CHL # 785 Santa Catarina San Diego

Guidebook

NO. 785 SANTA CATARINA - This spring was named by Captain Juan Bautista de Anza when his overland exploration party camped here on March 14, 1774, on the journey that opened the Anza Trail from Sonora into Alta California. Anza's colonizing expedition of 1775, consisting of 240 persons and over 800 head of livestock, camped here the night of December 23.

Location

Santa Catarina Springs, 10 Miles Northwest of Borrego Springs (4-wheel drive dirt rd), Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, ask at Visitor Center
Open Map

Notes

This trip definitely needs a 4-wheel drive vehicle. There are no pictures of the roughest park of the ride because I was busy trying to hold on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Visitor's Guide: The trail is mostly easy but not suited for conventional vehicles due to soft sand, water crossings and patchy rough terrain including a rocky climb. There are three creek crossings, which can be potentially deep depending on rainfall and one moderately rocky climb after 5 miles.---------Note: This trail is closed between June 1st and September 30th to preserve the watering rights of the Desert Bighorn Sheep.

Afterthoughts

This was one of our toughest trips, but in many ways, it was one of the most enjoyable. Knowing that it was going to be a hard trip, we put it off until almost the end. It was well worth the wait.