On a recent roadtrip in California I stopped to see some elephant seals.
But, I also got a lot of close encounters with some California ground squirrels. Apparently these cheeky little guys are very common along a good portion of the California coast, as well as up towards Oregon and even Washington state now.
Despite numerous “do not feed” signs at the elephant seal viewing area I was at, it seems these little critters are quite familiar with humans, and likely, foodstuffs provided by us.
A little darker brown in colour than some other ground squirrels I have seen in the US, in places like Wyoming, these California ground squirrels are not endangered at all, and to some they are considered pests.
I was actually surprised at how thick their coats of fur seemed to be. I mean, it was really windy there, but it was warm and sunny. You’d think California squirrels would be happier in a more slimming outfit, but I guess not.
When most people say they’re flying to California they tend to be excited about spending time in big cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.
For me, the first thing I did when I arrived in San Diego was head for the Colorado Desert. The desert is actually in Mexico and California – south of the Mojave Desert and considered part of the Sonora Desert.
Colorado Desert - A Creosote Bush and Canyon View in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Geography lesson aside, the Colorado Desert is a low-lying desert. It’s dry and shrubby. Not many big cacti in this part of the desert. There is plenty to see though!
A Barrel Cactus in the Colorado Desert, California
Most of my time in the Colorado Desert was spent in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. As California’s largest state park, there was a lot to explore. The wildflowers weren’t out yet, as I arrived in late winter, but I still found the odd looking plants quite interesting.
The only Wildflowers I could find in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
As I continued east from San Diego, through the park I eventually came in sight of Borrego Springs. Nestled amongst the mountains Borrego Springs proclaims itself as California’s Secret Desert.
If you judge it by the odd desert sculptures that greet you as you approach the village, then you don’t doubt you’ve entered some sort of strange desert oasis.
A Woolly Mammoth Sculpture near Borrego Springs in the Colorado Desert
As alluring as those rusty sculptures and looming mountains were, I resisted spending much time in Borrego Springs, as I found the desert itself interesting enough. Wide washes that had been previously flooded were countered by deep canyons and the rocky cliffs would be spattered with pockets of colour, creating a nice visual as I passed through the State Park.
A Spider-like Cactus in the Colorado Desert, California
If you like wide-open spaces and big skies this is a perfect place for camping only a few hours from San Diego. But, if you’re like me, you may want to drive a little further northeast to the edge of the Colorado Desert and into the Mojave Desert to check out Joshua Tree National Park.
