Carrizo Gorge lies within the Jacumba Mountains in California. It is bordered by wilderness, located within Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The Carrizo Gorge Railway, no longer in use, runs along its length, and is home to Goat Canyon Trestle. Goat Canyon Trestle is the world’s largest wooden trestle, at 200 feet tall and spanning 750 feet across Goat Canyon. The railway passes over several other trestles, and through many tunnels as it winds its way through the gorge. Hikers and mountain bikers use the railway to explore the gorge.
It is a beautiful ride through the gorge. It feels a bit like taking a walk back in time. There are derailed train cars on the side of a cliff, beautiful mountainsides full of cactus, and even a few palm trees at the bottom of the gorge.
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Crossing our first trestle…
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We didn’t have to ride much on the tracks, but it was a novel experience.
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Water station for the border crossers. You can just see Neon on the right riding down the sandy road.
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Neon on the water tower platform at an abandoned mining town of Dos Cabezas.
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Morning coffee in the foothills of the Jacumba Mountains, watching the sun rise over Imperial Valley.
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Most of the ride is on the side of the tracks…
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One of the many tunnels….
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Palm trees at the bottom of the gorge…
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Smaller trestles in the gorge…
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Lots of cactus and other desert plant life….
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Derailed train cars in the gorge…
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Goat Canyon Trestle….
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My odometer hit 999 kilometers just before Goat Canyon Trestle…
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The trestle crossing at the southern end of the gorge…
Hi Redheaded Nomad, I’m enjoying your posts. I had been in that area last year but missed the great trestle. I’ll eagerly await what you do next.
Lee Blackwell
On Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 8:08 PM, The Redheaded Nomad wrote:
> Onna posted: “Carrizo Gorge lies within the Jacumba Mountains in > California. It is bordered by wilderness, located within Anza Borrego > Desert State Park. The Carrizo Gorge Railway, no longer in use, runs along > its length, and is home to Goat Canyon Trestle. Goat Canyon” >
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Somehow a place feels wilder when you run into things like this. I’m not sure why, but it consistently happens with me.
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Super cool!
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The last couple photos of the train derailed on our near track make you wonder if this was the last ride? I sort of like exploring abandoned areas. Let’s me imagination roam.
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