This view of the Carrizo Gorge was taken from the Sacatone Overlook that is within the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area which is off I8 just north of Boulevard, CA. The trestles you see are part of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, which has been referred to as “The Impossible Railroad”.
Links: McCain Valley RCA
Palm Canyon, located on Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians land, near Palm Springs, offers beautiful hikes, horseback riding, and picnicking among a huge stand of California Fan Palms.
Links: Indian Canyons
The Pumpkin Patch is an interesting geological site located within Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area east of Borrego Springs. The “pumpkins” are actually concretions which are formed much like a pearl, in that sand is naturally cemented around small objects such as a pebble, a piece of shell, or an insect.
The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake at approximately 350 square miles, lies on the San Andreas Fault in Imperial and Riverside counties. It is a great birding area and this pic captures a silhouette of a few of the many pelicans we encountered just before dusk.
Rainbows are always special! This one graced us with its presence while camped at Borrego Palm Canyon campground in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This campground makes a great base camp for exploring the park and Borrego Springs.
Links: Campground info
Dante’s View is a scenic viewpoint overlooking Death Valley from an altitude of 5,476 feet, located on the north side of Coffin Peak and is considered one of the best photographic spots in Death Valley National Park.
The Kelso Depot was constructed in the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style in 1923 by the Union Pacific railroad and served as a depot until 1962. The restaurant and boarding rooms remained open until 1985 when the depot was closed. It fell into disrepair and was scheduled for demolition but a group of local citizens was able to forestall its removal. Ownership was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1992. With the creation of the Mojave Preserve in 1994, the Depot became part of the National Park Service (NPS). Restoration began in 2002 and the landmark was reopened in 2005 as the visitor center for the Mojave Preserve.
Arch Rock is a 25-foot natural arch located in Joshua Tree National Park. It is accessed from the Arch Rock Nature Trail (less than 1/2 mile loop) which begins by campsite #9 in White Tank Campground off the Pinto Basin Road. You’ll see many other examples of sculpted granite along the way.
Links: Joshua Tree Nature Trails
“Scotty’s Castle” (or Death Valley Ranch), is located in Grapevine Canyon in the far north of Death Valley National Park. Construction, in the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles, began in 1922, and cost $1.5-$2.5 million. It is named for Walter Scott, also known as “Death Valley Scotty”, who convinced a wealthy friend (Albert Johnson, a Chicago insurance magnate) to build the house.
Links: NPS info Detailed history
Borrego Springs, the gateway to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (California’s largest at approximately 600,000 acres), contains an awesome collection of metal sculptures (roughly 130) by Ricardo Breceda, many commissioned by the late Dennis Avery (Avery Labels heir), placed in Avery’s Galleta Meadows Estates and open to the public. Be sure and pick up a map to sculpture locations (available in town).
Explore California 