Anza-Borrego North: Upper Willows

Wild and remote would be good words to describe Upper Willows and its environs. This area is miles from just about anyplace, and when it rains or snows and the roads develop bumps or washouts, they stay bumpy and washed out.

Upper Willows is at the north end of Coyote Canyon, just south of Turkey Track where Horse Canyon, Nance Canyon, and Tule Canyon converge.

To get there by car or truck, you'll want four-wheel drive. Take Coyote Canyon Road from Anza. The road ends at Upper Willows. You can make a side trip to Horse Canyon. Hikers can proceed south to Middle Willows and beyond.

Getting to Upper Willows. From Highway 371, north of the Anza business district, turn right (south) on Kirby Road, following it to its end at Wellman Road, and following Wellman to Terwilliger Road and turning south. At the bottom of the valley, turn left onto Coyote Canyon Road (paved), and turn right (south) where the pavement ends. Note: At Nance Canyon, Coyote Canyon Road (now a jeep trail) makes an unmarked half-left turn at the Covered Wagon Trail road sign (Joy Lane on some maps). Shrubs may conceal a colorful state park sign.

Coyote Canyon Jeep Road