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

Location: Northwest Anza Borrego Desert, California

Time Required: 2 hours to all day, depending on how far you go on the trail and how many stops you make

Distance: 18.3 miles, roundtrip

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1164 feet

Red Tape/Notes: You can drive much of the road with a 2 wheel drive, but road conditions are variable and a 4 wheel drive and high clearance is often required for river crossings. Closed from approximately June 1 to September 30 (to preserve watering rights of the Bighorn Sheep) – but it’s not like avoiding the desert in the summer is a huge loss. You can find additional information on the trail (including a nice map) on the AllTrails website.

What’s Nearby?: Culp Valley, Borrego Palm Canyon, Hellhole Canyon, Galleta Meadows Sculptures, Cougar Canyon, Villager Peak, Rabbit Peak, Calcite Mine & Slot Canyons

Lower Coyote Canyon is one of the most popular off-road drives in the area; it has various fun river crossings, connects with several trailheads for hikes, and has numerous places where you can camp (if you couldn’t get a spot at one of the reservable campgrounds, this is a great back-up plan). If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, driving through Lower Coyote Canyon is a great way to see more of the desert and access some areas of the backcountry that would otherwise take much too long to visit by hiking. The canyon is also a great place to spot wildflowers in the spring; particularly since it’s accessed by driving out to the end of DiGiorgio Road, which provides access to other popular wildflower viewing spots.

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