Hiking
Please use EXTREME CAUTION if you choose to hike during the summer months. Carry and DRINK plenty of water, wear protective clothing, and avoid the heat of the day.
More than 600,000 acres of canyons, washes, ridges and peaks await the adventurous visitor to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park! Before setting out on your own, make sure you are prepared for rough, unforgiving country, and don't forget to let someone back home know where you are going and when you plan to return. There are plenty of books and maps at the State Park Store (587 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110) in Borrego Springs to help you plan your hike.
Volunteers and staff are on hand 9 am -5 pm, to provide maps and information at the Visitor Center.
Vistior Center Hours:
October 1 - May 31, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
June 1 - September 30, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Click on one of the links below for a trail guide to one of several self-guided hikes in the Park.
Self-Guided Trails
BORREGO PALM CANYON NATURE TRAIL This rocky trail is three miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of about 700 feet, and takes a minimum of two hours. - The palm grove is CLOSED until further notice, but the 1.5 mile trail leads to an overlook where you can see the post-fire recovery of the palms.
CACTUS LOOP NATURE TRAIL Start your walk across the street and to the east of the Tamarisk Grove entrance. This one-mile loop has a short but strenuous climb and an uneven surface. Great views and a variety of cactus species await you.
'EHMUU-MORTEROS TRAIL This easy half-mile walk takes you back in time through a seasonal Kumeyaay village site. Access via the Blair Valley dirt road.
ELEPHANT TREE NATURE TRAIL This level loop trail is approximately one mile long, and highlights many of the adaptations that help desert plants survive. Accessible by high clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles from Split Mountain Road, south of Ocotillo Wells.
NARROWS EARTH NATURE TRAIL This easy, gentle one-half mile walk is short, but sweet. In 30 minutes you can fully explore the many geological processes taking place in this small canyon. Access from Highway 78.
YAQUI WELL NATURE TRAIL Begin across the road from the Tamarisk Grove Campground to enjoy this 1.5 mile, one-way nature trail. Return the same way, or take the Primitive Camp road for a loop hike.
EROSION ROAD DRIVING TOUR Take your own vehicle on a paved-road tour of the dynamic landscapes in the Badlands area of the Park. Follows Highway S-22 east from Borrego Springs.
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is the jewel in the crown of America’s scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through three western states. The trail passes through five California State Parks: Castle Crags and McArthur-Burney Falls in Northern California; and Silverwood Lake, Anza Borrego Desert and Mt San Jacinto in Southern California. The Pacific Crest Trail Association is an excellent source of information for anyone planning a trip on the PCT.
The following information applies to hiking the Pacific Crest Trail thru Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®.
- No permit is required
- Dogs are prohibited on the Pacific Crest Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®
- Coyote Canyon is closed from June 1st thru September 30th
- Pack it in/Pack it out
- All features of the park are protected - gathering of firewood is prohibited
- Groundfires are prohibited