom there at higher elevations along S-2, and if you hike down into Box Canyon (easy hike) you'll start to see some nice flowers there (The top of Box Canyon by the parking lot usually blooms through April as it is slightly higher elevation). I didn't stopthere yesterday but I bet the canyon hike in Agua Caliente County Park will also be beautiful (Agua Caliente is on S-2).

That southern part of the park along S-2 will also be less crowded this weekend when the masses descend on Borrego Springs.

Here's an article from the Washington Post on the Anza Borrego bloom: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.2c989a88647b

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

You can camp on blm lands for free.

I know but my point is , seems tens of thousands will be descending on the park on that weekend

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

I know but my point is , seems tens of thousands will be descending on the park on that weekend

Again, try heading out on 8 to Octotillo, then get off and take S-2 through the park. There will be fewer people in that part of the park, and when I was out there yesterday, there were some areas that are going to probably reach their peak soon. Heck, right off of 8 at Ocotillo, there are huge fields of desert sunflowers just starting to bloom! Remember: it's best to get out of the car if you can and do a short hike like down into Box Canyon. While there are wildflowers close to the road throughout the park, the showiest displays are often a short walk away.

If you want to see wildflowers closer to home, the UT offered these suggestions:

PLACES TO VIEW WILDFLOWERS NEAR SAN DIEGO:

Carmel Mountain Preserve – Wildflowers are expected to start to bloom in the next two weeks. For more information, call (858) 538-8066

Mission Trails Regional Park – Wildflowers are blooming in the area, most notably on the Oak Canyon trail. For more information, call (619) 668-3281

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve – Wildflower have started blooming in the reserve, especially along they Guy Fleming Trail. For more information, call: (858) 755-2063

Otay Valley Regional Park — Wildflower bloom has started and is expected to pick up over the next two weeks. For more information, call: (619) 424-0463


Also, wildflowers will start blooming on Mount Laguna, Cleveland National Forest, Mt. Palomar and in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park around mid-may to early June. This will probably be a GREAT year in these places too. Last year, there were beautiful strands of Lupine in several places along Sunrise Highway, and there are a number of hikes that will take you to more. Out where I live, the Ceanothus is already turning hillsides purple at lower elevations. That is a few weeks earlier than usual, so the higher elevations may get into swing earlier too if the weather stays warm.

So, don't worry if you don't make it out to the desert -- there will be plenty of wildflowers all over the place in San Diego for the next few months.

I have tried to upload some photos from my trip yesterday but I am having trouble getting them to upload. If anyone can help me out, please send me a direct message.

Catwarmer --- Your photos are gorgeous!

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Again, try heading out on 8 to Octotillo, then get off and take S-2 through the park. There will be fewer people in that part of the park

am looking at the map and could not see road/highway 8. are you referring to 78?

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

am looking at the map and could not see road/highway 8. are you referring to 78?

No, I'm referring to the I-8 freeway which runs West to East from San Diego to Arizona. The I-8 is the freeway that goes through Mission Valley in San Diego; it should be easy to find on any map. It connects with the 5, 805, and 15. The 8 is a major 4 lane freeway so it is a quicker way to the desert than the 2 lane roads like 78 and 79.

From San Diego, the 8 will take you through Alpine, Pine Valley and Campo, before heading down through the mountain pass by Jacumba, and into the desert. The pass from Jacumba to the desert is amazing scenery on its own; it goes through mountains filled with red rocks. A few weeks ago, I saw Mountain Goats right by the side of the 8 going through this pass, so keep your eyes open. The desert sunflowers were just starting to bloom in the pass yesterday -- stunning against the red rocks -- and may be fully open this weekend.

When you get to the desert (you'll know you're there because it will be very flat all of a sudden!), take the exit for Ocotillo. It is the exit immediately after the 99 to Calexico. You will see the Desert museum off of the 8 right before the exit.

(I recommend stopping into the museum -- it's a great intro to the desert, and they have nice restrooms. There are tons of wildflowers on the road by the museum.)

If you don't go to the museum, after you get off the 8 at Ocotillo, head to your left. That will take you through Ocotillo to S-2 to S-2. Head west on S-2 and in 5 minutes you will be in Anza Borrego Park.

S-2 continues through the southern portion of Anza Borrego. It's a beautiful drive. A good stop to break up the trip is Agua Caliente County Park (also on S2), where there is a nice short hike behind the store (ask in the store and they will tell you what to do).

S-2 also passes by Box Canyon Monument. There is a small parking lot there. You can get out there to walk to the edge of the canyon to read the Monument marker - which explains why this is called the Overland Stage Route - and the view is very nice from there (there will probably be some wildflowers around that area). However, it is an easy walk down into the canyon, which is a "slot" canyon and goes on for quite a distance. When I was there a few weeks ago, the wild flowers were just starting to bloom in the Canyon.

There are other stops on S-2, such as Blair Valley, where there are ancient Indian pictographs and Vallecitos County Park, on the site of an historic stage station. Google can tell you more about them.

Continue ot S-2 through Shelter Valley (it's a small community of houses). Just after Shelter Valley, you will come to a T in the road. That is route 78. There will be a sign that points to Julian one way and Barstow/Borrego Springs the other way.

