OCOTILLO, CA

BD, Painted Gorge Rd (BLM). Free. I-8 x89 (Imperial Hwy/CR-S2) at Ocotillo, go N then immed E on Evan Hewes Hwy/CR-S80 frontage rd, ~4.2 mi to Painted Gorge Rd on L. N32.76263 W115.93137. 1) Pkg area on NE corner.
2) Continue on Painted Gorge Rd, passing a few areas of private property. After ~2.5 mi, reach signs “14-day camping”. Roadside sites w/ fire rings are easy to access, but rd continues into very colorful badlands area & the finest scenery is at Plaster City West OHV area at end of rd. Marianne Edwards #105918 Mar 11.

Plaster City OHV Area (BLM), 2 lg main areas. No facilities. Free. 14-day limit, not enforced. I-8 x89 (Imperial Hwy/CR-S2) at Ocotillo, go N then immed E on Evan Hewes Hwy/CR-S80 frontage rd, 7 mi to Plaster City West on L. Or, continue 3 more mi to Plaster City East, on L. Several other rds turn off CR-S80 into the area, one at 4 mi from x89. Many flat pkg areas. Any size rig. Watch for areas of deep sand. No shade. Noise, mostly daytime, from military aircraft drills. Tom Deakins #107818 stayed Feb 14.

BD, Imperial Hwy/CR-S2 (BLM). Free. From I-8 x89, go ~7 mi N on Imperial Hwy/CR-S2 (paved). S of border patrol checkpoint & boundary of Anza-Borrego Desert SP, in area signed “California Desert Conservation Area”, go E on dirt road at N32.77905 W116.08987. Take the R fork marked BLM Rd 096. 1st site is ~275 yards from CR-S2. More sites further in. Those less than 1000′ from the hwy are more accessible for lg RVs. Big vista views of mtns. Marianne Edwards #105918 Mar 11. Reval by Al & Sharon Florida #86865 viewed Jan 18.

Mtn Palm Springs (Anza-Borrego Desert SP). BD. Vault toilet. Free. ~15 mi NW of Ocotillo on CR-S2. 32 51 27.29N 116 13 13.5W. Check ahead, deep sand some areas on entrance rd (pkg areas are on hard ground). Metal fire ring needed for campfires (bring your own). Also see CA, OCOTILLO WELLS & BORREGO SPRINGS. Park magazine (PDF file) has great info on other backcountry camp sites, regulations, maps, etc: Mark/Arlene Pendersen Jul 92. Last updated by Al & Sharon Florida #86865 viewed Jan 18.

BD, Coyote #2 Rd (BLM). Free. From I-8 x87 go ~9 mi E on SR-98/Yuha Cutoff to Coyote #2 Rd (or, from x89, go ~8 mi S then E on SR-98), TR (W), go 2 mi. N32.659 W115.924. Room for many rigs. Near Crucifixion Thorn Natural Area & Jacumba Wilderness. 2.8 mi from Mexican border. Stan Van Kleeck #77356 Jan 04. Updated by Marianne Edwards #105918 Mar 11.

Also see CA, SEELEY