ACTIVITIES
Desert Farmhouse Activities
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Relax by the Campfire
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Stargazing
Vallecitos, Borrego Valley, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are well know destinations for some of the best stargazing Southern California has to offer. The best time for stargazing is the days before, during, and soon after each New Moon - when there is no moon in the sky. Check the moon rise, moon set, and moon phases for your upcoming visit here.
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An interactive sky chart can be found here. Make sure to enter: 92036 for the zip code, select your specific date and time you plan to be stargazing, and select your display options.
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Make sure to bring a flashlight, star chart, chairs, insect repellent, and water. Wear sturdy shoes and warm layers. The desert can get cold at night.
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Hike the Golden Barrel Trail
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Length: X mi
Elevation Gain: XX ft
Hike Time: ~XX min
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Hike the Boojum Forest Trail
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Length: X mi
Elevation Gain: XX ft
Hike Time: ~XX min
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ACTIVITIES
Desert Farmhouse Activities
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
​
​
Relax by the Campfire
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
​
​
Stargazing
Vallecitos, Borrego Valley, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are well know destinations for some of the best stargazing Southern California has to offer. The best time for stargazing is the days before, during, and soon after each New Moon - when there is no moon in the sky. Check the moon rise, moon set, and moon phases for your upcoming visit here.
​
An interactive sky chart can be found here. Make sure to enter: 92036 for the zip code, select your specific date and time you plan to be stargazing, and select your display options.
​
Make sure to bring a flashlight, star chart, chairs, insect repellent, and water. Wear sturdy shoes and warm layers. The desert can get cold at night.
​
​
Hike the Golden Barrel Trail
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
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Length: X mi
Elevation Gain: XX ft
Hike Time: ~XX min
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Hike the Boojum Forest Trail
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Length: X mi
Elevation Gain: XX ft
Hike Time: ~XX min
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OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
As much as the Desert Farmhouse is a destination unto itself, what makes it a special place is the amazing variety of things to see and do in the surrounding area. From exploring nature to visiting nearby hot springs to visiting historic monuments, we encourage you to get to know this incredible place.
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Some local attractions close to the Desert Farmhouse:
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Vallecitos Hot Springs
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GPS Coordinates: 32.97014013981233, -116.42311642610875
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Vallecito County Park (Stage Station)
Vallecito is the perfect oasis of the "Little Valley" as its Spanish name is translated, is a well preserved 71-acre county park build around a reconstruction of the historic Butterfield Stage Station. For hundreds of years, Vallecito has been a gathering place for the Kumeyaay Indians and later settler and other people passing through on their way to the coast.
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37349 Great Southern Overland State Route of 1849
Julian, CA 92036
(858) 565-3600 / (877) 565-3600
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Hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm
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Parking: $3.00
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Restrooms
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Pets permitted if property restrained and under the control of the owner. Dogs must be licensed and restrained with a leash no longer than 6 feet.
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Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail that extends from the Mexico-United State border (just south of Campo, California) to the Canada-United States border (near Manning Park, British Columbia). The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,653 miles (4,260 km) long and ranges in elevation from roughly 110 feet (43m) above sea level (near the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon-Washington border) to 13,153 ft (4,009m) at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
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Experience part of the Southern Section of the Pacific Coast Trail. Parking and the trail head crosses the I-78 and S2 (San Felipe Road).
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Rainbow Canyon Trail
For an exciting 2.2-mile hike on an undeveloped trail through a colorful canyon, make your way to Rainbow Canyon, located south of Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. A bit of scrambling is required on this hike, to climb several sloped dry falls within the canyon. This hike has 300 feet of elevation gain between the trailhead and the turnaround point, with plenty to see along the way.
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From the unmarked trailhead along route S2, begin hiking northeast toward Rainbow Canyon. Follow the path up the wash, crossing a metal fence toward the mouth of the canyon, 1/3 of a mile from the trailhead.
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The alluvial fan below the canyon is surprisingly lush, populated by agave and cholla cacti. Ahead, these desert plants broaden the spectrum in the already colorful canyon. Rainbow Canyon does not appear to be a large water source, and one wonders how the vegetation can be so vibrant here. Aside from several smooth pour-overs, there is little evidence of water flowing down the canyon. Perhaps more is going on underground than meets the eye.
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Not long after entering Rainbow Canyon, and just under half a mile from the start, you will arrive at the first of eight dry falls. Make your way over the angled six-foot dry falls and continue up the canyon through pronounced rock walls. None of the dry falls are too vertical or too challenging to be climbed by fit hikers, and ropes are not needed.
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Rainbow Canyon carves through metamorphic rock that has been folded over into swirling colorful patterns (kind of like a rainbow). Layers of brown, red, and yellow, stand next to blacks and grays, while veins of mineral deposits add glistening lines to the spectacle. Rainbow Canyon offers an impressive display of the geological forces at work in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Take your time, and examine all the unique rocks along the way.
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After the third dry falls, and 0.7 miles from the start, stay to the right at a fork in the canyon. Ahead, a few more dry falls come in quick succession, including a fun pair of dry falls that are nearly on top of each other. This is an excellent spot to gain a perched view down Rainbow Canyon.
