With desert season coming here in San Diego, I figure it’s a good time to share some information about the mud caves out in the Anza Borrego desert. They are great to explore, all you need is a headlamp or flashlight, and a sense of exploration! Bring some water, make sure there’s no rain in the forecast, and don’t get lost!

Here is an excerpt of my previous write up about the mud caves:

I had always heard of the mud caves out in the Anza Borrego desert, and the fact that they are supposed to be some of the best in the world was enough to finally get me out there. I used the “Afoot & Afield San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide” book as my rough guide for getting there and keeping my bearings. It turns out that I just used it as sort of a general guide, and then once there explored on my own. This isn’t so much of a hiking trip as it is an exploring trip, but depending on the condition of the “roads” and the type of vehicle you have, there can definitely be a fair amount of walking. As a worst case scenario, if you have a sedan or low style car, and want to get a good taste of at least a few caves, be prepared for 2-4 miles of walking. With a car and decent road conditions, you can safely and easily drive to pretty close to the first of the caves.

To get there, take 8 East from San Diego to Imperial County, then get off and go north on S2, which is also called Imperial Highway. (You can also come from the north through the mountains and desert if you wish.) When you get to mile marker 43 on S2, turn off to the east where it says Palm Springs or Vallecito Wash. Follow that about 4.5 miles and you will see a sign that says Arroyo Tapiado. Turn left there (or north-ish), and …

Read the rest and see more photos here

Also, if you’re in San Diego, check out my hiking page where I’ve reviewed some local San Diego hikes.

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Originally posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 6:18 AM .