So let’s face it, the “Super Bloom” is getting all the attention when people think of the desert… And to be honest, the desert bloom is an amazing site to see. The purples, yellows, oranges and all the amazing greens that very very rarely appear in this area should not be missed! I’ve written a previous post about why the bloom occurs and where to go see it…
But what happens when the flowers go away? Or… because many desert flowers that bloom during this period (Feb – Mid April) close during the heat of the day, the desert gets a bit more “desert-like” before the evening arrives… what happens then? What adventures can you find?
It’s time to explore Anza-Borrego’s mud caves and mud canyons! The system of caves known as ” Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves”
The mud caves are formed by water based erosion (AH Word – fluvial) which occurs during periods of heavy and intense rainfall. When this infrequent but powerful rainfall occurs, it cuts channels into the mud hills that are commonly found in the Pseudokarst topography of this arid region. The flowing torrents then form canyons with unstable and undercut walls. As the channels deepen, the walls cave collapse inward. Because of the stickiness of the mud in this particular area (and mud’s ability to swell to several times its original dry volume – aka retain water), it adheres to itself and to the canyon walls, creating natural bridges and you guessed it! Sometimes these elements come together to form caves.
The caves are not always obvious and you may need to do a little searching and exploring to find the hidden entrances. The caves can be a bit off the beaten track but that’s part of the fun! Also check out Anza-Borrego State Park website to check weather conditions since it can be hot… remember floods shaped these caves and canyons
Good luck!
