Natural History Wanderings

Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association  reports

Right now the best places for flowers in the Borrego Valley seem to be in Glorieta Canyon and at the north end of Borrego Springs Road into the mouth of Henderson Canyon.

The fields of flowers are gone now but the area around the Father Font statue at the mouth of Henserson is very pleasant with dispersed small flowers and some cactus in bloom.  Just pull into the short dirtroad at the north end of Borrego Springs Road, you will see the Father Font statue, and walk around.

Glorieta is very nice with lots of shurbs in bloom along with cactus and it is a great short hike.  The route into Glorieta is hard to find if you have never been there before.  From Christmas Circle go south on Borrego Springs Road 3.6 miles and turn right onto the dirt road.  The road continues perfectly straight for about 1.3 miles and then you turn right.  The road gets a little rougher and then turns to the left.  Before long you are in to some really beautiful rock formations with lots of plant life. You can continue to the end of the road where there is a circular parking area and a trail that leads upwards to a beautiful overlook.  People drive to the trailhead in cars but use caution if you have low clearance or don’t have experience on sandy roads.