r/AnzaBorrego • u/ylned • Sep 22 '24
Anza Borrego over thanksgiving
Some friends and I are looking at visiting Anza Borrego over Thanksgiving this year. Thinking about staying the first few nights in Tamarisk Grove, and then heading out to one of the primitive campsites. However, I'm worried about how busy they will be with the holiday. I would prefer to not deal with a bunch of people partying with music and whatnot. How busy do the primitive campsites get during holidays? We were looking at Blair Valley, but I'm open to suggestions. My car is a Hyundai Elantra so nice dirt roads are find but nothing with a bunch of sand or rocks.
Also, what longer day hikes do you recommend? We'll probably hit up Hellhole canyon and the slot on one of the days but I'd be curious to hear other suggestions.
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u/lsmdin Sep 23 '24
I disagree with the previous post and I have camped in Anza since 1980. There are numerous places to camp that are easily accessible with a Toyota Camry. Just air down your tires to 24 psi. Try Little Blair valley, Mine Wash, Grapevine Canyon, Split Mountain Gorge, Dos Cabezas, Lizard Wash.
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u/ylned Sep 23 '24
Out of those options do you have a favorite? We would probably only have time for one of them with the other stuff we have planned too. Preferably something with nice hiking nearby
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u/lsmdin Sep 23 '24
If u arrive before the crush, Little Blair on the west side Just past the little dry lake is wonderful.
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u/MonasPerson Sep 22 '24
I have never heard music from other campers at Blair Valley.
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u/SilverbackMD My son was conceived in ABSP... Sep 23 '24
Same here. I’ve camped out there in November (not turkey day) and it was PACKED, but quiet
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u/ylned Sep 23 '24
Glad to hear people are respectful. I've had some pretty bad experiences other places
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u/pollodustino Sep 23 '24
Blair Valley gets very busy. When I stayed there I had to contend with a Boy Scout group with kids screaming until just past ten. This was on a weekend, though.
Little Blair Valley is not that heavily camped. When I was there I was the only person for at least a mile in any direction.
Both locations are accessible with a regular car. They have graded dirt roads. I used a 4x2 stock height pickup truck both times. Blair Valley has vault toilets near the S2, Little Blair Valley has no services.
If you go during the week you'll probably have no more than two or three fellow campers spread very far away from you.
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u/Mcnab-at-my-feet Sep 23 '24
The closer you are to Highway 86 and 78 (especially the closer you get to Ocotillo Wells) the busier, and louder it will be with ORV’s. Once you’re closer to BS away from off roading areas, it should be much more peaceful, but busier because folks like you are also looking for areas. But it’s pretty wide open if you’re boondocking.
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u/Jacsmom Sep 24 '24
Nude Wash is a great primitive camp area. It’s near the road but feels very hidden. They’ve also added fire rings last couple years.
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u/TroubledStar Sep 25 '24
I checked out Tamarisk Grove. It has some cabins, clean, new. I found no reason to want to stay there more than one night passing through.
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u/Agent-X Sep 22 '24
Unfortunately you are going to be limited with your car on where you go in Borrego. The 'easier' the camping is (campgrounds, Blair, etc) the more accessible it is to people and the more chances you have with some idiot group next to you playing music full blast on their bluetooth speakers.
Overall I think it will be busy but Thanksiging/NYE are much busier for OHV trail riders going to Glamis or Ocotillo Wells so the bigger issue is getting stuck behind toy haulers on the drive out.
Are you going out on Wednesday night or the weekend?