" A desert is a place without expectation."
Nadine Gordimer
For our last night in the Anza Borrego Desert, we decided to camp at the state’s Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Borrego Springs. We found a pull through site with full hook-ups so we were able to charge, dump and replenish our water for the next few days of dry camping in Joshua Tree National Park.
We began our exploration of the park by walking over a half mile to the very cool Anza Borrego Visitor Center. The trail is paved and accessible to everyone...just make sure your walk is not during those "gale" winds that come off the mountains, there are no shelters to deflect those icy blasts. The interpretive center was built right into the rocky hillside and is well camouflaged within the desert fauna with expansive views of the valley. The volunteers were very knowledgable about the park and the center featured several informative exhibits.
We really only experienced a tiny portion of this state park. Running about 25 miles east to west and 50 miles north to south, it is California’s largest state park encompassing more than 600,000 acres. HUGE! A wonderful sanctuary for those hardy desert wildlife...including "Wile E Coyote," whose animated pack celebrated near our campsite.
We really only experienced a tiny portion of this state park. Running about 25 miles east to west and 50 miles north to south, it is California’s largest state park encompassing more than 600,000 acres. HUGE! A wonderful sanctuary for those hardy desert wildlife...including "Wile E Coyote," whose animated pack celebrated near our campsite.
We did make time to go on a wonderful hike, the Palm Canyon Hike, that led us to a desert palm oasis. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of some Big Horn Sheep that come down the canyon for water but we were just a few minutes late of seeing a beautiful ram. Wonderful viewpoints of the desert below was afforded to us as we climbed up the canyon.
We celebrated our last night sharing a campfire with our new found friends from Canada, Alex and Ann. They were traveling on their longest “maiden” voyage via their new motorhome. As former open ocean mariners, we have no doubt their sails will always be with the wind and their ports safe havens of adventure.
We celebrated our last night sharing a campfire with our new found friends from Canada, Alex and Ann. They were traveling on their longest “maiden” voyage via their new motorhome. As former open ocean mariners, we have no doubt their sails will always be with the wind and their ports safe havens of adventure.
At Waypoint 33.269800 -116.408460
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