Outdoor Adventure USA

We are looking for place to hold BorregoFest this year. Normally we reserve the campground for the following year when we check out of the campground the year prior. The camp site was already reserved when we checked out last year. Does anyone have any suggestions? We've used Palm Canyon in the past but the size of our group became a conflict. Any other suggestions? We're thinking of looking up in the Julian area but we're open to suggestions.

I haven't been here but heard that Pinecrest Resort is nice. http://www.pinecrestretreat.com/

Here's a list of campgrounds around Julian.

http://www.julianca.com/camping/index.htm

I think the second largest campground in ABDSP is Tamarisk Grove, but I don't know if that would accommodate our size group.

Going to Julian defeats the name "BorregoFest". What about Blair Valley? Plenty of room and accessible; also gives you a reason to use all that expedition equipment because it is a "dry" area.

JJ

I don't think camping up in Julian would defeat the name of the event. Gas would be a lot closer and its still close enough to AB to access the trails.

Of course there are plenty of primitive campsites down in the desert. Ocotillo Wells, Superstition Mountain, adjacent BLM lands, etc.

photojeeper wrote:What about Blair Valley?

That sounds interesting. I haven't been out there in a while so I'm not sure on the number of campsites or how they're arranged.

Blair Valley is wide open; I have seen big groups camping there. Check with the ABSP rangers. Or you go to Truckhaven where TDS has their event. Plenty of fuel at Hwy 86 and S-22 huge Arco station.

JJ

Oh BTW I tried to change my avatar and the page is blank. Tried it on my laptop with three browsers and on his PC and still nothing. Will try it on my MAC later. Can you inquire with the webmaster or someone? I tried other edits of my profile and they work.

Thanks,

JJ

I dont know the area well enough to suggest a specific place, but from when I have been down there, it seems there is plenty of room to just pick a spot in the desert and set up.

Crismateski wrote:I dont know the area well enough to suggest a specific place, but from when I have been down there, it seems there is plenty of room to just pick a spot in the desert and set up.

Unfortunately, that is frowned upon with groups larger than 3-5 vehicles...and with a crowd likely to be much larger than that, we are hoping for an area or facility that will offer guaranteed space, and maybe some additional facilities as well (restrooms, showers, firring / cooking area for potluck, etc...). So, for a planned event, we need to pick a place where we will have no issues when folks show up...

I don't think you would have a problem in Truckhaven (now part of Ocotillo Wells) or the north or south areas of OW. You might check with the authorities, but if you aren't charging admission, it's just a group of friends gathering, right? Plenty of open area, and near the developed part south (Main Street) there are showers, restrooms, and shade ramadas. I like the Tamarisk Grove CG too. It seems less used than the main side.

Hi All,

Just had a find a convenient thread to pop in and note I may be down that way. The past few years I've had scheduling conflicts with my trips to Moab.

So, on camping... I'm not sure commercial or not its going to matter to the BLM when it comes to large groups on public land. Having a large group unannounced on Public Land is going to attract attention and that becomes a slippery slope into studies, permitting, and big fees. We have to do all that and its a year-round process. I dont know if BF has changed in size over the past few years, but working out of commercial campgrounds (like you had a few years back) keeps the full size of the group out of view - as each of the runs is fairly small and usual for the area.

Butterfield Ranch Resort sure was nice...