Anza-Borrego South: Mortero Palms

Photo of Mortero Palms, taken from a mile away where they seem like a small area on the large rocky side of the Jacumba Mountains
Mortero Palms, on the Side of the Jacumba Mountains, From One Mile Away

A short but ultimately steep and somewhat challenging hike over large boulders brings you to this serene palm grove off Palm Canyon Wash in the Jacumba Mountains.

On the way up the wash you'll pass clumps of mesquite. Mesquite can be seen elsewhere on the side of the mountains. Presumably, Indian women gathered the mesquite seed pods and brought them to the morteros that give the grove its name. They would have ground the seeds into flour.

Photo of morteros used by Indian women to grind seeds into flour, near Mortero Palms
Morteros near Mortero Palms