We take off just after 8 am. With both my key destinations closed, I head to the Yaqui Well trail south of Borrego Springs. The trail is a 1.6 miles out-n-back with ~100 ft of elevation. The Well is a vital year-round water source so I'm hoping to find some butterflies there.
To get there, I south down Borrego Springs Rd past the sculptures we saw yesterday afternoon before continuing south on S3 (or Yaqui Pass Rd).
Tons of Painted Ladies flying already. Their numbers are amazing as they stream across the landscape (and the road -- plenty of them splat on my car)!
Boy was this road curvy as we reach the pass and then down hill (I didn't realize that we had more elevation to drop). Tight turns with many switchbacks (and many folks on bikes to dodge).
But we reached the bottom and it wasn't much farther before reach the Tamarisk Grove Campgrounds and then the trail head for the hike.
Photos of the hike looked like it would be pretty smooth sailing but the photos were very misleading. The trail is very rocky even at the start. But it was fill with lots of wonder flowers and of course, Painted Ladies. And many different species of cactus - Barrel,
Beaver Tail (??)
Octillo (which is just about ready to bloom), etc.
Not far into the hike, I finally see a different butterfly (actually two). As I'm zeroing in on a beautifully fresh Funereal Duskywing, as a Desert Orangetip flies by. I can't follow both so I get my photos of the Duskwing. (One of many I see today.)
Continuing up the trail climbs higher thru the cactus and flowers.
CA Poppy
Ghost Flower
We probably get 1/2 way to the Well, when we decide to call it quits - just too rocky.
On the way back, I see a few more Orangetips and finally catch up with one at the near the trail head. It's a Desert Orangetip! Yea!!
Time to head back to town.
To avoid the curvy Yaqui Pass Road, I follow Hwy 78 to Borrego Springs road back to town. Thankfully no twisty turns. Yellow flowers cover the slopes.
We reach town and head west and back up the switchbacks up to the Culp Valley trail.
The drive is actually prettier on the way up as the mountains sides are filled with yellow flowers.
(Hey, there's a chipmunk!!)
As the road flattens, the ground is a carpet of pink flowers -- looks awesome!
We reach the Culp Valley parking area. The trail starts somewhere behind the pit toilets at the campground. Not sure how far we can drive in we so park at the Pima Springs trail head and start the trail in reverse - Spring first, overlook second.
It's up hill at the start along a dirt road - no rocks this time. At the actual trail head, there's a Spotted Towhee.
Along the trail,
there are still more Painted Ladies (even though we're not at around 3300 ft vs 700 ft in Borrego Springs) and a few Orangetips. Can't get close enough to determine if they're Desert Orangetips or Sara Orangetips. (Both species fly in the park.)
We reach the Springs and, well, it's a bit disappointing. I'm expecting water - several trails below in the park are closed because they are flooded - but no water up here. The positive is that it's green and there are birds calling.
Time for the crossover trail heading towards the Culp Valley Overlook. This trail continues uphill on a path thru some rocky terrain. Lots more cactus on this stretch.
Once up the hill, the trail flattens and I start seeing a few lizards.
And Yucca in various stages of bloom.
Soon, it's the Culp Valley overlook (Borrego Springs is down there.)
The landscape is now less rocky and green.
I even see a squirrel.
Time to head back down the switchbacks to town for lunch.
And then over to the Salton Sea.
Along the way, there are a few miles filled with a carpet of pink flowers and another section filled with AZ Lupine. I stop at the lupine -- they smell so good.
Then we enter the Badlands - barren, valley - good name.
We arrive in Salton City. I start heading south to get around to the east side of the Sea to Salvation Mt but I get a bit freaked because cell coverage is pretty iffy out here. So I turn back. I try to reach the Sea thru Salton City but just not having any luck. So it's time to end my day.
Awesome day!
