CA desert super bloom worth a cross country trip?

[Mr. Green]

I'm looking for some feedback from some SoCal folks. I have a ton of Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points, and the Companion Pass until the end of 2018. I saw the super bloom news, and I really enjoy hiking so I thought about making an impromptu trip. My mom said she's loved to go, so I booked a flight into San Diego this upcoming Friday and we'd leave to come home Monday. Our plan is to book an AirBnB somewhere in the Escondido/Ramona area and drive to the Anza Borrego State Park Saturday and Sunday. I've never been out there before and I recognize that it's literally a desert and a bunch of flowers. I figured, worst case scenario if we enjoyed the park on Saturday but didn't want to come back on Sunday there are other things we can do in the area. I've been to San Diego twice so I'm sure we'd find something. I only work half-time so I'm not missing any work for this and neither is my mom.

For anyone familiar with the California desert wildflower bloom in Spring, does this sound crazy, to fly across county for a couple days for this?

[GetItRight]

Google images, you can see it. Looks neat. It does indeed sound crazy to travel there just to see some flowers. I'm in CA fairly often for work but have avoided it since January as I've been getting burned out. Maybe on my next trip I'll make time to see this, but just as something to do after work to entertain myself. I wouldn't spend my own money on a trip to see some flowers.

[goateeman]

Life is short, do it my friend.  It'll be cheap with your points and Companion Pass... why not?

I've jumped in my car and driven a day to see the ocean on a whim... never regretted...made for some special memories.  Life is all about experiences, not possessions.

[Mr. Green]

It actually looks like it's going to be an awesome trip so I'm glad we decided to do it. In all our itinerary consists of a visit the La Jolla cove, eating dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - 94th Aero Squadron, out to Anza for hiking and wildflowers, possibly a stop in Julian to take in some mining town goodness, and finishing it off with a stop at the beach/cliffs just above Torrey Pines. All that in 72 hours, and we won't be rushing anywhere the way we've planned it.

Total cost of flight, car rental, AirBnB and hotel stay currently stands at $370. The total bill will come in under $500 for two people. Not too shabby for a whim.

[Goldielocks]

Man,  that trip would be 1000x better than Vegas.

[Khan]

I don't think that's something I'd drop a vacation and cross country trip for... that... but if that's your thing, lucky you, enjoy =)

Thanks for posting about it though, I've got a road trip to California this coming week so I guess I'll check detour locations!

[Bracken_Joy]

Ah, yep, doing this! =) We need to pass through the area within the next few weeks anyway. Definitely going to detour! Thanks for the tip.

[Dicey]

We're just ending a seven year long drought. Who knows when this will happen again? My vote is to go. Just go.

I own rental property down south, so maybe I'll use the flowers as an excuse to go look at another potential property.

[Rocket]

I'm in Glendale CA which is near LA and I hike the nearby hills every day and the flowers are pretty good right now.  Everything is green on the trails which only lasts about 2 months out of the year.

[Mr. Green]

We're just ending a seven year long drought. Who knows when this will happen again? My vote is to go. Just go.

I own rental property down south, so maybe I'll use the flowers as an excuse to go look at another potential property.

The last super bloom of this magnitude in the Anza Borrego was in 1999. If it's that long before another really good one my mom will be almost 80, and odds are her hiking days will be behind her.

[Stachless]

Not to throw a wrench into your well laid-out plans, but if you are landing on Friday 3/17, San Diego puts on an excellent St. Paddy's Day celebration as well!! 

[Catbert]

I'm in Palm Springs this weekend and every vacant lot is awash with purple, yellow and white wildflowers (weeds?).  I'm sure Anza Borrego desert will be spectacular.

[Jazzpolice]

Just went there yesterday (live in San Diego area) and I must admit it was an underwhelming experience.  I don't want to put a damper on your trip...but I think the 'super-bloom' was overhyped a bit and I just saw patches of some wild flowers around but honestly I see pretty flowers on the side of the freeways too.  It's still pretty for never having been there but I wouldn't rush out again (I prefer mountains or ocean though instead of desert so I may be biased).  If you don't have high expectations of the desert bloom then it'll be fine...plus there's tons to do in San Diego so that'll be a good getaway in itself.
[/quote]

[BTDretire]

Life is short, do it my friend.  It'll be cheap with your points and Companion Pass... why not?

I've jumped in my car and driven a day to see the ocean on a whim... never regretted...made for some special memories.  Life is all about experiences, not possessions.

