Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has a special place in Steve’s heart. This is where his parents used to boondock in their RV every winter for years, and he visited them several times during their stays. Our last visit here was a decade ago when we flew down to spread his parent’s ashes in the desert that had been their beloved winter home. Now we were excited to return with an RV of our own.
This state park is the largest in California. Located about 80 miles northeast of San Diego, it encompasses more than 600,000 acres of mostly desert wilderness and is framed by many rugged and beautiful mountain ranges. It takes its name from 18th century Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego, the Spanish word for bighorn sheep.
This wondrous and wild place with its sweeping vistas offers lots of surprises that beg to be explored, and because it’s so huge our two week stay wasn’t enough to cover it all.
The borregos did not disappoint, as they were there watching and waiting for us to pass so they could cross for their drink of the clear water:
To get off the beaten path and experienced the desert in its most primal state requires a high clearance vehicle. So weren’t we lucky that our friends (and Jeep owners) Dave and Sue of Belugas Excellent Adventures were also in the area and offered to share with us what they had already seen and experienced. Our first drive was to the Wind Caves through Split Mountain. The drive itself was a journey through a geological wonder, and we made several stops to gaze and ponder how time, weather and geology have created so many interesting formations here.
At the Wind Caves, the wildly eroded pockets were such a lure to be explored that Steve and I instantly became kids and started scrambling in and out wherever we could. After lunch we all spent a few more minutes listening to the stillness of the desert and just enjoying the peaceful scenery.
One of the best places to get a look at the Badlands’ surreal scenery was from Font’s Point, at the end of a 4-mile sandy primitive wash. The point has a commanding view of the Borrego Valley and Borrego Badlands below.
We should mention that Jeep owners Dave and Sue, John and Pam, Joe and Gay and Bob and Dee Dee are very kind to us CRV folks. Not only have we enjoyed seeing places we otherwise wouldn’t, but we’ve loved hanging out with all of them as well. A Jeep might be in our future, but what’s the hurry when we have such great folks to take us to these spectacular places?
Two weeks was just too short to thoroughly explore this amazing place. We’ve seen quite a bit, but plenty remains for a return visit. Who knows, we may have a Jeep of our own when we return 🙂
Finally, while driving around we caught glimpses of prehistoric creatures casting a shadow on the desert. Some, like the one pictured below, will be featured in my next post:
Lowes Travels 
Having a Jeep would certainly lead to more exploring…
Looks like so much fun and beauty. Perhaps you can be our tour guide some day 😉
The hiking and Jeeping in that area look incredible! Love the formations and blooming plants.
If all goes well, we will be staying in Borrego Springs for December 2017. Your post is beautiful (as always) and sure gets me excited about future plans! I’m sure I will have lots of questions as the time gets closer! I can see why Steve’s parents spent winters here!
Love this place!! I’m sorry we had to miss this past fall. Next year it is in our plans again!! Yes, a Jeep is necessary in this park. Luckily, you timed your visit perfectly to get a free ride to the wilderness:)
We always love our visits to Anza Borrego, and have enjoyed fabulous hiking and sightings of wild sheep and wildflowers. But lacking a jeep, we’ve not been out to some of the places you were so fortunate to explore. Thanks for the great tour—your photos of the badlands are gorgeous! So much fun to meet up with good friends for adventures. :-))
Fabulous place and gorgeous photos! We will probably never get back there again.Thanks for bringing back tons of memories.
Anza-Borrego is at the top of my list. I was disappointed we didn’t make it there earlier in March, but when one of our trailer tires blew in Escondido, I was glad we weren’t driving in the desert where services are not as available.
What a special place for Steve. I had no idea the park was so large. It has always been on my list but in two trips west we still haven’t made it. You’ve certainly reinforced my desire. Sounds like we’ll need way more than our customary 2 weeks. Steve’s picture between the plants really shows how huge they are. How nice to find water in the desert. Great pictures of what looks like a tricky hike. Love your wildlife photos. The sign is too funny. This is a great post and your pictures of the jeep trip and surrounds are fantastic. Nice to have jeep friends.
I absolutely love your photographs of Anza Borrego. As much time as we have spent here, we haven’t spent enough time off the beaten path, with the need for 4-wheel drive. It took us quite awhile to find Maidenhair Falls as well. Luckily we had another couple give us some great tips for locating it.