Learning to Dry Camp in Borrego’s Coyote Canyon
It's’ a skill on its own but when you get the juice of it, it’s the best way to have relaxing time and see nature from your own camping chair!!
The dry camping experience is not that new for us as we have been lucky camping (Nökö calls her childhood summers spend in holiday cottage in South Finland, camping!!!! ;) outdoors a lot, besides living on boats for decades.
Boon-docking as they call dry camping is about saving water, pee’ing in a bush, having short showers, not always having phone /wifi connection, wearing the same clothes for few days, getting bored, playing games and eating/drinking well….all that belongs to life style of boon-docking. It’s the most rewarding way of seeing nature and being in place where it’s so quiet that your ears start ringing (not the bad way)! People talk about light pollution but have you ever thought about noice pollution? Ever been in so quiet place that you think you lost its hearing. Amazing!!!
We started to go to Coyote Canyon right in the beginning of our purchase of the Van. Go somewhere quiet that is reasonable close and is accessible free campsite spot. The road that leads towards north out of Borrego Springs has little patches that one can set a camp off a dirt road. Road is firm enough during winter months but when getting a spot make sure you don’t land on ant “hill” that actually are underground.. it took us a day before we realized what we done.. he he.. Had few coyote visits and little jumping mouse just before/after sunset when it gets quiet. That said it is unfortunately getting more and more popular by Dirt bike/car tourist and few Prius car tourists that obviously are in a wrong road. We even witnessed a traffic jam during flower bloom time one day !
Car traffic stops at sunset and it’s really not that bad as long as you are ready for it! If you can, it’s best to avoid weekends and desert bloom time.
Cayote Canyon winter camping
During the winter months is perfect time to camp out there, its cool during night and not too hot during the day but we did learn quickly that we needed a side awning for addition to our regular permanent awning setup as the sun is lower down during winter and sitting outside in a sun was not an option. Bees are not a problem in Borrego like they are in Joshua Tree for some reason. Anyhoo….
After sports chill time
Coyotes around the campsite talking with their pups
Just as the sun is setting the Coyotes start moving around and in January they have their pups out and about. Kaya and Rhona listening the Coyotes hauling around our campsite. They were not really bothered and did not know what to make out of it, got bored and went to bed.. he he!
The spring desert bloom is “A Thing” in South California, if the we manage to get enough rain during winter months.
when there are flowers there is Rhona’s nose getting it all in!!
