5 Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail

SCENERY:

DIFFICULTY:

TRAIL CONDITION:

SOLITUDE:

CHILDREN:

DISTANCE: 3 miles round trip

HIKING TIME: 2–2.5 hours

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Desert-wash landscape, stream and waterfalls, birds, possible bighorn-sheep sightings, and a shady oasis

Use the interpretive guide found at the trailhead to identify plants, animals, and other desert phenomena along this easy, well-visited desert-wash nature trail.

Directions: From Interstate 15, take the Pala–Highway 76 exit and drive east for 33.6 miles to CA 79. Turn left, traveling 4.1 miles to County Route S2, where you’ll turn right and drive another 4.6 miles to CR S22–Montezuma Valley Road (also known as the Montezuma Highway). Follow S22 to Palm Canyon Drive, and turn left. Then take the first right (almost immediately), following this paved access road approximately 1 mile to the campground entrance. Pay for day use at the Ranger Station on your way in; then drive (veering right) to the end of the road. Parking is adjacent to the restrooms, which are at the trailhead.

GPS Coordinates		5 BORREGO PALM CANYON NATURE TRAIL
UTM Zone (WGS84)		11S
Easting		554181
Northing		3681407
Latitude–Longitude		N 33º 16’ 13.1900”
		W 116º 25’ 5.6166”

Grab a trail guide at the kiosk adjacent to the restrooms, and head northwest on this short loop into desert wonder. You’ll begin in typical wash landscape—sand and small boulders alongside a large “wash” basin where water may or may not be flowing. The trail is relatively flat, with a few short steps up or down over bowling ball–sized boulders (some a bit larger or smaller), heading through cholla-studded land. If the stream is running, you’ll cross it for the first time at around 0.33 miles before continuing northwest.

As you walk along this easy trail, listen for birdcalls. You may see quail running in groups, their wings like an explosion of applause if they take off en masse. Notice also the deep-brown color on the rocks forming the canyon walls. This “desert varnish” is the result of bacterial colonies that fasten themselves to the rocks. The brown stain was thousands of years in the making. Keep watch also for the elusive Peninsular bighorn sheep. The endangered animals’ brown coats blend in with the varnished rocks, making them difficult to see. But they are present and often spotted along this busy nature trail—sometimes dashing right across the path in front of you (as has happened to me).

At approximately 0.66 miles, watch for a marker sign leading you to the left, up to higher ground and then down again, closer to the stream that runs in winter and spring. At around 0.8 miles, the route crosses to the west side of the stream. Once across, look to your left. A marker indicates an alternate trail. This leg was added later than the original nature trail, making for a loop or balloon-on-string configuration that allows another route back to the trailhead. Ignore this for now, turning right on the path instead.

On the narrow trail to the left of the stream, you’ll pass a few large boulder groups, some with cascading falls. Follow the path clear to the oasis, a wide area shaded by a large cluster of fan palms. Spend as long as you like at the oasis. You’re likely to see lots of other people in this cool refuge from the desert sun.

To return, head back on the path to the alternate trail, following its hill-and-dale pattern generally southwest back to the trailhead. Before leaving, examine the man-made pupfish pond near the kiosk and read about this Pliocene-epoch species that was here before the desert. The pupfish has survived because of its ability to adapt to a changing environment.