the wandering chick
...the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
the nation's second largest state park

It was word of a super-bloom that had a friend and me heading west into the Colorado Desert of southern California. Fortunately, we were smart enough to take camping gear, because half the nation must have gotten the same super-bloom alert.

Anza-Borrego, which I shall now abbreviate as ABDSP, is less than 100 miles from the California coast, so it's understandable there would be an overabundance of people wanting to see an overabundance of flowers.

The park is huge, some 600,000 acres, and the terrain ranges from badlands-type sandstone gorges to palm groves. In the middle of the park is the town of Borrego Springs, population of less than 3,000 people and the hub for information, eateries, shopping and lodging.

As in many trips I've taken, the journey to and from the park was as exciting as the destination. Traveling from the Phoenix area, we made our first stop near Quartzite where we spotted a plethora of purple flowers covering the hillsides to the north. Off we scrambled from the I-10 to find a series of dirt roads that got us close enough to the purple masses to get some shots.

Once over the California border, we took a road called the Box Canyon Road that connects the I-10 and State Highway 111 at the town of Mecca. The easy two-lane route, which we will have taken on the return trip as well, was lined with budding wildflowers over a sandy terrain that bumped against the low range of mountains called the Mecca Hills. Dramatic rock formations were around every corner of the winding 8-mile or so road.

Our two full days were filled with wildflower shooting, a pretty cool slot canyon, a collection of full-sized metal animal sculptures, a highlight of Borrego Springs, and oh, yes...hunting down a camping spot to rest our weary heads. After being sent on a wild-goose chase, we ended up in a delightful, though primitive, camping spot in Blair Valley. We were quite content, happy actually, but wanted closer into town the second night where we got in at the Roadrunner Club's dry camping area in Borrego Springs.

The Roadrunner Club is a first-class RV Resort and Golf Club, so, having no shower or electric amenities the night before, we felt much like a couple of dirty oafs fresh off the hillbilly wagon. But we slept well.

See what we saw through the photos on this page. The ABDSP is a pretty remarkable spot to visit.

purple fields of wildflowers
purple wildflower fields
purple wildflower fields
On the north side of the I-10 in the area of Quartzite, Arizona, we ventured from interstate to dirt roads to get closer to these lovely fields of purple.
purple wildflower fields
colorful flowers on roadside
This was one of our first sights on Box Canyon Road before reaching the really dramatic stuff of the Mecca Hills.
wild weed
flowers and snow-capped mountain peak
the Mecca Hills
the Mecca Hills
the Mecca Hills
the Mecca Hills
Blair Valley
badlands-type terrain of the state park
The Anza-Borrego's east entrance greets you with standstone rock formations that drop into narrow gorges and ravines.
badlands of the state park
badlands-type terrain of the state park
badlands-type terrain of the state park
badlands-type terrain of the state park
In national parks, when you see a line of cars on the road, you can be sure there is wldlife to be seen. Here, the cars were lined to see the wildflowers.
wildflowers
wildflowers against the mountains
dead tree in dry lake bed
wildflowers
From the east side of the park, the huge Salton Sea can be seen in the distance looking east.
the Mecca Hills
field of purple ground cover
dead tree stump in silhouette
Ocatillo in bloom
field of purple ground cover
Sand verbena and desert sunflower among other types of wildflower line a section of Palm Canyon Road as one enters the park from the east.
wildflowers above the slot canyon
inside the slot canyon
walking in the slot canyon
Blair Valley
above the slot canyon
Gravel Ghost
inside the slot canyon
inside the slot canyon
Ocotillo
inside the slot canyon
View of the Slot Canyon from above. A person can be seen in this photo as he enters the slot.
rocky ridge with flora at top
rocky ridge with ocatillo at top
single white daisy family flower
There are many slot canyons scattered among the western U.S. Some are more dramatic than others, depending on the amount of light - or lack of - that filters in. This particular slot received a considerable amount, with very few areas where the light was completely blocked off. The more light from above, usually the less dramatic, as far as one's photos go.
inside the slot canyon
Blair Valley lies in the center of the state park and south of the town of Borrego Springs. A low-lying rocky ridge is the highlight of the primitive campground seen here. Below, left is a closeup of the rock and desert flora that make up the ridge.
inside the slot canyon
metal elephant
metal animal sculpture
inside the slot canyon
serpent metal art
elephant
serpent metal art
Known locally as Sky Art, sculpture artist Ricardo Breceda created some 130 life-sized metal pieces of artwork in a section of Borrego Springs known as Galleta Meadows Estates. It was done at the request of the landowner of the estate, Dennis Avery, who is now deceased. The sculptures are spread over several miles of the land and are a big draw to the area.
The slot from above
rams metal sculpture
mountain
above the slot
wildflowers along road
road leading into town
inside the slot canyon
wildflowers along road
Leaving the slot canyon, we headed toward town on the Borrego Springs Road.
inside the slot canyon
yellow wildflowers
road to the mountains
white-sand beach
wildflowers
mountain terrain
great blue heron skimming water
low-lying hills of sandstone
wildflowers
white flower
mountain terrain
wildflowers
badland-type terrain
great blue heron landing on the water
"elephant knee" rock formations
We pass through the Mecca Hills one last time, on our return, and see a whole new perspective on the fascinating hills...
low-lying hills of sandstone
great blue heron on water's edge
We take our last shots of the spectacular terrain of the park (above) and head east. Not too far from the park's east side is the Salton Sea (in the picture on the right). We stopped at the beach in Desert Shore.
A single great blue heron patiently watches the water for any snacks that might come swimming by.
dead branches against rock
facing the hills
purple flowers on roadside among the hills
...and we're certain that the purple lupine and yellow brittlebush had not yet popped when we journied through two days earlier.
yellow brittlebush on roadside

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