[catie’s corner] [pics] Exploring Anza-Borrego Desert State Park!

JEEPING SIGHT-SEEING IN AMAZING DESERT CANYONS

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I had an epic trip to Anza-Borrego State Park earlier this year. There is soooo much fun to be had within these 600,00 acres of land. I went down all kinds of trails… both in my Jeep and by foot.

There are lots of cool hikes in the park that vary from easy to strenuous. Depending on what you’re hiking to, they can range from 0.5 to 5.5 miles long. Some of the most popular (and some of my favorites) are the Palm Canyon Trail, Panoramic Overlook Trail, Cactus Loop, Wind Caves Trail, Pictograph Trail, Rainbow Canyon Trail, and the Slot Trail (See map below).

The American Southwest is full of slot canyons that you can hike or even Jeep through. I’ve been crossing off quite a few from my list. If you do choose to hike through a canyon, be aware of flash floods and always check the weather reports before going. Flash floods kill more people annually than hurricanes, lightening, or tornadoes. If you see storm clouds or hear water, head for higher ground immediately! Water can enter the canyon from miles away.

Another fun but easy hike is the Wind Caves Trail. These cool sandstone formations in the picture behind me have deep holes carved from, you guessed it: wind, over the years. I hiked this in the middle of the day in early and summer and boyyyy was it HOT! I highly suggest visiting in the cooler months because wow is that dry heat something!

I had a ton of fun Jeeping down washes in the Anza-Borrego Springs State Park. There are tons of different ones to ride down, just make sure you have your maps downloaded or a GPS handy! There are all kinds of trails to take your Jeep, SUV or side-by-side down. There is also Ocotillo Wells in the area if you’re up for some more off-roading fun.

The picture above is a shot we took right before we realized how lost we were. As you can imagine, the smile faded quickly. ? We had Jeeped down wash after wash and our GPS failed. We usually have a backup paper map, but of course this time we were S.O.L. Luckily, we got turned back around in the right direction, but it was a big reminder to always have a back up of your back up of your back up when it comes to navigation. You can never be too careful!

The geology in the park is absolutely breathtaking. From the canyons to the badlands, you can’t help but stare in awe at how beautiful and unique this place is. Not to mention, the park is so big, one area can look completely different from another! Just keep in mind, even though you’re technically in a State Park, you’re in the desert (which feels like the middle of nowhere), so you need to have essential supplies and be prepared to not have cell service.

Thanks for checking out my post! You won’t want to miss my next blog post! STAY TUNED.

What are your favorite places to offroad? Comment below!

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