Winterhaven
California
Terrain // Dirt Field | Found On // Campendium
Overview
Picacho Road Dispersed Camping felt like the culmination of true boondocking since we set out in November. We were in the middle of remote, dirt land stretching for miles. There were quite a few ATVs in the vicinity, as the area had a lot of dirt trails for riding. We picked a spot and let our solar panels soak up all the sunshine. This was the longest we stayed in one location, staying for 12 nights on BLM land. It was a calm and relaxing setting where we caught up on photo editing, replenished our water supply, and tried out our new DJI Drone.
On the weekends, we explored the nearby town of Yuma, Arizona. They had a walkable downtown with various restaurants and bars, a movie theater, and Fort Yuma.
Valley of Names
While looking up things to do in the area, we came across this destination called Valley of Names. It was a few miles further down Picacho Road, and what we came up to was hundreds of rock formations with people’s names. It was incredible. It was very washboard, so we got out of the truck to walk around and see the various compilations. Some were memorials for loved ones that had passed, others were for couples or families that had visited the area, and it stretched as far as you could see! Indeed, it is a sight to behold. We left the area before we had a chance to add our own names. Next time!
Shops & Restaurants
While exploring the area, Downtown Yuma is where we found some fun food and drink destinations. It’s a bit weird because the city is in a different time zone than Winterhaven, so there’s an hour difference once you cross the bridge.
Prison Hill – Their nachos were delicious! They also had a nice outdoor patio and a great sangria.
Arizona Marketplace – While it felt like we were the youngest visitors by 40 years, this was a very cool flea market-style shopping spot. We picked up a handful of fresh veggies and listened to live music.
Rebel & Rove – This was a cool, hipster store where we picked up a National Park Book and a cologne balm.
Pint House – Michael and I got the cutest photo together in their alley space. The drinks were decent, and the service was…fine.
Da Boyz Italian Cuisine – The fried ravioli was delicious! We also tried their Build-your-own Calzone and Fettuccine Alfredo.
Holy Smokes – A BBQ joint with mediocre food but fun little swings to sit on.
Sangria Rating Average – 7/10
Yuma had a great selection of sangrias at the various establishments we visited. Prison Hill came out on top with a sangria rich and light in flavor with just the right amount of sweetness.
Murals
Grab one of their Bird Scooters and check out some of the city’s murals. Featured artists below:
Tip:
You might want to scout out the area first before taking your rig down Picacho Road. It’s slightly washboard, so the going is slow and steady. The area is wide open, and you can pull off at any point if you see a spot you like. Just make sure you’re far enough down the road to make sure you’re not on reservation land. We found this spot on Campendium.