Font’s Point was named for Father Pedro Font, official chaplain and diarist on Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza’s expeditions of 1775-76, who described the scene as “the sweepings of the earth”. This viewpoint of the Borrego Badlands is located east of Borrego Springs, about 4 miles south of the S22.
Links: DesertUSA
One of my favorite spots in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is “The Slot”, a small slot canyon that is about 2 miles north of the 78. The turnoff is just a little ways east of its intersection with Borrego Springs Road and should be marked as Buttes Pass Road. Keep left at the intersection that you come to after about a mile. If the road looks too challenging, hike in from the 78.
Links: ABDSP Wheelingit
Located about 45 miles northeast of San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park encompasses 26,000 acres and offers over 100 miles of trails to explore. The park includes 6,512 ft Cuyamaca Peak, San Diego County’s second highest summit. The park was heavily damaged in the 2003 Cedar Fire, as evidenced by the blackened tree trunks in this pic.
Links: CA.gov
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is located in Oceano/Pismo Beach and provides 1,500 acres of beautiful sand dunes and beach area for roaming about in your OHV, dirt bike, dune buggy, 4×4, etc. Camping is allowed on the beach south of Post 2 and in the open dune area.
Links: Oceano SVRA previous related post
Red Rock Canyon State Park is located where the southernmost end of the Sierra Nevada meet the El Paso Mountains, about an hour north of Lancaster. The campsites in Ricardo Campground back up against dramatic desert cliffs. Off highway exploring opportunities abound in the nearby Dove Springs and Jawbone Canyon OHV areas.
Pismo State Beach is the only place in Central and Southern California where you can legally drive on the beach. The main entrance is at the Oceano Beach Access on Pier Avenue in Oceano, but there is also another entrance at Grover Beach. Heading south on the beach takes you to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) where you can camp on the beach and explore in your 4×4, dune buggy, ATV, dirt bike, etc.
Links: CA Parks List of driving beaches in CA
A fun place to visit in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is Seventeen Palms Oasis, which boasts a series of beautiful palm trees (Washingtonia filifera) set against the stark desert. It’s a nice shaded place for a picnic lunch while you check out the “prospector’s post office” which contains a visitor’s log book, notes, etc.
The largest building at Hearst Castle (near San Simeon) is called “Casa Grande”. Its 68,500 sq. ft. contain 38 bedrooms, 30 fireplaces, 42 bathrooms, and 14 sitting rooms.
This ocean view is from the Bull Taco eatery that is within the San Elijo State Beach campground and shows multiple armed forces helicopters flying north up the beach while several surfers wait for the next big wave.
Links: San Elijo State Beach
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