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At mile 1.1, the canyon tapers out and widens, becoming less adventurous. The canyon continues for another two miles toward the south end of Blair Valley, but turn around here and enjoy a fun descent over the ornately colored dry falls. Juniper trees appear along the slopes at the top of the canyon, serving as an indicator that you have reached the end of the hike (if you lost count of the dry falls).
Trailhead Address:
Route S2 (Route Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849)
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Julian, CA 92036
Julian, CA 92036
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Trailhead Coordinates: 32.99775, -116.44755 (32° 59′ 52″N 116° 26′ 51.2″W)
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Length: 2.2 mi (out and back)
Elevation Change: 300 ft
Hiking Time: ~1 hr 15 min
​Fee: None
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Marshall South Home Trail
The Anza-Borrego Desert is a beautiful place to visit, but a tough place to live. The areas inhabitants usually built homes near water, trees, and roads, but not Marshal South, who traded utility for scenery when he built a homestead in the 1930s atop Ghost Mountain (Yaquitepec) near Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trail to the ruins of the South’s adobe cabin is 1.3 miles round trip with 450 feet of elevation gain. (Imagine having to walk that every time you needed to make a run for supplies.) The tough life caused Marshal’s wife Tanya to leave him and for the home to be abandoned. Explore the ruins and enjoy panoramic views from the top of this short but steep hike.
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There are no junctions on the trail to the Marshal South Home (or the Marshal and Tanya South Home), so the hike is fairly straightforward. For starters you will ascend many switchbacks on the west side of Ghost Mountain. Looking down the mountainside, you will have views across Blair Valley, a flat desert expanse, toward Granite Mountain, a pyramid-shaped peak. There are views to the north into a mountain pass above Blair Valley where the nearby Pictograph Trail and Morteros Trail begin.
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After 0.4 miles of switchbacks climbing south, you will come to the top of the ridge running along Ghost Mountain. The dirt and rock single track turns northeast up the ridge. Catch your breath as you cross a flatter spot on the mountain before making the final push to the Yaquitepec site.
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The trail weaves up and over a slope of boulders to reach another landing on the mountain, below the actual summit, where you will find the ruins of the South Home. Much remains of the old homestead, including sections of adobe walls, a wooden door frame, oven, rusting metal objects, and a cement cistern. What you won’t see are important assets for desert survival like a spring for water and trees for firewood. Nevertheless, the South’s succeeded in emulating a primitive lifestyle on Ghost Mountain for more than a decade.
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Simply return the way you came.
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Trailhead Address:
Blair Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Julian, CA 92036
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Trailhead Coordinates: 33.003382, -116.389789 (33° 00′ 12.17″N 116° 23′ 23.24″W)
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Length: 1.3 mi (out and back)
Elevation Change: 450 ft
Hiking Time: ~45 min
Fee: None
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Monteros Trail
This short gradual 0.6-mile round trip hike ascends to an area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park that was once inhabited by Kumeyaay Indians. The Kumeyaay left behind morteros, grinding bowls carved into large boulders along the trail. These Native Americans used the circular morteros over 2,000 years ago to grind local nuts and seeds into meal.
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From the well-marked trailhead above Blair Valley, begin hiking southwest toward a gap in the hillside. In no time, the single track reaches a city of boulders on the right side of the pass. Several footpaths explore these boulders.
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The main trail ends at a prominent obelisk-shaped rock. Morteros are carved into the flat boulder on the far side of the rock. Trace your way back amongst the boulders and hunt out other grinding bowls. When you have seen enough, return down the trail, enjoying a nice view over Little Blair Valley.
Trailhead Address:
Blair Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Julian, CA 92036
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Trailhead Coordinates: 33.00895, -116.3784 (33° 00′ 32.2″N 116° 22′ 42.2″W)
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Length: 0.6 mi (out and back)
Elevation Change: 40 ft
Hiking Time: ~15-20 min
Free: None
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Pictograph Trail
Pictograph Trail provides a 1.8-mile out and back hike to an elephant-sized canvas, otherwise known as a boulder, that was used by Kumeyaay Indian painters who lived in the Anza-Borrego Desert over two thousand years ago.
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From the trailhead, hike east up a shallow draw in the ridgeline, gaining 190 feet over 0.55 miles. Behind you, there is a grand view over Little Blair Valley and Granite Mountain to the west.
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The trail curves slightly to the right along the edge of a small elevated valley, arriving at a large isolated boulder. On the north face, there is a collection of red symbols painted on the rock. The meaning of the pictograph is not completely known. Invent your own story, or simply stand and wonder what life was like in the Anza-Borrego Desert two thousand years ago.
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These days, it is less than a mile walk back to your automobile at the trailhead. To extend the hike, continue half a mile past the pictograph up to a knob-like rise in the ridge to the east. Backpackers may also set out northward on an off trail ascent of Whale Peak, the 5,350-foot mountain towering over the pictograph. To learn more about Native American life in the Anza-Borrego Desert, hike the nearby Morteros Trail. And of course, please keep the pictograph free of graffiti.
Trailhead Address:
Blair Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Julian, CA 92036
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Trailhead Coordinates: 33.01965, -116.3598 (33° 01′ 10.7″N 116° 21′ 35″W)
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Length: 1.8 mi (out and back)
Elevation Change: 190 ft
Hiking Time: ~45 min
Free: None
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