The Badlands In Southern California's Anza-Borrego Desert Look Like Something From Another Planet
By Natasha Kayes|Published December 28, 2022
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
None of us has ever actually been to another planet, but there are some pretty strange landscapes right here in California that will make you feel like you have. Rivaling parks that are found in states like Utah and Arizona, the badlands in Southern California are mesmerizing and truly feel out of this world.
Most people don’t think of California as a state with vast deserts and eroded canyons, but that is exactly what you will find in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
The fascinating Mars-like desert scape known as the Badlands seems to stretch on forever, an endless maze of ridges and valleys, and rivers that have long since dried up.
Probably the most popular lookout over the badlands - and the desert beyond for that matter - is Fonts Point. The view from this vantage point is truly breathtaking and gives you a sense of how vast this otherworldly landscape really is.
The rugged arroyos of the badlands were shaped by sediment deposits and water erosion. Seashell fossils have been found in the area, indicating that this entire area was once under brackish waters from the Colorado River and the Gulf of California.
Anza-Borrego is known as an International Dark Sky Park and is a fantastic place for stargazing. During some parts of the year, the Milky Way band can be clearly seen over the desert.
If you would like to extend your visit and stay the night, you can book a spot in one of the campgrounds, or enjoy the badlands in solitude. Camping is actually allowed for free anywhere in the park; you just have to park your car within one car length of the road. If you are tent camping, you can pitch your tent farther from the road.
As if the badlands themselves were not enough to make you feel like you are on another planet, the Anzo-Borrego wind caves are just a short hike away and offer a whole different view over the badlands.
Have you ever seen the Anza-Borrego Badlands in Southern California? We want to hear about your experience in the comments. Learn more about the Anza-Borrego Desert and the fascinating badlands at the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association website. If you are looking for more adventure, check out SoCal’s very own Grand Canyon.
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