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| Landmark #785 | San Diego County | Visited: March 31, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque and a vast desert oasis! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: 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.
OTHER TIDBITS: This is a very special place! After hiking through dry desert, you suddenly come upon a vast oasis of willows and palms! You can hear frogs in the creek below, and if you’re really lucky, you might see some of the coyotes and bighorn sheep that use Santa Catarina for water! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Santa Catarina Springs 10 mi NW of Borrego Springs (4-wheel drive dirt rd) Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, ask at Visitor Center ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~161mi (260km) — 2.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Winter or late spring is probably the best time to visit, because you might see the cacti in bloom! Plan carefully, though, because you don’t want to be driving this road right after a rainstorm! |
