South Carrizo Creek - Anza Borrego

The trail begins right off highway S2 and is on the north side. It can be confusing because this trail, South Carrizo Creek is on the north side of the road, whereas Carrizo Canyon is on the south side of the road.

The grove of Singleleaf Pinyon Pines is a welcome sight in the middle of the hot desert. As a bonus, there are plenty of places to set up camp for multiple groups with level dirt-packed ground. From this point, you have wonderful views of the Vallecito Mountains.

A small campsite on the road's southeast side is just large enough for two vehicles and two tents on the somewhat slanted but smooth dirt ground. Shortly up the road, another location on the northwest side is larger and flatter. Both areas offer visuals of a foreground filled with Creosote and the Carrizo Badlands off to the northeast.

The section of trail is a maze of exceptionally tall Creosote. Creosote is the common greenish bush you see in almost every desert of the Great American Southwest. Creosote is very hardy and can live for up to two years without water! They can live for a remarkably long time, and the oldest known is thought to be over 11,000 years old.

A beautiful campsite is just off the road against a hill. It is large enough to hold five vehicles and tents. The ground is softer and flat. It, too, offers excellent views across the valley into the Vallecito Mountains and the Carrizo Badlands.

The trail ends with a few options at this junction. You can turn westerly onto Vallecito Creek.