CA - Sandstone Canyon closed - Help!! Anza Borrego

[Tank]

I think that is the closest ranger station to the fish creek area. Usually on weekends all the actual rangers are out on patrol and the person at the station is just a guest relations type park service worker. See what you can do though. Thanks.

[BorregoWrangler]

I'm going to be heading out to Ocotillo Wells tomorrow.

PM sent.

[sdnative]

I was scanning the ham frequencies tonight, and I heard someone say (Tim on this board I think) they went all they way into Sandstone last weekend and there were no signs to be found.

Can someone confirm? Any recent news?

[BlueFJ]

I stopped by the Ranger Station in Ocotillo Wells on Satuday. They were unable to give me any info as to whether the closure is permanent or not. When I asked why it was closed, the guy behind the counter said it was due to a big storm a few years back. When I said "But, it was just closed recently, wasn't it?", I got the deer in the lights look.

[Tank]

I heard the same thing about the signs being gone. I have this thread running on Pirate4x4 and someone posted up an email from Supervising ranger Paul Reisman. Here is the parks official position

The official park position. I have to commend Mr. Reisman for his
prompt response. Thank you.

Michael,

Thank you for asking about Sandstone Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park. As you seem to have been there, you can appreciate the
awesome beauty of this area. The canyon is not closed. Over the
years the park has been open, the end of the driven portion of the
canyon has often changed according to environmental conditions.
Signs were put in to limit how far vehicles may travel but the canyon
is still open for driving through some of the most beautiful steep
wall sandstone canyons around. Toward the upper end of the canyon,
signs were placed to limit vehicles. As flooding has further eroded
the sand at the floor of the canyon, people with vehicles have driven
further up on the sides of the walls. I am sure, if you have been
there, you have seen the black color of rubber on the sandstone
walls. The state park has a responsibility to preserve the pristine
nature of the lands under its control the best we can and the black
rubber tire marks do not belong there and are unsightly.

Paul Reisman
Supervising State Park Ranger
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
200 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

[BorregoWrangler]

Tire marks? That's great. Next time I'm about to drive over a rock I'll be sure to wrap my tires in plastic wrap!

[FunJunkie]

Who's Nancy? Is she at park HQ's.

Shes the nice ranger that patrols in the white rubi? I think we met her up in coyote canyon one time.