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Incredible night at Anza Borrego 🤩

Hello everyone, new deep sky astrophotographer looking for a dark sky. Until last week I didn't know that there was a state park about an hour from where I live. I'm planning to go in the near future in the hopes it become my go to location to photograph the heavens. So if anyone can recommend some locations it would be appreciated. I currently drive a jetta, so it has to be pretty accesible. I'm willing to sleep in the car overnight if weather permits it.

Hi all,

I've never been to Anza Borrego and was hoping to get out there next weekend. I had a few questions! I have a 2022 Chevy Trailblazer (2WD), and I've heard that Fonts point is inaccessible without a 4x4, so I was hoping to hike up in the morning. Is it possible to camp at the bottom and hike up? I've heard you can camp anywhere as long as it's close to the road, but would appreciate any/all advice.

here's the hike I was looking at: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/fonts-point

Hi all! Can you get from the Truckhaven Arch to the Basketball Hoop? What’s the route and how difficult is it? We would be on dual sport bikes. Thanks!

Hey guys. Headed out there tomorrow but the weather looks rough. 90s all weekend. Anyone out there now who can tell me how it is? Supposed to be camping at palm canyon

Going camping for a night this weekend. Have a lifted 4x4 so if theres any cool spots I’d love to hear about them. Also just wondering if anyone has any tips for someones first time in the area. TIA

Hi, doing a camping trip and I have a RX 350 front wheel drive. It has 8.2" clearance. Will that work at Fish Creek just to get in and out of a camp area?

UPDATE just in case this post is indexed: I highly suggest a 4x4. I rented one and would have been stuck if I didn’t have a 4x4.

Hi all,

I'm headed to the park at the beginning next month with a couple friends. We've never been to Anza Borrego before but we are experienced with off highway adventuring, our last two trips being the Mojave Road and a week in Death Valley.

So I'm looking for guidance on what we can't miss. We're also really looking for an overland route that's moderately challenging for lifted 4WD trucks. Really we're looking to get remote and camp where we'll be really isolated. The goal is to get away.

We plan to get there later in the afternoon on Thursday and head home Sunday afternoon. I found this route. It looks like it hits some high points and lists a number of unimproved sites. From the photos (I know it's a few years old so a lot of terrain has probably shifted) I'd say that a couple of those shots are at about the level of challenge we'd be into. I don't want to cause any body damage so I'd want to steer clear of anything too tight.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any tips, pointers, maps, and special places to check out. There are so many hidden gems. Thanks!

Edit:If what I read on Boondockers' Bible is true, my question is moot. They say dispersed camping in the entire state park is limited to 30 days per year. I haven't been able to verify on the park's site and can't call at this hour. If it is true, I'll change my question to BLM near Anza Borego or delete and post on a more appropriate sub.

My adult son loves camping at Culp Valley, but Monday will be 30 days, so am looking for something similar: big rock formations for protection from the wind, lots of space and quiet (stars a bonus), but not completely desolate either. The closer to Santa Isabel the better, since he doesn't have a vehicle.

Verizon cell reception a must. We found some on The Dyrt but none have reception.

Thought we'd found a good one today,going by the pictures on G Maps and many of the reviews in this subreddit: Blair Valley. But then I read about the swarming bees. That thread is a year old.

Has anyone here been to Blair recently? From what I read, the bees swarm in hundreds at some sites and not all in others. My son's pretty resourceful and knows how to camp safely, but the bee thing scares me.

I'll drive to Culp tomorrow, spend the night, get some sunrise pics while he breaks camp.

This is last minute because we misinterpreted 30 days per campsite signs to mean literally per site. I got a call yesterday that it is 30 days at the campground.

I welcome all advice, tips and tent camping areas.

Will be in the area at the end of October and plan to visit (among other places) Fonts Point and Vista del Malpais (will have a Jeep). I'm an avid photographer and want to catch the sunset at Fonts Point, then camp nearby (btw, how far way form Fonts Point do I have to be to pitch a tent?) and then view the sunrise either at Fonts Point or at Vista del Malpais. Probably can't go wrong with either one, but would you give one of the two spots preference for sunrise photography?

Hi all,

My friend and I are planning to hit the park in late November from Canada. Since we will only have access to a 2wd rental what are some trails or activities that can work with a 2wd car and places around the park that are a must see for tourists?

Thanks

Some friends and I are looking at visiting Anza Borrego over Thanksgiving this year. Thinking about staying the first few nights in Tamarisk Grove, and then heading out to one of the primitive campsites. However, I'm worried about how busy they will be with the holiday. I would prefer to not deal with a bunch of people partying with music and whatnot. How busy do the primitive campsites get during holidays? We were looking at Blair Valley, but I'm open to suggestions. My car is a Hyundai Elantra so nice dirt roads are find but nothing with a bunch of sand or rocks.

Also, what longer day hikes do you recommend? We'll probably hit up Hellhole canyon and the slot on one of the days but I'd be curious to hear other suggestions.

Hello, I am Planning to take my daughter camping to see the stars. Is it best for inexperienced campers to camp in the state park? We saw that the best star views were from primitive sites, and we want to stake her to the slot, but we are inexperienced campers (we have only car-camped in Yosemite and Sequoia without her) and don't want to get in over our heads. Saw Little Blair and Yaqui Wash were popular for stars, but you can get a spot in Borrego palm canyon if that seems more reasonable.

Saw a big horn next to the road S22. It was poking its head over the road side railing and disappeared. No one else say it though.

I just want to pull over to do a quick early loop. I cannot find a clear answer online. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

I know it’s a state park and its not allowed in the area but where is the closes free open range like a BLM area?

Im a clean neat guy with a family so I wont make a mess and clean up after, I even clean up even its not mine after shooting.

Since it's a new moon, I planned the trip months ago to see the Milky Way and get some good photos. But i'm a little anxious now since it may go up to 120 degrees in the daytime. I don't think i've been in that heat before. Last couple years we went in the summer it was hot (maybe 108 F or so max) but never this hot!