Anza-Borrego, Goat Canyon Railroad Trestle, Nov 26-27 2010

[jfr]

We went camping one night last weekend in Anza-Borrego State Park, at the southern end, near Dos Cabezas. We hiked to Indian Hill the first day, spent the night shivering in the tent (it was in the thirties, and breezy!), and then hiked ten miles round-trip along the old Carrizo Gorge Railway line, through seven tunnels, to the huge wooden Goat Canyon Trestle, which was quite impressive. We burned off some of those Thanksgiving calories!

The railway is currently NOT operating through the Carrizo Gorge (there are giant boulders blocking the tracks), so if you want to get out there without risking railroad security guards hassling you, now is the time. It's an easy, flat hike, and can also be done by mountain bike (this may become the subject of a thread later on this winter).

It's Desert Season!

Ridiculously long Trip Report and way too many pictures (as usual).

Acme Mapper link to our trip. A is where Dos Cabezas Road (dirt) intersects Highway S2 (paved), B is the Dos Cabezas trackside water tank, C is our camp at the end of the dirt road, D is Indian Hill, and E is the Goat Canyon Trestle. Your lettering may vary.


P.S. Thanks to HarryQuach and his recent post for reminding me to get back to this area after last February's aborted attempt to reach the trestle by hiking over the top of the Jacumba Mountains from the Mortero Palms...

[OsideMatt]

The video looking down across the trestle makes me a little sick though. I'm going to head out that way this weekend!

[nobohobo]

very cool, what are typical daytime temps in the desert this time of year?
i could spend a whole winter season just wandering around out there.

[neverwashasbeen]

nobohobo wrote:

"very cool, what are typical daytime temps in the desert this time of year?
i could spend a whole winter season just wandering around out there."

Low desert is almost 80 today.

[jfr]

very cool, what are typical daytime temps in the desert this time of year?
i could spend a whole winter season just wandering around out there.

Generally speaking, it's usually just a few degrees warmer than it is in inland San Diego or LA; in other words, it's usually cool enough to be good hiking weather.

Here are some weather links: Monthly Averages, past 7-day temp data for Borrego Springs, and another showing the local daily RTP (Regional Temperature and Precipitation).

Anza-Borrego is a huge park, and one of the best things about it is that you can camp there for free, without a permit, any time you want. Just drive out onto one of the many dirt roads, pull off to the side when you find a nice spot, and pitch a tent. It's that easy. If you want a campfire, bring your own wood and a container to burn it in (like a barbeque or a barrel-half).

The main flower bloom is usually mid-March, but the camping and hiking is good all winter long...

[Sally]

Wow - Nice TR and pics. I especially liked the sunrise pics of the tracks. Super nice!

[OsideMatt]

I'm inspired. I've recruited some buddies and will head out there Sat.

JFR - did you see any gates on the 4wd trail that runs E/W past Indian Hill (looks like you cut back to the car prior to reaching the intersection of that and Dos Cabezas Tr)? I want to get out to the trestles but I might try to combined it with some other trails so I'd like to shave a few miles off via this route and wheel out to the end of that trail in

[jfr]

I'm inspired. I've recruited some buddies and will head out there Sat.

JFR - did you see any gates on the 4wd trail that runs E/W past Indian Hill (looks like you cut back to the car prior to reaching the intersection of that and Dos Cabezas Tr)? I want to get out to the trestles but I might try to combined it with some other trails so I'd like to shave a few miles off via this route and wheel out to the end of that trail in

There were no gates, as I saw several jeeps driving on the "road" out to that old railroad camp. The real trick is crossing the tracks (not at a real/approved crossing - you have to get your truck over the raw tracks); the 4WD trail turns left off Dos Cabezas Road just beyond a strange section of guardrail that someone put up long ago (probably to keep people from crossing the tracks); it's odd to see a perfectly galvanized section of typical roadside guardrail out in the middle of nowhere - you can't miss it, in other words. The 4WD road is sandy in the middle and travels over rock at the far end - looks like a fun road to drive on. But not in my old Saturn! We explored the beginning of the 4WD road on foot and decided not to attempt it. But I took some pics of the RR track crossing. That's Indian Hill just left of center, I believe, but all those hills look alike...


2010-11_Anza-Borrego_135 by _JFR_, on Flickr

[OsideMatt]

good thing I travel with a shovel! Thanks again.

[HH8]

It's Desert Season!

Well, look what hatched out of the dinosaur egg



Nice pix