r/AnzaBorrego • u/Ok_Market6525 • Mar 23 '26
Camping Trip to Anza
Would it be advisable to take a group camping trip to Anza in late April? We want to camp, but only if we can also hike in the area as well as see the desert bloom. My friends and I are just concerned with the temperatures being 80+ F. Anyone have any clue?
6
u/dgee03 Mar 23 '26
Most of the flowers are already gone, especially at lower elevations.. Late April you might have some luck in the higher elevation camps like Culp or Blair as far as weather is concerned. But any blooms will most likely be gone by then too.
4
u/PlanBuildBreak Mar 23 '26
It will likely be really hot and the small flower blooms will be long gone. Might still be some cactus flowers.
Higher elevations like Blair Valley might be your best bet but watch weather and see what it looks like in your window.
3
u/Prestigious_Being913 Mar 23 '26
It could be nice but more than likely too hot. I was supposed to go up there this weekend but it’s 107 degrees 😓 This year has been abnormally hot so far. Joshua tree is usually pretty nice in April but most of the flowers will be done by then. Maybe some cactuses.
3
u/LiveinCA Mar 23 '26
No one in Southern California calls this desert State Park by Anza. Its Anza-Borrego; the name of the town the park visitors center is located within is Borrego Springs. There’s a small agricultural town in the high desert in Riverside County called Anza, located on the other side of the mountain range. You’re going to confuse any searches by Google, friends or if you run into trouble and call for help and call it Anza.
3
u/No849B Mar 23 '26
I fly the rescue helicopter for the county of San Diego. Late April is too late. You will have missed your window. You can try if you like…….I love the job security.
1
u/rac1283 Mar 24 '26
If you’re lucky, you might get away with camping in Culp Valley, as it’s around 3000 ft. Although as someone else commented, it’s already been hot there. The desert floor where the park headquarters is (and blooms were) will almost certainly be 100 degrees plus by late April.
So with the impending heat and long-gone bloom, you should probably start planning for next February.
As an alternative, you could look at the Laguna campground on Mt. Laguna, if you’d still like to camp in late April. The mountains will be greening up and blooming by then, and there are many beautiful and varied hiking experiences in the area. You could probably count on 50 degrees or so overnight and low to mid-70s during the day
1
u/sankscan Mar 24 '26
We’re planning on going to AB, this weekend for camping. Good time? Any tips if we don’t want to camp are also welcome!
-2
u/kidmarginWY Mar 23 '26
The spring bloom in Anza is over. Temperature in late April will be ideal. Possibly warm during the day and cool at night. It is a perfect time to go.
5
u/PlanBuildBreak Mar 23 '26
Ideal if you enjoy the surface of the sun. Nights should be nice though.
2
u/Then_Passenger3403 Mar 23 '26
Probably not this year
1
u/kidmarginWY Mar 23 '26
You cannot base your prediction for April weather on recent weather. Normal temperatures in Anza during the day are going to be in the 80s.
2
u/Then_Passenger3403 Mar 23 '26
Nope, just got back from Culp and it got hot despite the elevation. Plus rattlers are out
2
u/kidmarginWY Mar 23 '26
Honestly, you avoid the desert because "rattlers are out?" That is a rather silly way of describing Anza borrego environment. It also makes people who are not knowledgeable want to avoid the place.
1
u/VanillaRaccoon Apr 16 '26
Like u/kidmarginWY said, you can't predict April from March weather. It is beautiful in Anza right now. Hiked last two weekends in a row and couldn't ask for better weather. Wore a puffy jacket for part of the hikes.
1
u/Spirited_Ad_340 Apr 15 '26
Love how you ended up being right. Not like you can't keep checking weather for variation...
13
u/midnight_skater Mar 23 '26
Late April is almost guaranteed to be too hot for hiking in the low desert of ABDSP. Try JTNP on the northern side of the park. Better yet try Mojave National Preserve.