HIKE IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Trip leader: Tom Keffer

Gorgeous sandstone cliffs, killer views out the Borrego Valley, all in a close-to-home package. We will be entering from Hawk Valley, then climbing up a hidden slot to the ridge above, then on to West Butte. 3.5 miles RT, 500' of climbing, steep sections with scary drop offs, some step-ups. Access road is suitable for most 2WD. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

Leader: Amateur Botanist Kathy Bussey

Join Kathy Bussey for a stroll around ABDNHA's desert garden, a peaceful and beautiful spot full of desert plants from throughout the southwest -- trees, cacti, shrubs, and annual flowers, with many colorful signs, artwork, and informational panels. Look for birds and other wildlife activity. The garden always has something in bloom. A good place for photographs. The garden surface is flat for easy walking. Meet in ABDNHA's parking lot. No charge. Register at the Nature Center or 760-767-3098. Walk repeats on Dec. 14, Jan. 11, 25.

HIKE IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Leader: Bruce Kelley, ABDNHA Volunteer

East of Font's Point several miles on the same escarpment, closer to the Salton Sea with 360-degree views, we'll 4WD off S22 on Palo Verde Wash and Center Cut Wash about 3 miles. We will park on the side of the jeep road to the Vista and do a moderate hike 1.5 miles (each way), gradual gradient up washes to the Vista, then walk along the rim for a few hundred yards, before returning down the same washes. There will be a narrow trail along the rim with a steep drop off for one-quarter mile. If you do not like heights, you may not want to do this one. Bring water, sunscreen, a windbreaker, a hiking stick, good hiking shoes, and 4WD vehicle if you can. Meet in ABDNHA's parking lot by 7:50 a.m.

Leader: Pam Blake, ABDNHA Volunteer

This is a variation on Pam's ambles, focused on plants.  We will enjoy a slow stroll through the desert discussing different plant adaptations to living in this challenging environment. Meet at ABDNHA parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and be back before noon after a relatively short and easy walk. Call the Nature Center to reserve, 760-767-3098. Activity repeats 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Coordinator: Don Rideout, ABDNHA Volunteer
Meeting to be held in the ABDNHA Activity Room. This is the first meeting of ABDNHA’s new botany club. Everyone is welcome. The primary purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the club’s programming and activities, outline the club's operational structure, and plan the club’s first public presentation, scheduled for Saturday, January 3. All interested are encouraged to attend.  No charge, registration not required.

HIKE IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Leaders: Tom Keffer & Lee Christie
Hike with a focus on birding. A pleasant, easy walk through a little-visited preserve. There are many migrants that frequent the preserve, especially in the riparian woodlands along San Felipe Creek. We will look for Roadrunner, Cooper's Hawk, Oak Titmouse, Bluebirds, and Acorn Woodpeckers. 4 miles RT, 250' vertical, easy tread. You must buy a $5.66 personal pass for this walk! See https://tinyurl.com/hkrkshtu, and select "Continue as Guest," then "Lands Pass." Area of use is "San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area." Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, binoculars, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

HIKE IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Leader: Kathy Bussey, ABDNHA Volunteer
Just 5 minutes from ABDNHA is a little-visited wash that gives you that far-afield experience. Easy, flat terrain. Convenient street-side parking. See the tallest of ocotillos, mysterious holes drilled in sandstone walls, and the mysterious Kiwanis item! Learn a bit of local history. Under 2 miles RT. Meet at ABDNHA parking lot. Wear hiking shoes, hat, bring water. Register at the ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098.

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.

4WD TOUR IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Leader: Jim Torian, ABDNHA Volunteer

This off-road adventure will take us through the scenic, soft sandy washes of Anza-Borrego’s northeast region. We’ll meet and brief at 9 a.m. in the ABDNHA parking lot, then drive the S22 for 17 miles to the Arroyo Salado Campground turnoff. From there, we’ll air down and head south to the serene 17 Palms Oasis, stopping at the historic post office. Next, we’ll tackle the Cut Across Trail to Borrego Mountain, then wind our way up Buttes Canyon, known for its stunning smoke trees. We’ll stop for lunch at Hawk Canyon before descending and continuing south on Buttes Pass Road to Highway 78, where our adventure ends. This 18-mile, 4-hour journey requires a 4WD vehicle with high clearance and a full tank of gas. A GMRS Ch. 15 radio is optional. Lunch is BYO. No charge. Limited space and vehicles. Register at the Nature Center or call 760-767-3098. ABDNHA members only. If you are not a member, you may request being put on the waitlist.

This is the first organizational meeting to form an astronomy club in Borrego Springs. If you are interested in astronomy or astrophotography and would like to learn from others or share what you know, please plan to attend. In the ABDNHA Library.

Speaker: Jose Marfori, Plant Propagation Specialist, The Living Desert
This will be a great program for anyone interested in desert plants, especially those who garden and are interested in growing native plants from seeds or cuttings. Jose Marfori is the plant propagation specialist for The Living Desert, in Palm Desert, a non-profit zoo and desert botanical garden showcasing flora and fauna from deserts around the world. Jose will explain what plant propagation is, why it's important to The Living Desert, and how to get started. He will be using local desert plants as examples, including the difficult to propagate desert smoke tree. In the ABDNHA Library. GP: $12, M: $10, V: $8. Register online or at the ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098.