Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Anza Borrego Desert → “The Slot”

Location: Anza Borrego Desert, California

Distance: 0.8 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 100 ft/100 ft

Red Tape/Notes: no permit required, low clearance vehicles should be okay

What’s Nearby?: Wind Caves

Slot canyons are pretty cool and this is probably the best known one in Anza Borrego. It’s extremely easy to access – you park at the edge of a ravine and make your way down into it, then head left and you’re in the narrow canyon within a tenth of a mile. The entire canyon is less than half a mile long, but that distance is packed with lovely winding walls, and near the end of the narrows, a neat rock slab forms a bridge across the canyon. With the added benefit of being shaded and cool, this little hike makes for a good option even on hot days. After the canyon opens up, turn around and come back the way you came (you can hike out the jeep road and back around, but it adds a mile and you lose both the scenery and the blessed cool).

If you’re interested in doing a bit more, you can head north (to the right of th

I want to go! How do I get there?: Starting in Borrego Springs, drive 11.5 miles southeast on Borrego Springs Road. Hang a left on Route 78 East, and turn left (north) after 1.5 miles on a dirt road marked Buttes Pass. A mile up the dirt road fork, and you want to stay to the left and continue up Borrego Mountain Wash. In another mile, you should come upon the parking area.

Trailhead address: Borrego Mountain Wash, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Trailhead coordinates: 33.18213, -116.21417 (33° 10′ 55.7″N 116° 12′ 51″W)

Click here for the Google Maps link

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Anza Borrego Desert → “The Slot”