Details
DIFFICULTY: EASY to MODERATE (steep sand dunes & little to no shade) 2.5 miles roundtrip (4.0 km)
PLANT KNOWLEDGE: Beginner to Novice, Professionals always welcome
ACCESS: Open to all, no charge for field trip.
REQUIRED FEES: None.
AMENITIES: Restrooms may be available at the Imperial Dunes Ranger Station, the Osborne Overlook, and Glamis Beach Store. Conditions are unknown, so come prepared for any possibility.
DOGS: Leashed dogs are allowed unless weather conditions prohibit safe trail use. Spiny plants like the invasive Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) and the very similar native Caltrop (Kallstroemia californica) are common in the area.
[EXTREME TEMPS above 90F [32C] or forecast for Heavy Rain / flash floods Will Cancel]
TRIP DESCRIPTION:
Algodones Dunes is best known for the OHV Ride Area Glamis in Eastern Imperial County as well as the sarlaac pit / Jabba's flying palace in Return of the Jedi. For those who took these Imperial County trips before covid, you may remember the last time we went out here as a big group was January of 2020. We are far past time to head back especially following the summer rains that dropped three years worth of rain on Imperial County back in August.
From Brawley, the dunes are unmistakable for the huge mounding ribbons of sand that rise as a wall on the eastern horizon. On one side of the 78 to the south, view over a destroyed mad max environment, cut through and obliterated by dune buggies and bikes and the other side dotted with patches of rare plants, fox dens, lizard tracks, and an amazing array of bowls teeming with life in the BLM Wilderness Area.
Expect desert iguanas, flat tailed horned lizards, banded geckos, and western whiptails among the possibilities of reptiles in the area.
For the first section of the day trip, we'll meet at the Gecko Rd Imperial Sand Dunes Ranger Station at 10AM and then drive to the Hugh T. Osborne Overlook to view winter / spring annuals and hardy perennials growing in dunes like the rare Algodones Dunes sunflower (Helianthus niveus ssp tephrodes), Giant spanish needle (Palafoxia arida var gigantea), Pierson's milkvetch (Astragalus magdalenae var piersonii), Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa), desert dichoria (Dichoria canescens), and Plicate coldenia (Tiquilia plicata), Colorado desert buckwheat (Eriogonum deserticola), and Wiggin's croton (Croton wigginsii). These sand bowls are certainly a different experience from anywhere else. In The world slows down to a standstill and becomes silent as the sand seems to absorb sound and time itself, with only the clouds above and the beetles / weevils crawling across the sand marking the minutes passing. Movies allude to the feelings these places give, but it's a pale comparison to experiencing this place in person.
The next section of the trip will head to the Desert Iguana sign / parking area on Ted Kipf Rd. Here, we'll have lunch at the vehicles (~12PM) and form the plan to get into the microphyll woodlands growing at the base of the dunes. This area has shade from desert trees like ironwood (Olneya tesota) and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida), many covered in Desert starvine (Brandegea bigloveii). Blooming in the woodlands will be various globemallows (Spaeralcea species), blazingstars (Mentzelia sps), popcorn flowers (Cryptantha sps), desert marigolds (Baileya sps), spineflowers (Chorizanthe sps), buckwheats (Eriogonum sps), and others. We'll end at 3PM, but expect a 5:30PM return to San Diego.
January can be cold overnight in Imperial County, but expect mid to low 60s F (18 C) in the morning warming to low 70s F (23 C) into the afternoon. Wear layered clothing, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a hat as there will be little shade. The wind can have strong gusts in winter. Bring plenty of water & sunscreen.
If driving, make sure your vehicle can handle sand and gravel on rutted dirt roads. 4x4 / AWD are not necessary.
CARPOOL:
I CAN NOT OFFER CARPOOL for this trip as I plan to remain in Imperial County to camp that weekend. Inquire (DM) about the rare plant survey happening in the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument - Imperial County section on Sunday.
FOR ANYONE WILLING & CAPABLE OF OFFERING CARPOOL, PLEASE MESSAGE THE GROUP TO COORDINATE.