Anza Borrego: How to see the wildflowers and bighorn sheep

Don’t maintain off till summer time: March and April are two of the very best months for weekend street journeys as a result of the wildflowers start to develop after the winter rain and wildlife might be extra energetic with the considerable greenery and flowing water.

I’m glad I didn’t wait. I’m a photographer and longtime nature fanatic and one in every of my favourite routes begins on the 15 Freeway previous Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore (no California poppy sightings but), by means of Temecula (the place I can {photograph} scorching air balloons) and all the best way into Borrego Springs.

Whereas within the space, I wish to hike the Borrego Palm Canyon Path at Anza Borrego Desert State Park due to the flowing creek and the potential for seeing the majestic Peninsular bighorn sheep and birds equivalent to verdin, phainopepla and roadrunners.

After visiting the world in late February and hanging out on each wildflowers and bighorn sheep, I made a decision to make the journey once more this previous week.

Guests on the Borrego Palm Canyon Path bought a uncommon sight when Peninsular bighorn sheep walked down from the mountain to eat the rising vegetation and drink water from the fountain close to the car parking zone.

(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions )

Wildflowers just like the white Dune night primrose might be seen on Henderson Canyon Highway east of Borrego Valley Highway.

(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Occasions)

I dwell in Whittier, and the three-hour journey started earlier than dawn — I wished to cross my favourite spots amid the morning glow. Walker Canyon was a bust for wildflowers, so my first cease was Temecula. After photographing some hot-air balloons, I continued my drive alongside two-lane roads towards Borrego Springs. I ended to take a brief break at Warner Springs and watched the gliders take off and land on the gliderport.

2024 Wildflower Particulars

The place to search out wildflower info (and lovely photographs)

My subsequent cease was the flower fields on Henderson Canyon Highway in Borrego Springs. Dozens of individuals had been out among the many flowers, having fun with themselves and taking photographs. Some had been sitting within the shade close to their motor properties whereas others had been lounging in tenting chairs within the fields. The desert sunflowers, purple sand verbena and white dune night primrose had been spectacular.

From there, I made a decision in opposition to stopping for lunch and headed straight to the Borrego Palm Canyon Path to take my possibilities at seeing some bighorn sheep. Some notes about climbing in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Don’t choose the flowers, keep on the paths and don’t carry your canine on the paths or to wilderness areas. Additionally, parking is $10 a day.

On the entrance to the park, I requested the attendant if anybody had reported seeing the wild rams and ewes. They instructed me nobody had. I nearly circled however opted to proceed on as a result of it was nonetheless early within the afternoon. As I pulled into the car parking zone, I observed a California Park officer trying towards the path. Within the distance, I noticed hikers trying the identical approach.

I discovered this to be odd and puzzled what was happening. Then, as I drove right into a parking spot, I observed the holy grail of Anza Borrego wildlife: a big flock of the horned animals had been simply toes away from the path. My day was all of a sudden full. To search out these majestic wild sheep, I didn’t even should make the hike.

I used to be capable of {photograph} the animals as they munched on the considerable inexperienced brush and drank water from a fountain firstly of the path. They made their approach by means of the world as folks stored their distance and the officer regarded on.

As soon as the animals headed again up the mountain, I felt relieved and happy that my stars had aligned and I started my journey again house. My day journey was for the ages and effectively value it. My subsequent stops: the Antelope Valley poppy fields, the Tehachapi Mountains to seek for California condors and Arvin Cross to search for extra wildflowers. For my psychological well being, I welcome all of it.