The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Cottonwood Campground at the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area is a terrific place to camp if you love nature and hiking. From this campground, you can find trails leading to Sombrero Peak Area, Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. There are 25 year-round campsites at this campground near Boulevard, California. The campground consists of two loops, and campers with horses can stay in the eastern loop. Since it is at a higher elevation than most of the surrounding areas, it is a great place to escape the summer heat. This campground is approximately 135 miles from Joshua Tree National Park and a short distance from Channel Island National Park.
Like this Bureau of Land Management campground, you can stay at most Bureau of Land Management campgrounds for no money or at a reduced fee. Most have limited services, like this campground that offers only fire rings and a vault toilet. Many of these campgrounds sit in beautiful natural surroundings with breathtaking views that you can enjoy for up to 14 days. Therefore, you can get a break from city life in San Diego, about 80 miles away, when you visit this campground. If you are coming from another area, search for "BLM camping near me" when planning your trip.
Pepperwood Trail begins near campsite 11 within the Cottonwood Campground. It runs through McCain Valley until it descends to the bottom of the Anza Borrego Desert. Tall chaparral and scrub oak provide welcome relief from the blazing sun in many locations along this trail, which is dog-friendly.
Length: 14 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This trail at the south end of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park allows you to access the summit. From that vantage point, you can see parts of Southern California and northern Mexico on a clear day, including Goat Canyon Trestle, the largest trestle bridge in the world. You will need to scramble over and around many boulders before reaching the summit. This trail is not well marked in some areas, so take a topographical map.
Length: 2.8 miles
Intensity: Strenuous
This short trail leads from the parking area at McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area to Lowenbrau Pinnacle, which is a favorite spot for rock climbing. Even if you are not a climber, this is a fun trail to follow to watch the action. You will enjoy the desert views along this well-maintained trail. Start by veering to the right along this looped trail.
Length: 1 mile
Intensity: Easy
Cottonwood Campground is in a desert environment, so it is hard to find good fishing and boating nearby. Consider heading east about 55 miles to Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. This park covering over 100 acres features seven recycled-water fishing lakes.
The Lowenbrau Pinnacle at McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area is a fantastic place for a climbing adventure. There are at least 17 courses up this pinnacle, which many climbers believe is the best place to climb in San Diego County. While there are some triad climbs, the majority are sports climbs.
There are over 500 miles of dirt roads in Anza Borrego State Park, and they make a great place to watch for wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, antelope, squirrels, and cottontail rabbits. In particular, Indian Hill is often a great place to spot bighorn sheep, rabbits, and lizards. Additionally, you can often spot bighorn sheep near Goat Canyon. Many animals are nocturnal, so staying in Cottonwood Campground is the perfect opportunity to see animals that other visitors miss.
Head about 35 miles northeast to Alpine to enjoy a picnic at the Children's Nature Retreat. Over 200 animals live at this twenty-acre retreat. You can have up-close encounters with animals ranging from guinea pigs to camels. Many of the animals have been rescued and brought to this sanctuary.
There are four developed campgrounds for RV camping at Anza Borrego State Park. With 122 sites, the largest campground is Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, and it is the lowest in elevation. You may also want to consider the 27 sites at Tamarisk Grove Campground. Vern Whitaker Horse Camp has 10 sites for horse campers, and there are 16 sites at Bow Willow Campground.
Cottonwood Campground is a great Bureau of Land Management free camping opportunity. There are also eight primitive free campgrounds at Anza Borrego State Park. Unlike the developed campgrounds, you cannot reserve these campgrounds. Additionally, dispersed BLM RV camping is allowed in many locations in the area.
If you are going to stay in a primitive campground, like Cottonwood Campground, you probably will not have running water. Think about making sure that the water tanks on your RV are full before leaving home and limit shower times. You use about two gallons of water every minute in the shower at home. While primitive camping, consider getting your body wet and turning off the water to lower that amount. Then lather up your body and scrub your hair before turning the water back on. You may also need to shower at different times than your traveling companions so that the hot water has time to heat back up.
Camping at the Cottonwood Campground is a fun experience, and you might even see bighorn sheep from your campsite. Relax and enjoy your time around a campfire. Even if you do not hike the whole trail, go on shorter nature hikes. Psychologists know that doing these activities helps you feel better mentally. Before you head to this primitive camping location, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
In about 1772, Juan Bautista de Anza first traveled through this area as he explored California. People have been coming to the area ever since. Thankfully, most of them have cleaned up after themselves, or the site would be a giant trash heap. You will want to do your part so that those who come after you can also enjoy a beautiful place to camp and explore.
It is easy to get to the Cottonwood Campground in the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area from Balboa Park in San Diego. Start by getting on California 163 North. Take Exit 3A to get on Interstate 8 going towards El Centro. Then take the exit for California 94 West. Go about 0.5 miles and turn left to get on Old Highway 80. Turn left on McCain Valley Road. You will see the conservation area on your left.
Ready to visit Cottonwood Campground? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
