24 Elephant Trees Nature Loop

SCENERY:

DIFFICULTY:

TRAIL CONDITION:

SOLITUDE:

CHILDREN:

DISTANCE: 1 mile round trip

HIKING TIME: 0.5–1 hour

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Soft, sandy trail with a few small boulders, views of open sky framed by the Vallecitos Mountains in the distant west, fragrant desert lavender, a variety of cactuses, birds, and jackrabbits

This short loop offers just a sample of desert life. Armed with an interpretive guide found at the trailhead, both novice naturalists and seasoned desert-goers can become mini-experts on the vegetation’s survival adaptations in the arid climate and learn how to identify some of the most prevalent native plants.

Directions: From CA 78 (at Ocotillo Wells), drive south on Split Mountain Road. After approximately 6 miles, a kiosk marks a rugged, unpaved road. If you are in a truck, or car with higher clearance, you can probably navigate with caution the approximate mile to the trailhead. Otherwise park and walk from there.

GPS Coordinates		24 ELEPHANT TREES NATURE LOOP
UTM Zone (WGS84)		11S
Easting		582454
Northing		3659201
Latitude–Longitude		N 33º 4’ 5.7174”
		W 116º 7’ 0.0498”

Grab a nature trail guide from the box at the trailhead and start out southwest along the sandy wash path. This trail is mostly flat, with tiny, hardly noticed elevation gains in spots, making it simple to simultaneously read and walk.

While enjoying views of the Vallecitos Mountains etched against open sky to the west, look around for feathery (but thorny) acacia catclaw growing alongside the trail. In winter months, heavy clumps of desert mistletoe weight the branches. The berries attract the fluttering phainopepla, a small crested bird, to its food source. In the quiet of the trail, you may hear its pleasant one-note call, a constant backdrop in many of the washes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Desert lavender, with its delicate flowers, is one of the bigger bushes you’ll see growing in profusion along the route. The foliage and flowers scent the fresh air with a tangy fragrance as you easily—perhaps even lazily—hike along. The route edges right(northwest) at approximately 0.4 miles and, within a few more yards, passes the halfway mark heading east to begin completing the loop.

The smaller indigo bush also grows here, recognized by narrow gray-green leaves and pale, sometimes white, bark that deflect the intense sun. Its flowers grow in dark blue-violet indigo torches on the finely branched plant.

The trail is named for the elephant tree, which you’ll see here. Although the leaves are small and in no way resemble an elephant’s ears, the trees grow 6 to 10 feet tall; twisting branches often spread the tree’s width to 15 to 30 feet. In that sense they resemble an elephant, and they also store water in their trunks. The Anza-Borrego Desert region is the only place in California where the trees are considered to be a native species.

Use the trail guide to identify a variety of cacti, then make your way back to your vehicle. As the desert plants adapt to their environment, you should institute a few desert survival techniques of your own—take plenty of water with you on this hike.