ANZA-BORREGO SOUTH : ROADS   Painted Gorge

Painted Gorge

At Painted Gorge, in the southeast corner of the Coyote Mountains, ancient sandstone from the Colorado River meets volcanic soils from the ancient volcanoes to the west. It's a place of great colors such as the red stretch of mountain in the photo above which is associated with the Alverson Formation volcanos. Painted Gorge is within the Coyote Mountain Wilderness, defined by the Bureau of Land Management and managed by the BLM's El Centro office.

Visitors in passenger cars should be able to drive into this area, assuming a dry road, and get close enough to enjoy it. Be careful, however, about driving down hill without 4-wheel drive. Be sure you can get back up.