A Colorful Anza-Borrego Superbloom
When California's deserts receive an unusually wet winter, they reward visitors with an incredible display of wildflowers. After the heavy rains of 2016-2017, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was bursting with color, so we packed up for a day trip to experience the superbloom for ourselves.
We fully expected two things: miserable allergies and huge crowds. We were right on both counts, but the flowers made every sneeze worthwhile.
We left early on a Sunday morning, armed with coffee and extra allergy medicine. As we approached the park, traffic steadily increased, and by the time we reached Culp Valley, it was clear just how many people had the same idea. The campground was overflowing, and every turnout along the highway seemed to be packed with parked cars. Finding a safe place to stop took a little patience.
Fortunately, Kim found the Borrego Springs wildflower map, which made exploring much easier. We simply followed the recommended route and headed for Henderson Canyon Road.
From a distance, the fields looked like a sea of bright yellow wildflowers, but walking closer revealed patches of purple, pink, and white scattered throughout the landscape. Even the caterpillars were celebrating the superbloom, happily munching away on the fresh growth.
We were careful to stay on established paths and avoid stepping on the flowers while exploring. It was amazing to see so much color spread across a landscape that's normally known for its rugged desert scenery.
After a quick break for sunscreen and water, we continued toward Coyote Canyon and the Desert Gardens. The dirt road starts off fairly easy but gradually becomes rougher, with deeper sand and rocky sections. Unsurprisingly, it was busy with Jeeps and off-road vehicles enjoying the conditions. Along the way, blooming ocotillos and flowering cacti added even more color to the desert. Once the road became rougher than we wanted to tackle, we turned around and let the off-road crowd continue their adventure.
Our next stop was Galleta Meadows, home to the famous metal sculptures scattered throughout the desert. Spotting giant dinosaurs among fields of wildflowers made for a fun combination, and the colorful blooms surrounding the sculptures made the area even more beautiful than usual.
Before heading home, we drove south toward Julian along Borrego Springs Road, where hillsides were filled with blooming ocotillos. Their bright red flowers may have been my favorite part of the entire trip. Everywhere we looked, the desert seemed alive with color.
We had watched Death Valley put on an unforgettable superbloom the year before, but seeing Anza-Borrego transformed was every bit as impressive. Superblooms don't happen often, which makes experiences like this feel even more special. Hopefully these wildflower displays will continue to thrive for many years to come.
