Some places of interest I have visited.
Arroyo Tapiado - Mud caves. As described in Jerry Schad's book
Afoot and Afield in San Diego County, "some of the caves (subterranean
stream channels) in the area are over 1000 feet long, with rooms up to
80 feet high and 30 feet wide. Others are tall and narrow, much like a
meandering slot canyon with a roof overhead. Some have multiple levels,
and one contains a 45-foot subterranean dry fall. Sinkholes (skylights)
illuminate the interiors of some caves." If you visit the caves with kids,
plan on staying a while. Kids love this place and usually they won't want
to leave. My son Paul Sr. is the one in the cave picture.
Fertility Signs. The Yoni pictured above is about 4-foot in length. It appears that natural patterns, caused by weathering of the rock have been put to advantage in the design.
Harper Canyon - Signs of past Native American occupation. Rock/sleeping circles, bedrock Morteros, agave pits and rock cave shelters. According to Lowell and Diana Lindsay's book "The Anza-Borrego Desert Region", Harper Flat was the site of one of the largest Indian camps in the Anza-Borrego area.
If you were to take a trip starting from Canyon Sin Nombre continuing though Arroyo Tapiado, Fish Creek and end at Split Mountain. You will have passed exposed rock and sediment layers that cover a 4 million year time span.
The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center, in Borrego Springs, is worth the drive all by it's self. As you approach the center from the parking lot it appears to be built underground. The top of the roof and the surrounding grounds are planted with native plants, which are all labeled for identification. There is a viewing deck above the entrance that allows you to view and identify the local mountain ranges and other points of interest. There are many interesting displays and a gift shop.
Click on the pictures below
Links to other Anza Borrego related
sites on the Web
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association;
If you were to ask me for one place in southern California where someone could go and find the most information about the Anza-Borrego desert this would clearly be it. Each trip I make to the desert I make it a point to stop here and have not been disappointed by not finding something new. Three of my favorite books are The Anza-Borrego Desert Region, Geology of Anza-Borrego:
Edge of Creation and The Forgotten Artist. Of course these books are available there.
The Anza-Borrego Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting California State Parks by acquiring land for the Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkŪ through donation or purchase from willing sellers.
© 1996 ronk1@home.com or ronk1@cox.net
Last update Feb. 5, 2002