More Desert Trips In My Ranger

[OCL]

Might as well call my truck the "Desert Ranger". It always seems to want to go there! On New Year's eve, my wife and I returned to the Anza-Borrego Desert, to visit a few more interesting places. This is going to be a Ranger heavy post so hang on!

We drove to an abandoned US Navy base at the Salton Sea. Yes, there is a large lake in the middle of the Anza-Borrego Desert called "The Salton Sea". The USN base is located in an austere area of the sea and hardly anyone seems to know about it. So it was eerily quiet, and we loved it! This is what used to be the pier of what's left of the base.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

The Salton Sea is huge! The other side is barely visible.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

There was a ton of off road driving to be had out there. Including sand dunes. We were alone. I didn't feel like getting stuck on super soft sand dunes alone. So I generally avoided driving over them.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

We kept exploring around the base and beyond.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

We found more abandoned structures.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

We had coffee here. Better than any Starbucks!

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

After we finished exploring the Salton Sea USN base area, we drove back to the Anza-Borrego Desert state park. We drove to a spot called 17 Palms. The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park used to be under water millions of years ago. The land rose up as the land masses moved, and what's left of the water table sits under the ground. At the lowest point of the park is where the 17 Palms were. This spot has been used for hundreds of years to help travelers obtain water from the ground.

17 Palms Oasis by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Desert Oasis by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Some clouds rolled in on us and for a few minutes I thought it would rain!

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

After a day of exploring, we found a very cool restaurant in Borrego Springs, with a nice outdoor patio. It was damn cold but the view was fantastic.

The NEW Desert Oasis by rogue_biker, on Flickr

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[billwinkle]

I have driven and camped in Anza Borrego since 1990. You need to find split mountain. You drive thru an actual earthquake fault. Also the badlands are a great place to test you trucks 4wd ability. And yes the Range can handle it. I live in North Carolina now so no more anza. Enjoy and camping out there is awesome you can set up anywhere and not see another person All week. Except for the animals thar live there.

 

[MXGOLF]

Way cool. That would be a good dirt bike area!

Thanks,

 

[OCL]

I have driven and camped in Anza Borrego since 1990. You need to find split mountain.

Our next trip is to explore Split Mountain area and drive to Sandstone Canyon. There's a lot of places we haven't taken our Ranger at Anza-Borrego. I need a week off work! LOL! I'll have to settle for one weekend day here and there.

The Badlands was in our sights. But we only had one day. Next time. We did drive into the Badlands area near Truckhaven Trail to get to the 17 Palms. Somewhere out there is our next adventure.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

 

[OCL]

Way cool. That would be a good dirt bike area!

Thanks,

Yup. There are at least 3 OHV areas in this desert. And it was a zoo on New Year's day. But the area was so big, it was easy to get away from all the dust and RV/Toy Hauler Cities that springs up in those areas during any given weekend during desert season.

 

[DSTBLU]

Love seeing these trip reports! Can't wait for mine to get here so I too can get out in the desert.

 

[SEkevin]

Looks fantastic! How far is that area from Las Vegas??

 

[OCL]

Looks fantastic! How far is that area from Las Vegas??

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 322 miles West of Las Vegas.

Within 30 minutes of Vegas are fantastic Desert recreation areas that are just as beautiful. Below is the Lake Mead Recreational area.

Volcanic rocks and rusted rocks by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Lake Mead.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Owl Canyon at the Lake Mead Recreation Area.

Owl Canyon Trail by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Valley of Fire State Park. I believe this is a mere 30 minutes from Las Vegas.

North Fork Valley Of Fire Wash viewpoint by rogue_biker, on Flickr

I freakin' love the desert. ANY desert is heaven to me!

 

[SEkevin]

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 322 miles West of Las Vegas.

Within 30 minutes of Vegas are fantastic Desert recreation areas that are just as beautiful. Below is the Lake Mead Recreational area.

Volcanic rocks and rusted rocks by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Lake Mead.

Untitled by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Owl Canyon at the Lake Mead Recreation Area.

Owl Canyon Trail by rogue_biker, on Flickr

Valley of Fire State Park. I believe this is a mere 30 minutes from Las Vegas.

North Fork Valley Of Fire Wash viewpoint by rogue_biker, on Flickr

I freakin' love the desert. ANY desert is heaven to me!

Thanks for the response! I asked as we are looking to retire in the Las Vegas area and have my Tremor with a Bronco on order so sounds like a giant playground to me!

 

[OCL]

Thanks for the response! I asked as we are looking to retire in the Las Vegas area and have my Tremor with a Bronco on order so sounds like a giant playground to me!

If you live in LV, and like exploring the outdoors, there's no better place to be. LV is near many of the desert parks and recreation areas. It's near Death Valley NP also. Near the Mojave Desert, AZ, UT, etc. Where in LV? The City itself? Or nearby Henderson or Boulder City? We love Boulder City, NV. I would live there myself if I wasn't tied down in SoCal.

 

[SEkevin]

If you live in LV, and like exploring the outdoors, there's no better place to be. LV is near many of the desert parks and recreation areas. It's near Death Valley NP also. Near the Mojave Desert, AZ, UT, etc. Where in LV? The City itself? Or nearby Henderson or Boulder City? We love Boulder City, NV. I would live there myself if I wasn't tied down in SoCal.

We have some family in Mesquite. I love to golf and like the pace of a smaller (and older) community. Every time we drive from Vegas to Mesquite i see all this wonderful desert for exploring. I’ve also been thru St George a few times and it’s stunning up there as well. Gonna be about 2 yrs but might not get my Bronco until then at the rate that’s going!?

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