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Quartzite: The Gathering Place

The Winter weather in Quartzsite is just about perfect. Many visitors from northern climates come here for the endless Summer or the vast areas for hiking and ATVing. Many others come for the big shows and still more come for the markets and swap meets selling everything imaginable for the home or RV.

 

There are many interesting sites to see nearby. Looking for a couple ideas?

Side Trips for Rockhounds

Bradshaw Trail also known as the Gold Road to La Paz, is located in California's southeastern Riverside County. The trail was created in 1862 by William Bradshaw, and was the first trail that crossed the Riverside County desert all the way to the Colorado River. In 1863 it became a well-traveled overland stage route. Originating in San Bernardino, the trail was used to haul miners and other passengers to the gold fields at La Paz, Arizona (now Ehrenberg). 

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Hauser Geode Beds -Take the Wiley's Well Road exit from Interstate 10 and continue driving south to the graded dirt road just past the state prison. You will pass Wiley's Well campground (9 miles south of I-10), and Coon Hollow campground (12 miles south of I-10). You will see a dirt road on the right with a marker indicating the route to the Hauser Geode Beds. (This is also the Imperial and Riverside county border.)

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Opal Hill Mine is stillproducing fire agate, and rock hounders still frequent the mine for its gem-quality stones. The mine is privately owned but open to the public for a fee. With some hard work and effort, almost everyone leaves Opal Hill satisfied with the fiery agate they take with them.

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Tumco/Hedges Ghost Town Driving Interstate 8 east of El Centro, California, after you pass through the Imperial Sand Hills, you can see off to the left a small group of mountains that appear dark brown. These mountains are known as the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.
 

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