(Photo by Steve - SSCPhoto.zenfolio.com)
It was a nice, if somewhat windy, day out in the desert. There was one particular canyon I had not been to in a few years. Since then, earthquakes had altered the route a bit. Sandstone Canyon has been called the most spectacular small wash in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Like a hidden jewel, this particular natural feature requires time and effort to find. The canyon walls, which feature horizontally stacked layers of tan and dark brown sandstone, soar to almost 200 feet in some places.
You are in the Split Mountain Fault Zone.
Split Mountain was formed by erosion along this fault line. Flood waters cut down through the layered rock, forming Fish Creek. During flash floods thousands of tons of debris tumble through Split Mountain, scouring out the deep gorge.
The gorge you see before you provides an exit for much of the rock that was formed in the Split Mountain Fault Zone over the past 20 million years. More than 40,000 acres of watershed is funneled through this canyon. From here the flood waters flow more than 20 miles towards the Salton Sea.
Note the countless layers of rocks. They have much to tell about the history of Split Mountain.
Split Mountain was formed by erosion along this fault line. Flood waters cut down through the layered rock, forming Fish Creek. During flash floods thousands of tons of debris tumble through Split Mountain, scouring out the deep gorge.
The gorge you see before you provides an exit for much of the rock that was formed in the Split Mountain Fault Zone over the past 20 million years. More than 40,000 acres of watershed is funneled through this canyon. From here the flood waters flow more than 20 miles towards the Salton Sea.
Note the countless layers of rocks. They have much to tell about the history of Split Mountain.
Split Mountain.
Fossilized reef.
You are now entering...
One of the canyon collapses from the earthquake.
Steve (SSC)
It was great having the terrain changed up a bit.
Winding our way through...
Lots of tight spots along the way.
Getting tougher...
End of the line.
Even from here I can tell its gonna be a cold drive on the way home.
On our way back out.
Having some fun along the way.
We then ran into about 20 Jeeps coming through.
Airing up just before hitting the road.
Its always a great time out in ABDSP, with so much to see and do. Looking forward to my next adventure out there.
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