Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Anza Borrego Desert → Borrego Palm Canyon

Location: Northwest Anza Borrego Desert, California

Time Required: 1 hour

Distance: 3 miles, roundtrip

Elevation Gain/Loss: 525 feet

Red Tape/Notes: Heavily trafficked – go early in the morning to avoid crowds.

What’s Nearby?: Culp Valley, Hellhole Canyon, Lower Coyote Canyon, Galleta Meadows Sculptures, Calcite Mine & Slot Canyons

Borrego Palm Canyon is one of the “must do” hikes in Anza Borrego, since it’s the area around which the park was initially formed. Unfortunately for people who cherish alone time in the wilderness, this hike is just outside the visitor’s center, is easily accessed from the main camping area in the park (it’s actually easier to access from the campground than it is from the visitor’s center), and is an easy 3 mile hike. All of these factors combine to make this a very popular hike, particularly during the spring wildflower season. It’s still worth going, though, because the palm grove is very nice (it’s one of the few remaining native, naturally occurring groves), there’s a pleasant amount of water along the trail, and there are a lot of very pretty wildflowers to see.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Anza Borrego Desert → Borrego Palm Canyon