We moved from the State Park in Borrego Springs to a San Diego County Park to the south. Agua Caliente is very isolated with no cell service, restaurants or grocery stores near by. So why come? The quiet and the hot springs.
The cool pool- 85 degrees
The medium pool- 92 degrees
The hot pool- 102 degrees
Sitting in hot water will only get you so far in a day. There is also plenty of hiking in the park or a short drive from the campground.
The Desert Overlook Trail
The Marsh Trail
The trail ends in a small group of Fan Palms
Moonlight Canyon Trail
We liked this one so much we did it twice.
Julian CA
About 42 miles from camp is the small mountain town of Julian. The town got its start during the California gold rush. It turned out that there wasn’t much gold in the area so they reinvented themselves as an apple growing community. Today it is a popular day trip destination from San Diego and the desert towns east of the mountain.
All that remains from those early days as an apple producing locale are numerous pie restaurants and (hard)cideries.
And then there’s beer.
Blair Valley and Little Blair Valley
Anza-Borrego Desert Park is so large and that you couldn’t see it all in a week. At the south end near Agua Caliente there are several remote valleys to explore. We spent a pleasant day hiking the trails in one of them. Blair Valley shows signs of habitation from 1000 years ago. The Kumeyaay people were hunter gatherers who called this place home. They left evidence of agave roasting pits, moteros and pictographs.
Blair Valley features miles of dirt roads.
Blair Valley Dry Lake
Pictograph Trail
Moteros Trail
During our numerous desert visits we have not experienced much in the way of percipitation. That has not been the case this trip. The Southwest can certainly use some rain and camping in it is not always a bad thing. Think flowers and rainbows.
We are moving on to Arizona but have enjoyed our Southern California sojourn.
Breathtakingly beautiful. And so peaceful……
LikeLike
Beautiful ❤️. Looks familiar, oh the desert is calling!
LikeLike
Magnificant beauty.
LikeLike
Mmmmmm. Pie! And beautiful pictures, as always! Wonderful wonderful. Onward, intrepid ones!-r
>
LikeLike
Beautiful photos. You have an excellent eye. And love learning of new areas through your eyes.
LikeLike
Pools, pies, and pictographs! Those would interest me! I had never heard of this place, even after living 29 years in Arizona. You are immersed in so much of beautiful Nature! And the Skies!!! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Big sky. Big sighs 🙂 Every time I look at your desert pics I wonder how many snakes and lizards you greet on those trails?
LikeLike
Not as many as we’d like.
LikeLike
Exceptionally beautiful and interesting.
LikeLike
You two are beginning to look like you are native desert dwellers….wonderful pictures again and again. Where in AZ will you set up camp? Onward…..
LikeLike
Currently in the Phoenix area, then to Tucson and Patagonia Lake. We plan on spending March near Sedona.
LikeLike
as always wonderful photos, we are with you- keep on keeping on
4 Storeys
LikeLike
Wow! All good stuff! Thanks!
LikeLike
Thank you. ❤
LikeLike