Venue & Camping Info

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About the Area

The DeAnza Springs Resort is nestled on over 500 acres of high desert – 2600 feet of elevation, to be exact – just outside of Jacumba Hot Springs. The resort is surrounded on three sides by the breathtaking hills of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

During the month of June, the temperatures average in the mid 80s during the day and mid 40s at night with low humidity. The area is known for high winds off and on throughout the year. BE PREPARED! Mother Nature has her own agenda and you should be prepared for extreme temperatures and high winds as it’s always possible!

Do not damage, break or remove any plants. Plants which seem dead may only be dormant; truly dead plants are still part of the ecosystem, providing nourishment and shelter for other lifeforms. The area is pretty clear of vegetation but be careful where you park your vehicle– stay clear of bushes or shrubs (this is how fires can start!).

Cholla is a term applied to various shrubby cacti of this genus with cylindrical stems composed of segmented joints. These stems are actually modified branches that serve several functions—water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. If you encounter cholla, do not touch them! They are known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur, and clothing

Yes, DeAnza Springs is San Diego’s only clothing optional resort. The area designated for our festival is on the southern end that contains trailers where residents live. The full-time residents are welcome at our event and we expect many of our own community to take advantage of the freedom it provides. The resort describes itself as clothing-optional. Please respect the residents’ lifestyle choice and freedom of expression as you would your fellow YOUtopians. We honor the principle of Radical Self-Expression.

What to Bring

YOUtopia strongly suggests that you arrive prepared to be completely self-reliant. Prepare for all types of weather, both clothing-and-gear-wise. Dressing in layers is an excellent strategy. Refer to the lists below, compiled after countless mishaps, curse words, and facepalms, for more guidance.

  • Photo ID (bars will be checking your ID)
  • A good camp tent or other shelter and warm sleeping bags and bedding
  • Shade structures, umbrellas, parasols, sheets; something to break the midday sun
  • 1.5 gallons of water per person per day
  • A reusable water bottle
  • Cup, Dishware, and Utensils. In the spirit of Burning Man and The Ten Principles, this is a leave-no-trace event. Bars will not be providing disposable cups. Plan to carry a drinking vessel with you at all times. Please also bring a plate/bowl and utensils to any camp food-gifting event you plan to attend. Doing so decreases the amount of trash that will need to be removed from the site.
  • Food & beverages
  • An extensive first-aid kit
  • Sunscreen/sunblock & sunglasses
  • Warm clothing
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Garbage and recycling bags
  • Duct tape — you’ll find a need for it, guaranteed
  • Headlamps, flashlights, and spare batteries
  • Wearable lights for safe nighttime travel. You will need adequate lighting to be visible to Art Cars,
  • bicyclists, event staff driving kubotas, etc. This is important to avoid collisions with vehicles and other attendees.
  • Portable ashtrays if you smoke (e.g. mint tin that closes securely)
  • Prescriptions, contact lens supplies (disposables work great), and anything else you need to maintain your health in a remote area with no services
  • Common sense, an open mind, a sense of humor and a positive attitude
  • Brooms, rakes, and/or shovels
  • A wide brim hat (a chinstrap is useful in the wind)
  • A cooking stove if you expect to heat food or liquid
  • Portable shower with a drain system to collect and manage gray water
  • Lotion, lip balm and earplugs/earmuffs (Not everyone will want to sleep when you do!)
  • Costumes, musical instruments, props, decorations, and anything that might make the experience more fun for you and your neighbors
  • Rope, tie-down straps, rebar, auger anchors, stakes with anchors, and/or sandbags for your tents and structures PLAN FOR HIGH WIND!
  • Plastic bottles/tennis balls to top and protect dangerous rebar stakes
  • Extra set of car keys (keys are easily lost and there is no locksmith)
  • A reusable travel coffee mug for your drinking pleasure
  • A 5-gallon bucket (to MOOP or pick up waste)
  • Generator for powering any electrical devices. Read more about the generator policy

Venue Rules

  • No driving of any vehicles on the hills of the venue.
  • Attendees must stay inside the boundaries of the event.
  • Absolutely no dumping of black or grey water onsite.

Due to the sensitive nature of the environment at the DeAnza Springs Resort, we ask that you leave your pets at home. Please do not try to sneak them in—you will be turned away at the gate if you bring them. Service dogs are always allowed, although we may ask what tasks the service animal has been trained to perform. Check out the FAQ about Service Animals here

While we all try to play reasonably safely, sometimes bad things happen. Please report any emergencies to the nearest Ranger, Security, or at Safety HQ. Emergencies may also be reported to any volunteer with a radio, who can contact personnel appropriate to aid with your situation.

Fire is a public safety risk at YOUtopia and it is every participant’s obligation to use responsible fire prevention practices. As Burners, we like to burn – but there are ABSOLUTELY NO OPEN CAMPFIRES OUTSIDE OF BURN BARRELS or FIRE PITS ALLOWED.Burn Barrels and propane fire pits must approved by the Fire Safety Team prior to use. Simple things we do when we’re camping can result in fires which can quickly get out of control. So be responsible!  

All cook stoves, grills, heat sources or generators must be placed in areas where they are safe to operate (free of brush and a reasonable distance from flammable materials) and have a proper fire extinguisher at the ready. The Safety teams will be looking for unsafe placement and for your extinguishers but be good neighbors and plan ahead for fire safety and report any potentially unsafe conditions to a Ranger or Safety.

