desert wildflower lily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anticipation ran high and rumors began before the rainstorms stopped. Is this the year for desert wildflowers Superbloom? Winds, hard rains, and long years of drought have stymied the annual desert blooms over the last few years. So we waited to see if the conditions were right for the desert wildflowers to pop and finally got lucky.

My shoes covered in desert wildflowers pollen

My shoes covered in desert wildflowers pollen

Watch this video about the desert wildflowers road trip:

Careful timing and preparation for a desert road trip can save your life

The area can be scorching with temperatures regularly over 105 degrees for a good part of the year. Make sure your car is topped out with antifreeze and water whenever you go. There’s a steep climb to navigate over the mountains from the San Diego region. It’s also one of my favorite drives. The boulders surrounding the summit are formidably beautiful and the views as you emerge from cloud-filled peaks are breath-taking.

Wind conditions

When heading east along the southern route, it’s also good to know what the wind conditions are. Take extra precautions or another route if you have a high profile vehicle. I’ve seen trucks blown onto their sides and it can be a long wait for assistance in the remote area.

road sign on the way to find desert wildflowers

We set our trajectory to the timing of the first desert wildflowers reports. Wildflowers emerge first in the south just north of the Mexican border. We headed there guided by various tracking sites (see the list below.) There’s a wash on a side road from the freeway that leads to Calexico and it’s been our lucky spot.

carpet of desert wildflowers

From there we reversed our route driving north along Highway 78 towards the town of Ocotillo Wells. Before we crossed the freeway we made a pit stop for coffee at the Ocotillo Wells Chevron truck stop. A great discovery was the freshly made coffee in individual Keurig-style machines. We also discovered some pretty unique snacks on the counter (and left them there!)

larva and cricket snacks

Larva and cricket snacks at a desert truck stop!

Ocotillo Wells is a tiny town but worth a slow cruise. The locals keep it light with creative yard art. It’s also where off-roaders find repair and body shops. We cruised through on our way to lunch in Anza Borrego. (Read more in my earlier post about desert nomads and where the locals eat)

Ocotillo wells nose sign

Spotted in Ocotillo Wells

Campers and weary road warriors often stop at the Agua Caliente Hot Springs. The pools are managed by the county, so this isn’t a spa experience. The adult-only indoor pool has jacuzzi jets and the outdoor pool is family friendly. There are lockers, changing rooms and a few other amenities.

Anza borrego desert state park sign

Once you’ve entered the Anza Borrego Park bee-line to the Visitors Center. It’s natively landscaped and a carefully-positioned building full of interactive exhibits, trail experts, and information about where to go. Movies will entrance the kids and the gift shop is a fun diversion too. The Visitor center packs its calendar with lots of events whether desert wildflowers are out or not.

Borrego Springs – First Dark Sky Community

Star-gazing is wonderful year round in the Borrego Springs area. As the first Dark Sky Community in California, airplanes flying into the small airport angle their lights down and lights are modified on streets, businesses, and homes. Check out star-gazing opportunities if you are staying in the area.

desert sculptures near Borrego Springs

Sky Art

Make sure to save time to see some of the immense metal sculptures that dot the desert landscape. Sculptor, Ricardo Breceda planted his ‘Sky Art’ in the open reaches of the area. Most evolved from his imagination (A giant sea dragon crosses the road!) to Plio-Pleistocene animals and dinosaurs. Spanish explorers, turtles, fantasy creatures and bighorn sheep make great photo opps. In fact, on busy weekends, you might have to wait in line to get your shot. (See link to map below.)

Desert art between Ocotillo Wells and Borrego Springs

Desert art between Ocotillo Wells and Borrego Springs

The flowers drew us to the desert this year and we weren’t disappointed. So many plants were in stages of blooming and the desert floor had a low mesh of green growth that I’d never witnessed before. Nature wasn’t wasting a moment to take advantage of the rainfall. Our bonus as we headed home and up the incline into the cloudy summit was a full rainbow.

desert rainbow

***Check out my earlier post about the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve north of Los Angeles for more wildflower encounters.

Tips for finding desert wildflowers:

  • My go-to site for desert wildflowers is Desert USA, which covers more than the Anza Borrego region.
  • The Anza-Borrego Foundation has information and daily updates during desert wildflower season.
  • The Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce also has info on what to see and do year round.
  • A Package of information about what to find in Anza Borrego is available from the Desert USA Store
  • Don’t miss seeing the gigantic metal sculptures. Here’s a guide to finding the 130 sculptures scattered throughout the desert region.
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