Please review our hiker info page to familiarize yourself with hiker safety rules and our hike ratings so that you can select hikes that meet your level of fitness. Unless specified otherwise in the activity descriptions below, hikes have a 15 person limit, and they begin in the ABDNHA parking lot.
Hike: Little Grand Canyon (Moderate to Fairly Strenuous)
ABDNHA Parking Lot 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego SpringsHike: Moonlight Canyon – Inner Pasture Loop Car Shuttle (Strenuous)
ABDNHA Parking Lot 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego SpringsPublic Presentation of the New Desert Botany Club
ABDNHA Library 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego SpringsWeek of Events
Hike: Little Grand Canyon (Moderate to Fairly Strenuous)
Hike Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers
“Little Grand Canyon” is an impressive, although small, slot canyon in Coyote Canyon, near Desert Gardens. This will be our second trip this season, this time up the canyon itself. The trail meanders up a classic slot canyon, getting continually rougher — stop when it’s too much for you. If you make it all the way, you’ll be squeezing through a low-overhead tunnel. 5 mi RT, 600’ vertical, mostly good tread, with more rocks, rubble, and step-ups near the end. Access is via a sandy road that is usually no problem for most 2WD. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.
Hike: Moonlight Canyon – Inner Pasture Loop Car Shuttle (Strenuous)
Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub
Hike 10 miles, 1100’ gain. After leaving a few vehicles at the hike’s end, we drive 3 miles back to Agua Caliente Park. After less than a mile on the Moonlight Canyon trail, we deviate up to the Inner Pasture overlook. Lots of little dry falls to navigate! Then we descend into Inner Pasture, walk a mile through it, then back to the road via an easy, very scenic unnamed canyon. Max. 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.
ABDNHA Friendly Friday Bike Ride
Leader: Paul Petersen, ABDNHA Volunteer. Relaxed social ride of 20-30 miles, mostly flat, at a 10-12 mph pace. Routes vary weekly, and fun rides to highlight the roads less traveled. Return times vary depending on the chosen route. FREE, every Friday. No registration required. Meet in the parking lot opposite the County Public Library.
Auto Tour of Borrego’s Metal Sculptures
Leader: ABDNHA Program Director Mike McElhatton
Join Mike on this auto tour of the outdoor sculptures in the Borrego Valley, including the newest addition, the Roadrunner and the Rattlesnake! See the sculptures, hear the story they were created to tell, and how and why they were made. No charge. Limit: 22, registration required. Visit or call the Nature Center to register, 760-767-3098. We will carpool from the ABDNHA parking lot.
Public Presentation of the New Desert Botany Club
Coordinator: Don Rideout
If you are interested in being part of this new ABDNHA club or would like to learn more, there are two programs today you’ll want to attend. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be an open meeting to discuss the club's activities, such as field trips, hikes, lectures, gardening, and more. From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is the first club presentation, “The Plants of the Anza-Borrego Desert” in the ABDNHA Library. (See 6:30 below for more information.) Note: This afternoon's meeting requires no pre-registration. The lecture on Saturday night does require registration and a fee.
Full Moon Walk: South Palm Wash (Easy)
Leader: Mike McElhatton, ABDNHA Education Director
Join ABDNHA’s Program Director Mike McElhatton on this month’s Full Moon Walk in South Palm Wash. Experience the unique and serene beauty of moonlight on the canyon walls as we take a 1.5-mile walk through South Palm Wash. This is primarily a moderate walk, with a few areas that require “big steps” and flexibility on inclines. We meet at the ABDNHA Library and carpool from there. A flashlight, water, and good hiking shoes are required. Space is limited to 22. Activity cancels whenever cloud cover limits the moonlight. No charge. Call the Nature Center at 760-767-3098 to make a reservation.