 In August, I'm getting together with my son and some of his friends to drive 1500 miles roundtrip to somewhere in SC to see the total eclipse. All that for a little over two minutes of total eclipse. Still subject to my 23 yr old son wanting his 62 yr old dad on a road trip with his friends. I keep asking "are you sure"?   :-)

[DTaggart]

I live in San Diego and we just went out to Anza-Borrego yesterday. It was nice, but I don't think I'd travel cross-country just to see it, although as others have pointed out, there's lots of other great things in the area that would make a trip worthwhile. If you do go, be warned, it is RIDICULOUSLY crowded out there. We left around 6am yesterday, got into Borrego a little before 8am, and it was quite busy already. We left town around 10:30am and the roads leading into town were backed up for MILES. People were parking miles away from the visitor's center and walking in (even though there were better areas to go see the flowers, they just didn't know where they were going). So, if you do go, I suggest:

1. Get there early, leave early
2. Make sure your gas tank is full each morning
3. Pack a lunch, you'll waste hours if you try and go to a restaurant in town
4. Its the desert - common sense rules apply. Bring lots of extra water, sun protection, watch out for rattlesnakes, etc. Its already in the upper 80's to 90s during the day, and there is NO shade.
5. The park is HUGE, do some research so you know where you want to go ahead of time. The bloom is fantastic in Coyote Canyon and along Henderson Canyon Road, but the crowds in those spots are enormous. If you can get a high clearance or 4WD vehicle you'll have more options of where you can go.

[Mr. Green]

I live in San Diego and we just went out to Anza-Borrego yesterday. It was nice, but I don't think I'd travel cross-country just to see it, although as others have pointed out, there's lots of other great things in the area that would make a trip worthwhile. If you do go, be warned, it is RIDICULOUSLY crowded out there. We left around 6am yesterday, got into Borrego a little before 8am, and it was quite busy already. We left town around 10:30am and the roads leading into town were backed up for MILES. People were parking miles away from the visitor's center and walking in (even though there were better areas to go see the flowers, they just didn't know where they were going). So, if you do go, I suggest:

1. Get there early, leave early
2. Make sure your gas tank is full each morning
3. Pack a lunch, you'll waste hours if you try and go to a restaurant in town
4. Its the desert - common sense rules apply. Bring lots of extra water, sun protection, watch out for rattlesnakes, etc. Its already in the upper 80's to 90s during the day, and there is NO shade.
5. The park is HUGE, do some research so you know where you want to go ahead of time. The bloom is fantastic in Coyote Canyon and along Henderson Canyon Road, but the crowds in those spots are enormous. If you can get a high clearance or 4WD vehicle you'll have more options of where you can go.

On my last visit to San Diego, in 2014, I ventured out into the desert to hike into one of the slot canyons. We ended up helping a couple that had pulled off the road and sunk into the soft sand of the shoulder. Having had that experience, I now totally understand how easy it is to get into real trouble if you don't have water, etc. We'll be taking a couple gallons of water to have in the car, and we planned to be there for sunrise, so hopefully we'll get in before the roads get crazy. I have a lightweight, reflective umbrella from my AT thru-hike attempt last summer and we'll be taking that as well. If we decide that Saturday's experience doesn't merit a return trip on Sunday we'll find something else to do.

[DTaggart]

I live in San Diego and we just went out to Anza-Borrego yesterday. It was nice, but I don't think I'd travel cross-country just to see it, although as others have pointed out, there's lots of other great things in the area that would make a trip worthwhile. If you do go, be warned, it is RIDICULOUSLY crowded out there. We left around 6am yesterday, got into Borrego a little before 8am, and it was quite busy already. We left town around 10:30am and the roads leading into town were backed up for MILES. People were parking miles away from the visitor's center and walking in (even though there were better areas to go see the flowers, they just didn't know where they were going). So, if you do go, I suggest:

1. Get there early, leave early
2. Make sure your gas tank is full each morning
3. Pack a lunch, you'll waste hours if you try and go to a restaurant in town
4. Its the desert - common sense rules apply. Bring lots of extra water, sun protection, watch out for rattlesnakes, etc. Its already in the upper 80's to 90s during the day, and there is NO shade.
5. The park is HUGE, do some research so you know where you want to go ahead of time. The bloom is fantastic in Coyote Canyon and along Henderson Canyon Road, but the crowds in those spots are enormous. If you can get a high clearance or 4WD vehicle you'll have more options of where you can go.

On my last visit to San Diego, in 2014, I ventured out into the desert to hike into one of the slot canyons. We ended up helping a couple that had pulled off the road and sunk into the soft sand of the shoulder. Having had that experience, I now totally understand how easy it is to get into real trouble if you don't have water, etc. We'll be taking a couple gallons of water to have in the car, and we planned to be there for sunrise, so hopefully we'll get in before the roads get crazy. I have a lightweight, reflective umbrella from my AT thru-hike attempt last summer and we'll be taking that as well. If we decide that Saturday's experience doesn't merit a return trip on Sunday we'll find something else to do.

Sounds like you should be all set! Feel free to hit me up if you have any specific questions or want some ideas of other places to visit. We do quite a bit of hiking in SD and have a blog about hiking in the area so I'm always happy to talk trails :)

[FireHiker]

I have some friends who went out there this weekend and said it was under-whelming and crowded. I have been out when it was just a regular (non "super" bloom) though when it was pretty gorgeous and worth the trip. I hope it will be better when you are here next weekend! And I second taking DTaggart up on her offer for advice. :)

[fattest_foot]

I'd say probably not.

We went to Death Valley last year for the super bloom and while it was neat, it wasn't mind blowing or anything. It was worthwhile, but only because we live within a few hours of Death Valley already.

[mm1970]

Gosh you know I've been here 20 years, and have never been.