Need A Trip Recommendation (Southern California)

[sdwindansea]

I was hoping to get some advice from some of you on a possible 1 night trip in late March. My wife, 2 dogs and myself are looking for places within a 2 to 3 hour drive of San Diego (not including off roading) where we can find some remote, primitive camping. Any suggestions?

I know 1 night is not that long but it is all we can spare for the next couple months :a6:. Thanks for any help.

 

[lowracer]

Anza Borrego State Park...

 

[sdwindansea]

Anza Borrego State Park...

Thanks. Anza Borrego is a big place, any spots in particular? Especially those pretty far off the pavement where we are unlikely to see many if any people.

 

[NRL]

Anza Borrego / Ocotillo are my favorites for the winter seasons..

Off the 74, you can look for the PoleLine road heading north and then veer off any trail to the west (camping allowed).

Off the 22, you can visit Font's Point, Truck Haven..

My favorite is off Shell Reef Trail near off the PoleLine Road.. also Tule Wash is awesome.

Google those trails and you should be able to find out where it is..also via Google Earth..

I usually take the 86 down from the 10 freeway.. or from Temecula..74 I think 8 someone connects up with 86..

Here is a link to Weekend Driver from SD: http://www.weekenddriver.com/roadtrip/B ... ohome.html

There is also Fish Creek.. nice tall canyon terrain you can drive thru:
http://www.weekenddriver.com/roadtrip/f ... story.html

 

[Jeffrey-SMB]

Anza is a great place. Pick up a map and look for dirt roads off the hiways. It's easy. Plenty of neat canyon roads. Now is the time, too.

check out:

http://www.abdnha.org/index.html

 

[lowracer]

We have our eye on Font's point for some off-road camping. It's free too from what I understand, if you're not in a campground you are doing what they call "open camping." I wonder how much of a crowd Font's point draws overnight though.

 

[sdwindansea]

NRL & Jeff - thank you so much for the recommendations. I will look into them a bit more this weekend to make a decision on where we will be going...and possibly ask some more questions :a1:. I will definitely post a trip report after we return. We will be going either March 22 or March 29, just not quite sure yet.

 

[NRL]

I WANNA GO NOW!

Here is Tule Wash off Poleline Rd...

Stuck at work

 

[sdwindansea]

Great picture NRL. I remember that one from one of your trip reports around New Year's Eve (I think).

We have finally decided on a date. We'll be heading out Saturday morning, March 22 and coming back sometime the next day. Want to jion us :a1:?

 

[NRL]

We're thinking of going next weekend. Hopefully before the temperature climbs up to much. It's almost end of the season for Anza Borrego since it gets to 90 and beyond the rest of the summer. Today will be 84' at Borrego, even bit hot this week around Southern California.

If it's not Anza Borrego, we head North.. Mojave, Piutes, New York Mountains..

 

[sdwindansea]

NRL and Jeffrey - thanks yet again for the great recommendation. We had a really good time, saw some great scenery and the cold beer was that much tastier in the empty desert. We also got to give the SMB a pretty good 4x4 workout during the 30+ miles of offroad travel.

Here is a link to all of the photos - Photo Gallery.

Here are a couple shots as well.

 

[NRL]

We were there too!
It was getting a bit Hot.. 95 but the wind was cool..
Nice in the evenings... Star Heaven..

Here are some pics also:

Tule Wash

Tule Wash

Turn Off to Camp2 from Tule Wash

Roaming Around

Buttes Point off Goat Trail

Hard to find Shade

On the Way out.. Be back next Winter..

 

[sdwindansea]

I'm almost surprised we didn't see each other! We camped Saturday night a couple miles down Tule Wash on the West side (close to the State Park boundary). We entered via Truckhaven Wash and continued out of the desert down to 78 on Sunday via Cut Across.

It was a bit warm, but nothing unbearable. However, these giant black wasp like insects flying around were a bit disturbing.

Thanks for posting your pictures.

 

[NRL]

I'm almost surprised we didn't see each other! We camped Saturday night a couple miles down Tule Wash on the West side (close to the State Park boundary). We entered via Truckhaven Wash and continued out of the desert down to 78 on Sunday via Cut Across.

It was a bit warm, but nothing unbearable. However, these giant black wasp like insects flying around were a bit disturbing.

Thanks for posting your pictures.

I might have seen your campfire way off in the distance nearer to Anza; looking for a blinking cell tower..

On Sunday Morning, we did head into the Park on the bikes and made a loop from Buttes Point, San Felipe Wash to Bank Wash, to East Wash, to Cutoff and did the Truckhaven route back to Tule.

Those bugs are harmless.. have wind will keep them away.
We usually go with Red LEDs at night to keep the bugs away. Flip the white LED's only when you must.. I did see the largest spider at night this time around when filling up the Honda 2000. I made a detour, she made a detour..

The Solar panel did really well during the day..

We were closer to the Pole Line Road. We usually take a shortcut to Tule Wash from the Land Fill Road off of highway 86 southbound.

There is a 76 where we gas up before we head in and down south of that there is a new Grocery market near but not quite Salton City where we picked up a few steaks and beers.

It was a short two days but the Camping and Riding was sweet!