HIKES & EVENTS

Anza Borrego Fall Campout

Camping

DATE: Oct 24, 2014
END DATE: Oct 26, 2014

Hike/Event Location: San Diego CA

Trip Leader(s)

Meeting Time: 2:00 PM

Max # People: 10

Hike Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money

Hike Difficulty Level:

Moderate to Strenuous

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Summary

The weather has been great lately in So Cal but if you want to experience a bit more sunny days and starry nights - head out to the desert for a Fall campout in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Camp base will be primitive off-road camping up Indian Gorge (directions below and map as attachment) in the Southern section of Borrego Springs with no or little people around so can wear as little as you wish as weather permits. This is throw down primitive camping with no water or facilities.  Bring plenty for all drinking and cleaning needs. No toilets on site and in the spirit of “leave no trace”, bring a portable toilet and extra garbage bags to bag all waste. The planned primitive camp site has not toilets, but the campground down the road has pit toilets.  Fires are limited to containers, so campers must bring containers if wish a fire and haul out all debris.  Bring small sized fire wood.   

This campout is not an officially organized event or sponsored by any club or me (so can’t sue me if you hurt  yourself!), just a meet up to experience the desert and explore some interesting places.  

Activities:

Friday Oct 24th  Drive out to campsite (see directions ).  Be sure to stop at “Desert View Tower” on the way out to get a great view of the desert floor below and browse the interesting ion of books and souvenirs and say hi to the owner Ben. To get to Desert Tower, take the In-Ko-Pah exist off I-8 east and drive east until the road ends.

 Continue your journey to I-8 east to Ocotillo and north on S-2 (historic Great Southern Overland Stage Coach Route) about 18 or 19 miles to the Indian Gorge dirt road between mile marker between mile marker 47 and 46 on the west side of S-2.  Turn west on dirt road and drive for 2 - 3 miles.  There are secluded “throw-down” camp areas just past where the road splits between the north and south fork. Stay left on the South Fork.  If the first area is taken, further up the South Fork is another good site.  Look for a silver small Toyota Tacoma truck with last digits of CA plates - 911.

In afternoon, hike Canyon Sin Nombre  (5 mile rt)  exit of S-2 around mm 51.3   onto dirt road marked on east side - if have vehicle that can negotiate the step dirt road, drive to the head of they Canyon to start of the hike. A trip through many layers of sedimentary rock - twisted and turned from movement along a fault line, mud walls, canyons and a great slot canyon.   

On the way back to campsite, can do a bit of Torote Canyon, which is off the dirt road (Indian Gorge) about 1.6 miles from S-2 and on the way to the camp site. After dinner, enjoy the clear desert sky for star and UFO gazing. 

Saturday Oct 25    - After breakfast hiking;    

Day to the Arroyo Tapiado area and explore the amazing mud canyons and slot canyons.  The road to the trail head is off S-2 at MM 43.0 at Palm Springs turnoff along dirt road for about 4.5 miles. Vehicles with high clearance or 4WD is recommended by the guide books, but I have seen regular cars on the sandy dirt road.  Just have to be careful not to get stuck in the soft sand. Proceed SE past the Palm Springs turn off along the old Vallecito Stage road in dry river bed, sharp left (NE) up Tapiado Wash and drive to canyon mouth. The twisting canyon and side canyons contain subterranean washes that have created amazing caves and canyons. Explore the “valley of the thousand penises” and further up several mud caves, slot canyons and squeeze through the narrow opening to one the larger caves winding underground with periodic “daylighting where erosion has washes through.  Be sure to bring a flash light or head flashlight to explore the dark canyons and mud caves.  This adventure will take most of the day.

Cap the day if have time with a visit to Agua Caliente County park for a soak in the mineral pools (charge is $7.00 per car) Co-ed facility..sorry no nudity allowed at mineral pools unless you want to go to jail!  Visit the Agua Caliente store (family) for visit and any supplies.  Dinner on your own. Nighttime star gazing.

Sunday Oct 26                 

Perhaps a short hikes in morning, or visit to Agua Caliente for a last soak, or head up S-2 to “Scissor junction” (S-2/Hwy 78) to the town of Borrego Springs to explore the “Sky Art” sculptures - the metal sculptures dotting the desert landscape around the town including prehistoric beasts, dragon and wild horses.  Lunch in Borrego Springs before heading back to SD or other areas.  

WHAT TO BRING:

Remember this is off road primitive camping so bring plenty of water and all your own food.  For camping a tent, sleeping bag, cooking stove and utensils, lantern, flashlight and since the evenings can be cool, warm layering clothing.  For hiking trail shoes/boots, daypack, hydration bladder, sunscreen, hat and swimwear, dry socks, headlamp, TP, something to hold your waste, snacks, etc will make your camping and hike more comfortable and safe.

Directions To Trailhead Parking Lot

From San Diego; I-8 east to Ocotillo and north on S-2 (historic Great Southern Overland Stage Coach Route) about 18 or 19 miles to the Indian Gorge dirt road between mile marker between mile marker 47 and 46 on the west side of S-2.   Turn west on dirt road for 2 - 3 miles.  Stay left on the South Fork.  Look for a silver small Toyota Tacoma truck with last digits of CA plates - 911.

From Palm Springs:  HWY 86 to HWY 78 west to S-2 south past Agua Caliente Co. Park and Canebrake to directions above.

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