6 Borrego Palm Canyon to South Fork Falls

SCENERY:

DIFFICULTY:

TRAIL CONDITION:

SOLITUDE:

CHILDREN: NOT RECOMMENDED

DISTANCE: 9 miles round trip

HIKING TIME: 6–6.5 hours

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Huge, beautiful slabs of colorful schist and gneiss rocks (some of which you’ll climb on and over), running stream, palm oases, and waterfalls

Don’t let the easy terrain of the Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail, where you begin this rugged hike, fool you: it’s not for beginners. The Nature Trail’s benign, well-trodden path, which ends at the first oasis, doesn’t begin to hint at the sometimes-daunting, always-beautiful solitude of a deeper venture into the canyon. Wear long pants and sleeves to protect against acacia catclaw bushes. Layered clothing to stay comfortable is always a good idea when trekking into remote areas where rock walls sometimes block sunlight and warmth. Grip-soled, waterproof hiking boots can also be useful, since a single misstep during one of several stream crossings can mean several miles in soggy shoes. If you’re day-hiking, plan extra time to enjoy the serenity of this craggy, awe-inspiring terrain.

OPTION: Backpacking in for an overnight stay is fairly common, and you’ll spot others’ campsites in wider canyon sections, particularly where palms and sycamores grow. Awakening to the babble of water running over stones, the call of crows, and the soft rustle of palm fronds fits into a nature lover’s dreamscape.

Directions: From Interstate 15, take the Pala–76 exit and drive east 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 about 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		6 BORREGO PALM CANYON TO SOUTH FORK FALLS
UTM Zone (WGS84)		11S
Easting		554181
Northing		3681407
Latitude–Longitude		N 33º 16’ 13.1900”
		W 116º 25’ 5.6166”

Start out on the Nature Trail as described in the previous hike. When you reach the first palm grove, though, pass through the oasis and venture beyond the “end of trail” sign. You can do this by scrambling over the big, pale boulders just beyond the oasis, or take a small side trail to the left, climbing onto the ridge and then back down through thick desert willows and past the huge rocks beyond the palms. Either way, you’ll find a fairly decent route (I won’t call this an actual trail, but foot tracks lead the way) on the south side of the stream.

Near the first bend in the canyon, more large boulders await. Carefully climb over these, perhaps getting your feet wet in the process. As you progress up the canyon, you’ll need to cross back and forth over the stream as the land requires, usually with ease, on smaller, flattish stones. Again, you may get your feet wet at times.

The second bend in the canyon occurs around 2 miles from the trailhead, where the surrounding rock will have taken on rainbow hues. You’ll be picking your way through boulders on either side of the stream, sometimes walking on giant slabs of the colorful rock. Near this point, huge, slanted slabs narrow in around a rushing fall. To traverse this area, you’ll be forced to climb up several feet, where there are numerous flat footholds in the rock. Some hikers walk briskly across the footholds, seemingly oblivious to any danger. Those afraid of heights (like me!) will find this section harrowing. The safest strategy is sitting and scooting on the slanting surface, aware of the water rushing across hard stone eight to ten feet below. Once you get past this point, revel in a sense of accomplishment, and put the challenge behind you—that is, until your return trip!

Enjoy the bright strip of sky above rocky canyon walls, the chanting babble of the rushing water, and the interesting rock patterns reminiscent of swirls, rainbows, and zebra print. Watch for bighorn sheep.

At around 2.5 miles, a smaller ravine comes in from the north. Pass this by, continuing west. Palm groves dot the canyon as you follow the stream, passing through sections where water pools in tree shade, gurgles over smaller rocks, and rushes around larger boulders.

At around 3 miles, you’ll begin to see sycamore trees and palms. In the fall, their gold-orange leaves add a splash of color. The stream forks at around 3.4 miles. Take the South Fork stream on the left, which moves southwest (Palm Canyon continues northwest). Here, reeds and willows grow in thick, lush stands. Standing pools are covered in duckweed, making you forget you’re in the desert. You may have to forge your own path through the greenery, hopping the stream where necessary, but remaining mostly on its north (right) side for approximately another 0.33 miles. Be careful not to disturb this plant and wildlife habitat any more than necessary; also, note that the exact types of vegetation you’ll see depend on what has regrown after the canyon was scoured out by a postfire flood in 2004. Smaller falls partially hidden by the overgrowth splash over boulders, leading to the turnaround point—falls of approximately 30 feet.

When you’re ready to return, retrace your steps, forever influenced by memorable Borrego Palm Canyon.