Wind Caves Anza-Borrego State Park

Just thinking about our visit to this magical spot gives me goose bumps.  Part desert, part walking on the moon, part teleporting to the Badlands, this hidden gem blew us away.  A short hike, easy for most anyone, takes you on a 1.25 mile (round trip) adventure to a large sandstone formation with wind-blown holes that are more fascinating to explore than any playground you’ll find on earth.  Let’s show you it’s pure awesomeness, and at the end we’ll share logistics that are critical to know before you venture here yourself.

The Wind Caves are in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is a must do day trip from San Diego, about 1 hour and 45 minutes away.  See our blog post on Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to see the incredible outdoor adventures you can experience during your day spent here.

We visited the Wind Caves after hiking through The Slot, which was about 25 – 30 minutes away.  So, getting there is your first adventure.  Definitely not for the faint of heart, and a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is pretty much a must.  You basically go off-roading for a few miles through Fish Creek Wash and we are lucky we had our confident driver Chad who used to drive in these conditions when he grew up in Iowa.  I just held my breath and hoped for the best.  Ha!  Trust me, it was ALL worth it and then some. While holding my breath, I admired the scenery out in front through our windshield, which kind of reminded me of the scenery in the Disneyland Cars ride, if you are familiar.

Getting closer to the Wind Caves.

As you turn a corner, this is the sign you are looking for on the left.  Fortunately, there was another car parked there which alerted us to its presence.  But that was it.  In fact, those people left when we got there and for our entire visit we had the Wind Caves to ourselves. Completely magical.

Park your car and then head up the trail.  The trail offshoots several different ways that all end up at the Wind Caves. You basically want to head upwards.  We took the most traveled path, because, you know, kind of makes sense to do that in the middle of the desert!  Did I mention we went on a torrential windy day? It was a wind can knock you over kind of day.  Hence, the sunglasses on everyone to block the dust during the mild gusts.  The large gusts we had to turn our backs around so we weren’t pegged with debris.  The adventure never ends!  Along the way the kids enjoyed seeing the glittery rocks, and the anticipation of what lies ahead.

And then the moment when my breath was truly taken away.  Rising over the hill, the Carrizo Badlands.  I’ve never been to the Badlands in South Dakota, but it immediately transported me there (what I imagine it to be!).

Now as you walk along the path to the Wind Caves, your ultimate destination, you see sweeping views of the Carrizo Bandlands and wonder why this in itself isn’t your final destination. Awe struck.

Now keep walking along the trail.  But seriously enjoy the view. Don’t rush it, you don’t see this beauty every day.

And there, as we got to the top of the hill, appeared the unmistakable Wind Caves.  In a blink, and without permission, our kids raced down the hill with giant smiles on their faces to explore nature’s playground!  So many nooks and crannies to explore, you could spend a little time here or a lot!

See the kids there approaching the Wind Caves? They never even looked back at us. It was like it was calling to them.

Before we followed them down the hill, seriously….the Badlands.  Is this not amazing? Don’t mind my outfit people, I was just trying to stay warm in the torrential winter winds.  Us San Diego people are weak.  It happens.

They wasted no time in climbing and exploring all the nooks and crannies!  This is just one side of many….so much to explore.

We were all so relaxed…no one else there, so many nooks and crannies to explore and nothing felt unsafe.  The kids enjoyed the pure blissful freedom to explore this treasure on their own.

That feeling when you are on top of the world.

What better place to enjoy a snack break than their very own natural couch?  Do you spot Sydney in the middle photo?  She’s in a nook, or a cranny, however you’d describe it.

Sadly, after about an hour of fun, it was time to leave.  But the walk back enjoys sweeping views of the Badlands, so it’s not too shabby.

Til next time, Wind Caves…

Need to Know

Getting there

As mentioned, it’s an adventure getting there.  The Visitor’s Center helped us get there generally from The Slot, but were not very specific about the off-roading part so at first we missed the turn and ended up at a dead end.  Google Maps wasn’t much help, and when we got to the dead end we had no cell service.

Here’s the gist.

• From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, drive 11.5 miles southwest on Borrego Springs Road.
• Turn left on 78 East and drive 6.6 miles to Ocotillo Wells (not well marked) and turn right on Split Mountain Road.
• Keep driving until the paved road turns into gravel (about 10 miles). If you hit a dead end with a “do not enter” facility you went just a little too far.
• You’ll see a dirt road up the center of Fish Creek Wash on your right.  I was like, that’s not a road?  But yes, this is the “off roading part” and you’l see tire marks from other trucks/cars.
• Another 3 – 4 miles down this road (be careful!) you’ll see the trail head on the left.

Warnings & What to Bring

Leave Fido at home, no dogs are permitted.  A high-clearance 4WD vehicle is a must.  Lots of water during the hot months.  Sturdy shoes.  A confident off-roading driver.  Avoid this area when it’s raining.  It’s called a “wash” for a reason. 🙂

We hope you have an amazing time at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Wind Caves!

Have you been?  Any questions or comments?  Use the comment box, we’re listening!

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