BajaNomad

Boondock overnight camps near El Centro - Ocotillo Jacumba etc.

mojo_norte - 9-10-2014 at 08:45 PM

Anyone familiar with the Ocotillo, Coyote Wells, Plaster City, Jacumba Outstanding area? Looking for an overnight BLM camp off of I8 with an easy run to and from Tecate border . Have a 4x4 truck camper but not interested in any heavy 4 wheelin - mainly just easy on / off . if there's a nice spot might hang out for a couple days - Fossil canyon?

Cliffy - 9-10-2014 at 08:48 PM

I was going to suggest the Casino near Jacumba but I see now you want to really get off the road. Wish I could help. Good luck in your search.

Bajaboy - 9-10-2014 at 08:52 PM

Head out S2 to Motero Wash...about 14 miles from 8. It's at the border patrol checkpoint...plenty of spots near by with good exploring....do a google search

windgrrl - 9-10-2014 at 08:56 PM

A bit further on try Potrero County Park, rustic pay to camp facilities. Lots of folks stage their crossing from here. A bit off the main road, but route is paved. Easy drive to Rancho San Diego for supplies. Lots of long walks for the dog, too.

http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/reusable_components/images/par...

[Edited on 9-11-2014 by windgrrl]

weebray - 9-10-2014 at 09:02 PM

Potrero Park. Camped there dozens of times before entry into Mexico. It's part of the San Diego park system. It used to be one of the most amable parks in all the southwest. After 911 they have caved in to the hysterical police state rhetoric of the border area. Still and all it's a relatively benign park. Notwithstanding the jackbooted park employees.

Bajaboy - 9-10-2014 at 09:39 PM

I love San Diego County Parks...but one can't boondock there. I really like Sweetwater Summit campground. Trader Joes, Walmart, Sprouts, etc. really close by...great view, lake, trails, etc.

http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/Camping/sweetwater.html

lsclav55 - 9-11-2014 at 07:44 AM

I suggest anza Borrego state park. lots of hiking. cool landscape google Anza Borrego.

bajabuddha - 9-11-2014 at 08:44 AM

Nobody's mentioned Lake Moreno campground; nice place, cold nights in winter; kind of pricey (but what in Cal. ain't?) for a park... not boondocking though. You'll be hard-pressed to find a BLM campground that doesn't charge something. For straight boondocking, I used to camp just north of Ocotillo in the foothills, but with all the new windmills there I don't know if it's even accessible any more, let alone quiet. For a quick off-the-freeway and up-n-at'em run to Tecate I've stayed under the streetlight in the parking lot of the café/bar at the Ocotillo off-ramp if it's already after dark. Used to be all kinds of boondocking around Ocotillo before the Cartel BS; I don't feel as safe out there as in the past.

I hate to admit it, but the new Walmart in Yuma is my new bivouac spot now, good for the 11 PM munchies and final 'oops I forgot' list. And, the price is right.

[Edited on 9-11-2014 by bajabuddha]

mtgoat666 - 9-11-2014 at 08:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lsclav55
I suggest anza Borrego state park. lots of hiking. cool landscape google Anza Borrego.


Ditto Anza
And McCain valley, and mt Laguna (though mt Laguna campgrounds close in winter, not sure why as winters are pretty nice in lagunas...). Enjoy McCain valley before the wind turbines get constructed and the area is ruined

The area around ocotillo and plaster city is ugly and not worth camping... Also a lot of orv noise and damage there

EdZeranski - 9-11-2014 at 09:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lsclav55
I suggest anza Borrego state park. lots of hiking. cool landscape google Anza Borrego.


...Anza Borrego is one of the few parks where you can pull off the road and camp anywhere.

http://www.hikespeak.com/campgrounds/anza-borrego-desert-sta...

EdZ

David K - 9-11-2014 at 09:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mojo_norte
Anyone familiar with the Ocotillo, Coyote Wells, Plaster City, Jacumba Outstanding area? Looking for an overnight BLM camp off of I8 with an easy run to and from Tecate border . Have a 4x4 truck camper but not interested in any heavy 4 wheelin - mainly just easy on / off . if there's a nice spot might hang out for a couple days - Fossil canyon?


Used to go Jeepin' out there with my folks... Oyster Shell Beds as high as hills, sand stone concretions, petrified wood, the Yuha Wells, etc. Those are all south of I-8 and north of 98. Get off I-8 at Ocotillo, then take the old Hwy. 80 towards Plaster City a couple miles to near Coyote Wells, and go south, under the freeway and head southeast. Use Google Earth to see the road. I have not been there in ages, so can't give you specifics, sorry.

We also went into Fossil Canyon, Shell Canyon, and the Painted Gorge... all of those three are north of I-8 and/ or S-2.

Let us know what you find... and post in the Non-Baja Trip Reports forum here.

mojo_norte - 9-11-2014 at 10:50 AM

Thanks- I'll check it out - November time frame . McCain Valley sounds good too. Love Borrego but don't won't that far off 8 this trip. Stayed at Potrero before and it's nice but not this trip. Gotta hit the little Taco stand in Campo - yum