Standard Wash Boondocking

 Standard Wash is right off of the Route 95 so there's continuous noise from the traffic. We were camped here with a Homes On Wheels group and needed a spot large enough for about twenty vehicles. The dirt road continues northeast towards the mountains so it's possible to camp farther from the road and noise. 

The ground is very rocky and rough so wheelchair travel is difficult. Standard Wash  34.41988, -114.20002 

 

Super Bloom at American Girl Mine BLM

The late November rain storms that soaked the southwest provided the moisture necessary for dormant flower seeds to pop open, creating spring super blooms all across the desert. 

We camped at American Girl Mine in February with a Homes On Wheels caravan group. It might not look spectacular but when one of our knowledgeable members lead a flower walk, we spotted flowers in bloom that we've never seen at AGM even though we've camped there every spring for years. 

           

The BLM land at American Girl Mine is flat and large so finding a camping spot is never a problem. The combination of rocks and sand make it a bit difficult at times for wheelchair users. American Girl Mine  32.8356, -114.81039

Salton Sea Headquarters Campground and Visitor Center

We traveled along the Salton Sea in 2021 and stayed at New Camp  which is a part of the Headquarters area of the park. This time we chose the Headquarters Campground for the convenience of a full hookup site to dump our waste water and fill our fresh water. The campground is along the east side of a large picnic area parking lot with fourteen sites lined up in a row. The campground appears to get little use so the lack of privacy due to the closeness of the sites is slight. The host site was the only occupied site when we visited.  

The visitor center is at the south end of the lot. It's small with a few exhibits about the sea that are a little out of date. The water now in the Salton Sea is the result of a cut made in the bank of the Colorado River in 1905 when irrigation canals were being dug. Water flowed into the valley for two years before the breach was repaired. The beautiful fresh water lake became of a vacation paradise for a short period but soon increased salinity of the water, algae blooms, fish die offs and agricultural pollution left most of the small communities ghost towns. The large parking lot at the Headquarters is evidence of how popular boating, fishing and swimming was in the 1950s and 60s. 

None of the campsites are designated as accessible but most can be used. The visitor center is accessible. The trails to the lake are sandy and not accessible. Headquarters   33.50533, -115.91479

 

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

 The zoo was established in 1970 as a  wilderness preserve and gradually became a full fledged zoo as animals were added. All of the animals are desert dwellers so they are comfortable in the hot climate of southern California. Most of the enclosures are very roomy. The  giraffe and ostriches roam around on a grass covered hill with palm trees for shade. A special enclosure for the wallabies allows visitors to walk paths where the animals live and play. 

    Over 1,200 plant species are featured in gardens that represent different regions of the world. 

The main paths are wide, paved and fairly level. Visitors using wheelchairs may need assistance on the sandy paths. The five mile loop nature trail, with connecting trails to make shorter loops, is not accessible do to loose sandy soil. Some viewing areas are partly blocked by the fencing but most have alternate viewing areas. The shuttle tours are not accessible. 

The parking lot is large enough for any vehicle if parked across the spaces. Zoo   33.699, -116.37502