IF YOU SEE A FIRE REPORT IT! Immediately send a runner to find the nearest person with a radio – there is always someone with a radio at Medical, Safety HQ, and Ops.

FIGHT IT! Be ready to use your shovel, water pail, or anything. Do not leave it to someone else and do not wait. Be careful, but do what you can. The faster a fire is responded to the less risk it has of getting out of control.

HELP OUT! Assist the Fire Safety team, Rangers or other volunteers in firefighting.

LISTEN! Listen to any instructions from first responders or announcements made via bullhorn – do not question their instructions – follow them. Read our Fire & Heat Source Policy, Fire Performance Policy, and Generator Policy.

CO is an odorless, colorless gas resulting from the incomplete combustion of fuel. Sadly, carbon monoxide poisoning is all too common in the festival environment. Common mistakes result from:

  • Stoves or BBQs adjacent to an enclosed area
  • Generators that sit too close to an enclosed area
  • Gas fired heaters indoors

Signs you might be suffering from CO poisoning can include:

Early signs

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Mild headache and breathlessness

Later signs

  • Severe headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea

“If it doesn’t come out of your body, it doesn’t belong in the potty!”

Please remember that the port‑a‑potties are designed to receive only human waste and single ply toilet tissue. No handi‑wipes, baby wipes, feminine sanitary supplies, diapers, trash, or gray water are to be put in the port‑a‑potties.

You MUST bring all water for your consumption. You should bring a MINIMUM of 1.5 gallons of water per person per day for drinking, washing, and cleaning. Always carry a full water bottle when you leave camp. Public pools and showers are not permitted. Water for private use that entails full body contact or consumption must be potable and come from CA State Health Division approved water sources.

Keep the roads clear! This may be your single most important contribution to public safety. In the event of a fire or medical emergency time is precious and clear roads mean emergency personnel can get where they need to be. The roads can easily become blocked by a single car stopping to chat with a friend or ask for directions. Please be conscientious. Study the map and get directions at Greeters so you know where you’re going. Never, ever, ever leave your vehicle unattended on the side of the road – seriously – don’t ever do this!  If you cannot park your car safely, entirely off the road, keep moving until you can.

Jacumba Wildlife

The property is home to many forms of wildlife which you may encounter, including scorpions, foxes, birds, and snakes, as well as more pesky critters like wasps and red ants.

Keeping your food stored in bins is a good idea to avoid attracting animals. Bring along a basic first aid kit for scrapes, cuts and stings. Animals in the wild have been known to pass on rabies from bites or in the case of rabbits or rodents pass on tularemia via flea or tick bites. The best advice we can offer you is to keep back from animals you encounter. Make yourself look big and make a lot of noise if you think an animal other than a snake wants to encounter you. Avoid running away.

Don’t bother, capture or kill any animals you may observe. This is their home. No matter how hard we try, our presence at this venue will have an impact on the land, so do your best to be a good steward and a good visitor.

Here is some information about animals found at this location that might harm you:

Snakes

Snakes are always more frightened of you than you are of them. A number of venomous snakes inhabit this area. Because rattlesnakes can lose their rattles, treat all snakes as potentially dangerous. Always remember to LEAVE ALL SNAKES ALONE! Carrying a walking stick or wearing bells on your shoes helps the snakes know you are coming. Do not stick your hands or feet in hidden places and don’t disturb piles of rocks with your bare hands. If you see one further than 10 feet away, report it to Operations immediately. If you see one closer, freeze in position and have someone contact a Ranger or Operations for you. Snakes will eventually want to move out of the sun, away from you and into shade or a burrow. If you are bitten, have someone contact Operations, a Ranger or someone with a radio immediately.

Scorpions and Spiders

Just leave them alone. Shake your shoes out before putting them on in case a critter has climbed in. If they come into your camp or public area, please remove them gently using a container and relocate them away from public areas. Find a Ranger or go to Operations if you feel you cannot do this yourself.

Red (Fire) Ants

Fire ants bite only to get a grip and then sting (from the abdomen) and inject a toxic alkaloid venom called solenopsin. For humans, this is a painful sting, a sensation similar to what one feels when burned by fire (hence the name), and the after-effects of the sting can be deadly to sensitive people. The sting site typically swells into a bump within hours, which can cause further pain and irritation, especially following several stings at the same place. The bump may develop into a white pustule within 24–36 hours which can become infected if scratched, but will spontaneously flatten within a few days if left alone.

Antihistamines or topical corticosteroids may help reduce the itching and will generally benefit local sting reactions. Severe allergic reactions to fire ant stings, including severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath, serious swelling, and slurred speech, can be fatal if not treated. If you are experiencing severe symptoms find your nearest Medic or a Ranger to get you to medical.

Prohibited Items

  • Explosives, aerial flares, rockets and fireworks
  • Firearms of any kind including BB guns, air rifles and paintball guns
  • Items that cause MOOP: wood chips, loose feathers, tubs of confetti, etc.
  • Anything that will break up and/or blow away in the wind
  • Unregistered Art Cars: coming soon
  • Plants, living or dead
  • ATVs and scooters
  • High powered lasers (Includes cheap handheld lasers!)
  • Motorcycles that are not a participant’s transportation to YOUtopia
  • Animals
  • Minors without legal guardian

Your car will be searched at the gate, and you will not be permitted to enter with prohibited items. If you have questions about prohibited items, please contact gate@sdyoutopia.com