Accommodation Suggestions

For each class, you can choose your own accommodations, best suited to your lifestyle. We have compiled a list of suggestions below. In many of our locations, there is federally-owned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land nearby. Free dispersed camping is allowed on many BLM properties—be sure to check the latest regulations before setting up camp. We have not listed specific locations for free BLM camping, but you can click here for a nationwide map of BLM land.

We scout for field locations during the days before each weekend, and won't know our final field locations until we see which areas have the best track and sign. We have tried to pick lodging suggestions that are located close to all our potential field sites, but since we are unable to predict exactly where we will meet in the field, there may be some driving involved.

Sierra Vista, AZ

Hotels/AirBnBs: Sierra Vista is a small city, population 40,000. You'll find plenty of hotel and Air BnB options there, and it will be no more than an hour's drive to any of our field locations.

Camping:  There is a lot of BLM land in the Sierra Vista area that is open to dispersed camping. Please make sure you're up to date on all the latest regulations.

Anza Borrego Desert, CA

Hotels/AirBnBs: The town of Borrego Springs has a number of options. We recommend the Borrego Springs Resort, the Borrego Springs Motel or Stanlund's Inn—all listed on Booking.com. There are many other accommodations around Borrego Springs listed on AirBnB and VRBO.com.  

Camping:  Dry camping is free anywhere in Anza Borrego Desert State Park  (1,000 square miles of desert wilderness).  Two improved State Park Campgrounds are near the town of Borrego Springs: Borrego Palm Canyon (hookups and electric) and Tamarisk Grove (restrooms, no hookups). There are also many commercial campgrounds in Borrego Springs.

Julian, CA

Hotels/AirBnBs: Our field sites will all be less than an hour's drive from the 1800's gold mining town of Julian. Booking.com, VRBO.com, and AirBnB will yield many results. If you're looking for cheaper places, you may find some down in Borrego Springs, but this may add drive time to our field locations.

Camping: In Julian, we recommend William Heise County Park in the mountain forest at 4200' elevation. It has restrooms and showers.

Cuyama, CA

Hotels/AirBnBs: Taft, with a population of roughly 9,000, is about an hour north of most of our field locations. You'll find a grocery store, hotel, and Air BnB options there. Frazier Park is a smaller town of about 2,000 inhabitants, roughly an hour to the northeast. There is a grocery store and some Air BnB options.

Camping: The Reyes Creek campground is quite close to most of our field locations. It has pit toilets, but no water, so be sure to bring your 5-gallon jugs.