Last Updated: July 13, 2026
DeAnza Springs Resort is in eastern San Diego County. At an elevation of 2,600 feet it’s considered high desert with warm days and cool nights. DeAnza is on 500 acres adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, offering endless miles of remote hiking trails. It was a perfect getaway from the COVID-19 madness after leaving Ajo and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
DeAnza Springs, Jacumba, California
DeAnza Springs Resort is very isolated, but has all the amenities we needed. From Ajo, Arizona it was about a 5-hour drive. We had also stayed in Jacumba about 1.5 years earlier — a wonderful layover before the city craziness of San Diego.
Most activities were still closed because of the Coronavirus. The stay was all about hiking.
It’s always a treat to have just enough comforts and not be surrounded by highway, trains, planes, or be packed in like sardines.
We will always take a bit of rustic for peace and quiet.
This dilapidated building may have once been used for a movie set. The locals fixed it up and turned it into an impromptu place for happy hours and food.
A few wildflowers were still in bloom.
The yucca were just starting their flowery show.
The same prickly pear and hedgehog cactus we saw in Tucson were also blooming here.
It was an indulgence to see so many barrel cactus in bloom.
Each night there was a sunset worth taking a short hike to witness amongst the strewn boulders.
The Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge can be hiked or mountain biked — a 16-mile round trip trail with stunning views. The tracks are privately owned and there are numerous signs noting it. The tracks are occasionally patrolled and those in violation are issued trespassing tickets. All the graffiti and damage to the old train cars doesn’t help either. Maybe one day San Diego County will purchase the land and convert it into public use.
The photography opportunities are endless.
We love seeing all the wildlife. The jackrabbits were skittish and hard to photograph.
It was snake season. In three weeks, we saw four rattlesnakes. Some couldn’t care less while we walked around them.
Others, no matter how far away, are ready to strike. These are Red Diamond Rattlesnakes — found only in extreme southern California and into Baja California. They can grow to 5 feet in length; these two were only about 3 feet. The big ones dine on rabbit. We got into the habit of not listening to music while hiking, wearing leather hiking boots and thick blue jeans, and scanning the ground while moving — only taking in the scenery when standing still. Their strike distance is about half their body length.
Visitor Information
Location: DeAnza Springs Resort is at 1951 Carrizo Gorge Road, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA 91934 — approximately 80 miles east of San Diego via I-8. Website: deanzasprings.com for current rates and reservations. RV sites: Full hookup sites available on the 500-acre property. Cell service: Limited to nonexistent on-site — plan accordingly. Nearest services: Jacumba Hot Springs and Boulevard for gas and groceries.
Practical Tips
Snake awareness: May through June is peak rattlesnake season. Wear leather hiking boots and thick denim, skip the headphones, scan the ground ahead while walking, and stop moving before looking up at the scenery. Red Diamond Rattlesnakes can strike at roughly half their body length — give any snake you spot a wide berth and it will usually move on its own.
Goat Canyon Trestle: The trailhead near DeAnza gives access to one of the most spectacular railroad trestles in North America — a curved wooden trestle on the old Carrizo Gorge Railway. The 16-mile round trip has significant elevation change. The rail corridor itself is private property and trespassers are ticketed; stay on the established trail.
Best time to visit: April through early June for wildflowers and cactus bloom. The 2,600-foot elevation means spring temperatures are comfortable even when the lower desert is already hot. Summers are warm but evenings cool considerably.
Photography: The boulder formations, desert bloom, and evening light here are exceptional. Sunrise and sunset in the boulders are worth setting an alarm for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DeAnza Springs Resort? DeAnza Springs is a private RV resort and campground on 500 acres in the high desert near Jacumba Hot Springs, California. The property sits adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and offers direct access to miles of hiking trails through boulder fields, desert washes, and high desert scrubland.
What is the Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge? The Goat Canyon Trestle is a curved wooden railroad trestle on the historic Carrizo Gorge Railway, widely considered one of the most dramatic railroad trestles in North America. It sits inside a remote canyon accessible via a strenuous 16-mile round trip trail near DeAnza Springs. The rail corridor is privately owned and patrols do issue trespassing citations.
When do cactus bloom near Jacumba? The Jacumba high desert typically sees peak cactus bloom from April through late May. Cholla, prickly pear, hedgehog, and barrel cactus all bloom in this window. Yucca blooms slightly later, often running into June. Spring 2020 had an excellent bloom following a wet winter.
Are rattlesnakes common at DeAnza Springs? Yes — the property sits in prime Red Diamond Rattlesnake habitat, and late spring through early summer is peak activity season. Four sightings in three weeks is not unusual. They are generally not aggressive if given space and most will retreat when they sense you approaching. Appropriate footwear and trail awareness are the key precautions.
