Not 10 miles down the road from my disappointment at Agua Caliente County Park is free boondock camping and hiking at Mountain Palm Springs in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Palm groves can be seen from the parking area up two canyons nestled in the Tierra Blanca Mountains . So as soon as the truck is leveled I take a hike first to the closest grove in the left canyon.
There are two small groves, not as large as Palm Canyon. The trunks completely cloaked in a frond skirt reveal an opening I’d have to shrink to 10” tall to get into. Makes me wonder what all is living in there.
Beyond the two thick skirted palms the wash was littered with fronds and the tall stately trees looked almost naked, or more like the Vegas style.
In this otherwise dry desert environment it is thrilling to see a patch of green in the water coming from a crack in the rock and to walk on damp sand in the wash where water quickly disappears into the earth.
Not more than 30 minutes round trip for the first canyon, maybe 1/4 mile each way at most, and now for the one to the right. Although I later read of more groves further up canyon.
It’s an easy walk in the wash of softish sand which is great exercise even if not too much uphill. Feels like I should be quiet and walk softly but the grains crunch underfoot.
Lots of cholla and many dry bushes I don’t know. Hummingbirds flitting around. You can see why I describe the ocotillo as a fountain bubbling tiny green leaves.
Getting closer to the palms over the boulder like steps under intense desert blue skies.
I think about how water tumbles some boulders and swirls around others, slowly breaking up the granitic rock into pea-size cubes and smaller. Water drilled holes add to natures sculptures. I called this one Owl Rock. Wouldn’t you agree?
One grove, and then another with an archway that beckons me to enter.
Do you see an open doorway with a big rock stoop? Look closer. Doesn’t appear as if anybody’s home.
Then another grove in a side canyon catches my attention. Marvelous little grove, maybe Pigmy Palms.
So nice to sit in the sun, a light breeze rattles the palms, quiet at noon when the creatures do not stir. I could be here for a while contemplating the palm patterns. Which was more relaxing than taking a selfie.
The pattern on the palm frond skirts are how people dressed and built their homes, copying nature, mimicking the trees and animals. Perfect. A photo can’t reproduce the textures.
One look back at the grove and I see palm women dancing. I would dance under the palms for shinny bits of mica, like coins of gold.
But right then my stomach reminded me I had forgotten snacks so I headed back down canyon to the camper (which is the tiny dot just up from center).
The granitic rock glitters with mica as does the erosion filled wash. And like any other animal, I am attracted by the shimmer and easily distracted by tiny pieces of glittery rock.
Hour in, hour there, half hour back. My usual pokiness.
Went back out for a walk about 3:15p into the first canyon on the left. Before I even walked away from the camper I saw a coyote, then a second. They were headed up canyon probably for water. But then the neighbors dog barked at them and they both bolted up the hillside amongst the rocks.
Even startled up a couple Ravens.
I caught the last light on the palms before heading back to camp then spent the quiet evening writing.
What to know
The S2 is the only paved road through the southern part of Anza-Borrego. The firm sand 2-track with a few turnouts is only about 1/2 mile to trail head parking for Mountain Palm Springs. A short side road offers an area for RV parking near a vault toilet that I parked far away from. There was absolutely no cell signal. Bow Willow camp just down the road also offers vault toilets, picnic tables, shade ramadas and fire rings for $15/night. Bring your own water, and plenty of it, more during the heat of summer.