Questions on Anza Borrego sandstone canyon

[badsamaritan]

I'm thinking about taking my son out there Sunday, and was curious how the run is. Is there a way to approach it to just see some canyon and then get out? I don't want to take on anything crazy with him in the car and no additional vehicles with us.

 

[sbman]

I haven't been there in a while, but generally it' an easy drive up a wash, hardly need 4WD. there is nothing crazy as long as you stop at the obstacles farther into the canyon, they may have been cleared since I was last out there. You'll see people in subarus in Sandstone canyon.

 

[Mogwai]

Yeah I dont recall you being able to get down far enough to hit anything technical, there's a narrow squeeze but no reason to even go that far. How old is your son again? Could hit the mud caves on your way.

 

[Tylerh84]

Taking the 40? I may be down for a day trip if you want company.

 

[Overlandeffex]

Sucks I'm at work...would love to go.

 

[socalmtbiker]

What area are you planning to go to? I take my kids around and usually enter from the i8 avoiding the windy roads through Ramona. I like going through canyon sin Nombre then going to the mud caves then making a loop back staying on the south side. staying south makes a good day trip.
I’ve gone down Diablo drop off with the kids and it puts you close to sand stone canyon then head out fish creek.

 

[badsamaritan]

I've only been once and we just checked out the dinosaur statues in the desert. I am pretty unfamiliar with the area. My son is 7, and I'll be in the 100 series. I'm planning on rolling out Sunday morning. If people want to meet up I'll keep on eye on this post.

 

[socalmtbiker]

I've only been once and we just checked out the dinosaur statues in the desert. I am pretty unfamiliar with the area. My son is 7, and I'll be in the 100 series. I'm planning on rolling out Sunday morning. If people want to meet up I'll keep on eye on this post.

Not sure where you’re located but the route I suggested is very kid friendly. It’ll be warm out still but mud caves are pretty cool to explore. On cooler months a lot of Boy Scout troops go. Do some research and it’ll be safe but at you’re own risk.
Sharing a short family
Anza caves

 

[badsamaritan]

Not sure where you’re located but the route I suggested is very kid friendly. It’ll be warm out still but mud caves are pretty cool to explore. On cooler months a lot of Boy Scout troops go. Do some research and it’ll be safe but at you’re own risk.
Sharing a short family
Anza caves

Thanks for the heads up and the video, I'll add it to the list. I'm in Escondido so I usually go the Julian route, but I might try the 8 this time.

I looked up some videos of fish Creek and it was mostly Jeep guys winching through obstacles etc. I couldn't tell if the obstacle was mandatory to get into the canyon or just them screwing around, so I thought I'd ask. Appreciate all the info!

 

[socalmtbiker]

Thanks for the heads up and the video, I'll add it to the list. I'm in Escondido so I usually go the Julian route, but I might try the 8 this time.

I looked up some videos of fish Creek and it was mostly Jeep guys winching through obstacles etc. I couldn't tell if the obstacle was mandatory to get into the canyon or just them screwing around, so I thought I'd ask. Appreciate all the info!

This is fish creek - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Fish Creek Wash - DesertUSA
Flat no winching required. Subaru’s go there. There’s a hike to the wind caves that would be cool. It’s marked by a small sign. Short but a steep climb.

 

[Bud_Dude]

If going out through Fish Creek a stop at the wind caves is a good place for kids to stretch their legs... About a 1 mile hike to them from the wash. If you haven't done the wind caves it's worthwhile. I like them better than the mud caves; safer too I reckon. I always recommend caution in the mud caves area as a guy died there a couple years ago...

Guillermo Pino, Missing Anza-Borrego Hiker, Found Dead in 60-Foot Crevice; L.A. Sheriff's Detail Helps Pull Him Out - LA Weekly

After a long, frantic month of combing hundreds of caves throughout Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for any signs of missing UC San Diego graduate Guillermo Pino, Jr., 25, he was discovered dead last Saturday at the bottom of a 60-foot crevice. Pino had gone hiking on Easter Sunday with a...

www.laweekly.com

.

 

[bajaphile]

Just head out the 78 to Occotillo Wells, then head down into Fish Creek. No obstacles.

How old are the Jeep videos you are looking at? Fish Creek goes all the way up to Heart Attack Hill and the Squeeze (going backwards). We used to just call it Fish Creek and it used to be a difficult trail before they started grading it.

 

[Bud_Dude]

Just head out the 78 to Occotillo Wells, then head down into Fish Creek. No obstacles.

How old are the Jeep videos you are looking at? Fish Creek goes all the way up to Heart Attack Hill and the Squeeze (going backwards). We used to just call it Fish Creek and it used to be a difficult trail before they started grading it.

The biggest thing to worry about in Fish Creek these days is getting a speeding ticket... Yes there are speed limit signs. And yes the rangers sit out there near the wind caves and run radar since people tend to fly through there. Probably just on weekends though...

 

[bajaphile]

That is pretty funny. I haven't been out in a year or two I think. I couldn't believe the traffic there was when I went last!! Hundreds of rigs!! Granted that was in November/Dec I think.

 

[badsamaritan]

Thanks for the tips guys, had a fun day and pretty uneventful. I ended up going 78 - Ocotillo Wells - Fish Creek. I took Fish Creek up to Diablo Dropoff, did the drop off and then did Arroyo Seco Del Diablo south until I hit the Great Southern Overland Route. I think I was on that unpaved for about 4mi and then hit hardball which was Sweeney Pass Road / Great Southern Overland. I ended up going up to Shelter Valley and then back out through Julian.

Fish Creek was definitely easy, couple of deep sand spots where I felt like I was getting buried but nothing too crazy. Diablo Drop off was pretty fun had a little trouble at the last part because it was all real fine dust and it took me a little extra work to get to the top. Arroyo Seco Del Diablo had a lot of rock/mud slides and some spots were really tight for the Taco, but otherwise pretty easy.

Probably saw a lot more than I had planned, I am glad I took my Taco instead of the 100, the better gas mileage and the nav paid off. Only saw a handful of rigs all day, maybe 15 total, and no rangers or cops which was surprising. Best of all was the good father/son time that I think we really needed.

 

[bemerritt]

For some reason i thought diablo drop off was a one way trail.

 

[socalmtbiker]

For some reason i thought diablo drop off was a one way trail.

Officially it is. I’ve seen people go down then back up. I know people that just go up.

 

[RET2]

For some reason i thought diablo drop off was a one way trail.

He's a Taco driver what did you expect? If he would have driven his 40 he would have followed the rules.

 

[Bud_Dude]

Pretty sure all of the drop-offs in Borrego are designated as 'down only' and rumor has it that if the ranger happens to catch you in the act of going up that the fine is hefty. My understanding is that the reason for the rule is the large number of yahoos that cannot make up up the drop-offs and rut them all out such that they require occasional repair / grading by the park. I've only ever gone down, but have a friend who had a 6WD Pinzgauer that he drove up in reverse one time so as to not be accused of going up...

 

[RET2]