7 events found.
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.
Field Trip: Geology of San Diego County’s Peninsular Ranges – FULL (waitlist)
Sold Out
$10.00 – $20.00
Notice
No events scheduled for January 27, 2026.
4WD Tour: Culp Valley – Grapevine – Pinyon Mountain (Members Priority) – FULL (waitlist)
ABDNHA Parking Lot 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego SpringsLecture: The Urban Ecosystem
ABDNHA Library 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs
Get Tickets
$8.00 – $12.00
Hike: Borrego Badlands – Font’s Foot Loop (Moderate to Strenuous) – FULL (waitlist)
ABDNHA Parking Lot 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego SpringsLecture: The Birds of the Salton Sea
ABDNHA Library 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs
Get Tickets
$8.00 – $12.00
Week of Events
Sunday, January 25, 2026
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January 25, 2026 -Hike: Moonlight Canyon & Inner Pasture Overlook (Fairly Strenuous)
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January 25, 2026 -Field Trip: Geology of San Diego County’s Peninsular Ranges – FULL (waitlist)
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January 25, 2026 -Short Walk in ABDNHA’s Desert Garden
Hike: Moonlight Canyon & Inner Pasture Overlook (Fairly Strenuous)
Leader: Tom Keffer, ABDNHA Volunteer
This year, we will be hiking the Moonlight Canyon loop. Halfway around, we’ll take a three-mile round-trip side trail (four to six-foot waterfalls, uneven footing, steep sections) to a terrific view of the Inner Pasture. Five miles round-trip, 900’ vertical. Park fee $5. Travel time is one hour each way. Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot by 7:50 am. Wear sturdy boots (not tennis shoes). Bring lunch/snacks and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.
Field Trip: Geology of San Diego County’s Peninsular Ranges – FULL (waitlist)
Special Earth Science Series
FIELD TRIP IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA to get on waitlist
*Note the start and end locations in the description below!
Leader: Geologist Don Barrie
Don will lead the group on an exploration of the rocks along Sunrise Highway, west of Borrego Springs. The rocks in this area comprise part of a regional geologic suite known as the Peninsular Ranges Batholith (PRB), which extends from southern Baja, California, northward into the Palm Springs area. We'll meet near the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Interstate 8, then follow Sunrise Highway into the Laguna Mountains, stopping to examine rock exposures along the way. The last stop will be in Julian, where the group will tour the Eagle/High Peak gold mine and learn about the gold rush in Julian during the 1870s. On the field trip, we'll discuss the geologic story of how the gold got into the rocks. During the gold mine tour, we'll learn how hard-rock miners got the gold out of the rocks. To register, www.abdnha.org, or the Nature Center at 760-767-3098. General Public: $20, Members: $14, Volunteers: $10. Please note that an additional $14 entrance fee per person is required, payable upon entry to the mine.
Field Trip Details: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sun., Jan. 25, ending at the Eagle-High Peak mine in Julian. Meet at 9 a.m. along Sunrise Highway (County Road S1), about 1/4 mi north of the Interstate 8 Sunrise Highway exit, in a dirt parking area along the east side of the road. Bring lunch and water. 2WD okay. Please check the local weather in Mt. Laguna and dress accordingly (it may be chilly!). Carpooling is highly recommended. Heavy rain or snow cancels. The trip ends at the Eagle-High Peak Mine in Julian.
Sold Out
$10.00 – $20.00
Short Walk in ABDNHA’s Desert Garden
Leader: Amateur Botanist Kathy Bussey
Join Kathy Bussey for a short stroll around ABDNHA’s garden, a peaceful and beautiful spot filled with desert plants from throughout the southwest deserts, trees, cacti, shrubs, and annual flowers, featuring many colorful signs and artwork. The garden begins to bloom in mid-February. Bird activity, artwork, and information panels lend additional color. The garden surface is flat, making it very easy to walk on. Meet in the ABDNHA Parking lot. Call or drop by the Nature Center to register.
Monday, January 26, 2026
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January 26, 2026 -Hike: Mecca Grotto (Fairly Strenuous) – FULL (waitlist)
Hike: Mecca Grotto (Fairly Strenuous) – FULL (waitlist)
Leader: Robin Halford, ABDNHA Volunteer
HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
Note the meeting location. The Mecca grotto collapsed several years ago, so this hike leads to the beginning of the now impassable slot. Expect sandy washes, views of the Salton Sea from the high point of the ridge, as well as a visit to the palm grove on Hidden Spring on the way back. The total hike distance (round trip) is 5.7 miles. No bouldering, but there are some uneven, steep sections on the ridge. Sturdy shoes recommended. Bring snack/lunch, electrolytes, water, and poles. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit 10. Driving instructions to the meeting location: Drive North on Hwy 86 and go right (east) on 66th Ave. Go over the bypass bridge and turn right (east) at the light. Drive 9.9 miles and park just past the jeep road on the right side of Box Canyon Road. We will meet here. The road is usually OK for 2WD with high clearance.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
No events on this day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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January 28, 2026 -Borrego Rock & Gem Club (BRAG) Meeting
Borrego Rock & Gem Club (BRAG) Meeting
Like rocks? Join BRAG and meet other rockhounds!
The BRAG club meets every 4th Wed of the month in the Activity Room.