If you want to head to Borrego Springs, follow the signs pointing that way (it will be a right turn). (You'll need to turn on Yaqui Pass Road (S-3) by the Tamirisk Camp Ground from 78 to get to Borrego Springs, so watch for the signs on 78). Borrego Springs is about 15 minutes from the T, but may take longer if you stop and get out of the car to explore. There are some nice easy hikes along that road and plenty of views.

Once you are in Borrego Springs, follow the signs to the Anza Borrego Vistor's Center. The rangers there will be able to direct you to the best wild flower areas within the Borrego Springs area (just be aware that they'll be directing EVERYONE to the same general places. ) There are rest rooms at the visitor's center, but expect lines for them (even last week there were lines). There are a ton of wild flowers right near the visitor's center -- just walk towards the mountains.

Or, if you are ready to head home, when you get to 78 on S-2, turn left to go towards Julian. This will take you up the Banner Grade (twisty) and right into Julian. You can follow 78 all the way through Ramona towards Poway. Or, in Julian, you can take 79 south (the turn is right after the post office). That will take you past Lake Cuyamaca (beautiful and overflowing right now!), and through Rancho Cuyamaca State Park and then back to I-8. Take I-8 West from there to return to San Diego.

You can also go down 78 from Julian to S-2, but I find it is easier to go all the way out on 8 and then head north than the other way, as the Banner Pass from Julian is very bendy and seems easier to drive up than down.

If you go to Borrego Springs, you can take the road back through Ranchita and Warner Springs to get back to San Diego.

I know everyone loves the area around Borrego Springs, and the S-22 (not the same as the S-2) and they are great too, but the southern part of Anza Borrego, along the S-2 is beautiful in its own right, has plenty of wild flowers, and you won't have as many crowds as you will by Borrego Springs.

Here is a map of the park that will help you plan your trip. The S-2 route is at the bottom of the map.

I do ALL of these drives by myself several times a month. I usually leave around 9 in the morning, and I'm back before dark, but I stop a lot along the way. I love the desert!

Anyhow, the S-2 route will likely have far less traffic and crowds than the Borrego Springs area this week, but it may still have a fair amount of traffic from people who want to get away from the crowds.


Enjoy!

[RosieSD]

Here are some links describing the S-2 route:

S-2 sights (it lists them from North to South. If you go via 8, you will be going South to North, so start at the bottom & work up). Anza Borrego Southern Emigrant Trail County ROad S2

This site has a closeup map of the S-2 drive, and has links to more information about various stops in Anza Borrego:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Auto Tours - DesertUSA

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - TourGuideTim Reveals San Diego!

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back0906.cfm

Be sure to bring lots of water!


Bathroom breaks on the 8 to S2 route:

On 8:

Buckman Springs Rest stop (just before Campo)

Golden Acorn Casino (just before Boulevard -- also has gas, food, and a small store for snacks)

In Octotillo, there is a gas station right off of the exit, plus the aforementioned Desert Museum.

Once you are on S-22:

Octotillo County Park (just before the windmills) has clean public restrooms.

Agua Caliente County Park (about half an hour from Octotillo) has restrooms at the store.

Blair Valley has a restroom right off of S-2 (bring toilet paper)

Shelter Valley has a store at the RV park with restrooms.

[payutenyodagimas]

my being not from San Diego is showing I was looking only at the Anza-Borrego State Park map as if the area is as big only as a small town.


taking the I8 from OC I think is too far away already but its worth considering only for the fewer tourists as mentioned

[RosieSD]

Also, this has some good pictures of what you will see on the S-2 route:

Desert Highways and Roads Anza-Borrego Desert South Region

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

my being not from San Diego is showing I was looking only at the Anza-Borrego State Park map as if the area is as big only as a small town.


taking the I8 from OC I think is too far away already but its worth considering only for the fewer tourists as mentioned

Anza Borrego State Park is bigger than many national parks. It encompasses almost 600,000 acres.

Sorry I didn't catch that you were from OC! Most people from OC will probably take 78 or 79 down into the park to Borrego Springs. Heading down past Ranchita is beautiful too.

If you've never visited Anza Borrego, that wouldn't be a bad plan because the visitor's center in Borrego Springs is a good stop on a first visit. Borrego Springs also has restaurants and cool metal sculptures (see this link: Metal Sculptures of Borrego Springs, CA - Ricardo Breceda - Page 1 - DesertUSA) So, if you get bored with wildflowers, there are other things to do in Borrego Springs.

If it is too crowded in Borrego Springs, you could take Yaqui Pass Road to the 78 and hook up with S-2 from there.
Take it all the way to the 8, then take the 8 back to the 805 and head north (the 805 will hook into the 5). Or,

While that will probably work out a little longer than retracing your steps, you'll be doing mostly freeway driving once you hit the 8, so it may be easier after a long day. You could book a hotel for the night in Mission Valley if you want to make it a weekend.

In any case, have fun! There is SO much to see in Anza Borrego.

Just remember: you won't be able to see everything on a single visit, so plan to come back again.

(November-December is a nice time to visit the park. There are no wildflowers then, but the temps are very comfortable, so it is a good time for hiking and just general sightseeing. And, there's usually no problem making a reservation in Borrego Springs hotels that time of year! )

[payutenyodagimas]

tooked I8 going to el centro before to watched the blue angels and am mesmerized by the topography of the land before you reached the farms. am looking forward for the experience