Note: In Nov & Dec, the meeting is on the 3rd Wed due to holidays.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
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January 29, 2026 -Hike: T-Canyon (Easy to Moderate)
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January 29, 2026 -4WD Tour: Culp Valley – Grapevine – Pinyon Mountain (Members Priority) – FULL (waitlist)
Hike: T-Canyon (Easy to Moderate)
Hike Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie
A 3-mile hike with 400' of elevation gain up a local canyon with a "T" at the end, offering two bitter ends for the price of one. Let's call it "T-Canyon". It's located in the Desert Gardens area out Coyote Canyon. Access is via a sandy road that is usually no problem for most 2WD. Bring lunch/snacks and water. Limit 10. Meet at 7:50 a.m. at ABDNHA.
4WD Tour: Culp Valley – Grapevine – Pinyon Mountain (Members Priority) – FULL (waitlist)
Leader: Jim Torian, ABDNHA Volunteer
TOUR IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
Level 4 Short Wheel Base Vehicle only ** see vehicle information
Level 4 – 4WD Higher Clearance
Join us for an adventure starting at ABDNHA. We’ll head west on S22, air down our tires on Culp Valley Road, and ascend to 4000 feet, taking Jasper Trail to a scenic overlook. We'll stop at Stuart Spring and the Angelina Spring Cultural Preserve. Afterward, we’ll turn south at Butler Creek Canyon and finish at Hwy 78. For part two, we'll go to Shelter Valley via Scissors Crossing and enjoy a surprise guest and potluck lunch at the Squeeze (please bring a side or dessert!). After lunch, you can return or hike to Heart Attack Hill (1.5 miles).
Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot by 9 a.m. Open to Level 4 4WD vehicles only (no AWD). Ensure your vehicle is in good condition with a full tank. Check the weather and dress appropriately. The trip lasts about 5 hours. This is a member-priority trip. No charge. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.
** Level 4: 4WD Higher Clearance REQUIRED due to deep sand, large rocks, steep sections, large obstacles, or rough conditions
Friday, January 30, 2026
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January 30, 2026 -Hike: Borrego Badlands, Billowy Loop (Moderate) – FULL (waitlist)
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January 30, 2026 -ABDNHA Friendly Friday Bike Ride
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January 30, 2026 -Hawkwatch Training Session 1
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January 30, 2026 -Lecture: The Urban Ecosystem
Hike: Borrego Badlands, Billowy Loop (Moderate) – FULL (waitlist)
Leaders: Sanjiv Nanda and Alan Parks
HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
This loop hike packs a complete badlands experience in just three miles. Appetizer, main course, and dessert! Fabulous, colorful vistas, soft, rounded, billowy mud hills, and steep malpais cliffs; cross-country route-finding and meandering walks in badlands washes in which you may lose all sense of direction. If you love the feeling of being lost in the badlands, this hike will keep you smiling. The hike is rated moderate but involves walking through mud hills and loose dirt, as well as short uphill and downhill scrambles. Meet at the entrance to Palo Verde Wash (S22 mile marker 32.9, 13.7 miles east of Christmas Circle) from where we will carpool in 4WD/AWD vehicles three miles to the start of the hike. No charge. Max: 22. Call to reserve: 760-767-3098.
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. […]
Hawkwatch Training Session 1
First training session in preparation for the 2026 Borrego Springs Hawkwatch that will begin on Feb. 20. We will begin inside at the ABDNHA Library, followed by a visit to the viewing sites. All are welcome—those interested in finding out more, as well as new and returning volunteers. Please sign up at hawkwatchborregosprings@gmail.com and abdnha2@att.net. Eyes to the sky!
Lecture: The Urban Ecosystem
Speaker: Rachel Larsen, Ph.D.
As cities around the world continue to grow, they are increasingly recognized for their potential to incorporate wildlife habitats into the urban environment. Wildlife in cities offers city dwellers a better quality of life by connecting them with nature. Our speaker, Dr. Rachel Larson, is a scientist at the San Diego Natural History Museum and an urban ecologist. She will share insights from her research on what makes cities unique ecosystems, how wild animals are trying to make a living alongside us, and what it will take better to incorporate nature into the world’s concrete jungles. In the ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. You can register online at abdnha.org or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
Get Tickets
$8.00 – $12.00
Saturday, January 31, 2026
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January 31, 2026 -Hike: Borrego Badlands – Font’s Foot Loop (Moderate to Strenuous) – FULL (waitlist)
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January 31, 2026 -Lecture: The Birds of the Salton Sea
Hike: Borrego Badlands – Font’s Foot Loop (Moderate to Strenuous) – FULL (waitlist)
Leaders: Sanjiv Nanda and Alan Parks
HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
Have you stood at the top of Font’s Point and thought it would be fun to be down in one of the colorful washes at the base? Join us for this moderate 8-mile loop hike in the Badlands washes below Font’s Point. We will include a trip to Font’s Foot, the very base of Font’s Point, and wave back at the incredulous visitors looking down at us. We will then scramble up to the Bowl and return via the west fork of Rainbow Wash. If time permits, we will explore a narrow slot canyon that requires twisting your body to get through. Meet at the bottom of Texas Dip (8.7 miles south of Christmas Circle on Borrego Springs Road) at the entrance to San Felipe Wash. Park on the east side of the road, from where we will carpool in 4WD/AWD vehicles several miles to the start of the hike in Rainbow Wash. Bring water, a snack, and lunch. No charge. Max: 22. Call or stop by to reserve: 760-767-3098.
Lecture: The Birds of the Salton Sea
Speaker: Kurt Leuschner, Natural Sciences Professor, College of the Desert
Join expert birder Kurt Leuschner as he tells the fascinating story of the diverse species of resident and migratory birds that live and visit the Salton Sea. In the ABDNHA Library. General Public: $12, Members: $10, Volunteers: $8. You can register online or at the Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
Get Tickets
$8.00 – $12.00