Whether your idea of biking is to ride a five or ten mile loop around town or a 100 mile route through the badlands, Borrego Springs has some of the finest winter road biking in the United States. Roads are generally wide, traffic is low, and the scenery is always great. Terrain is whatever you want; there are lots of gently rolling routes in the Borrego Valley and many quiet and easy routes to visit the sculptures or though the agricultural lands north of town. For the aggressive crowd, there is world-class Montezuma Grade, 3368 feet of vertical in just ten miles. You can bike on most roads and washes where vehicles are permitted in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but there are a few sensitive areas in the park where biking is not permitted.
Where ever you decide to go, be sure to take plenty of water!
Here are some popular biking routes in Borrego Springs and Anza-Borrego.
De Anza Country Club
This is a 14-mile road bike tour on paved roads that goes past the sculptures from Christmas Circle to De Anza Country Club.
Bike Route
From Christmas Circle, head north on Borrego Springs Road. At Big Horn Road, turn right (east) and go .25 miles to check out the scorpion, grasshopper and the grape pickers sculptures, just off of the roadway. Return to Borrego Springs Road, turn right (north) and continue past the serpent and other sculptures to the entrance of Indian Head Ranch, on your left. Enter through the open gate and continue along the pine tree-lined roadway, past more sculptures, and along a beautiful straight roadway to the far northern end of Indian Head. This is a great place to bike. Turn left when the road turns left and continue all the way up the short hill, turn left again, and get a nice downhill to the bottom of the loop. Exit Indian Head through the same gate you entered, get back on Borrego Springs Road and go south. Turn right (west) on Santa Rosa Road, right (north) on Catarina Drive, and left (South) on De Anza Drive, taking you through the De Anza Country Club and many beautiful desert homes with mountains in the background. Turn left (south) on Yaqui Road from De Anza Drive, right (west) on Pointing Rock, left (south) on Lazy S and then left (east) on Big Horn Road, which will return you to Borrego Springs Road. Turn right (south) on Borrego Springs Road to return to Christmas Circle.
Note: Indian Head Ranch is now closed to the public, but the rest of the route is still open to bicyclists.
Click here to download the map.
South Borrego Valley
This is an 11-mile road bike tour on paved roads that goes past the sculptures in South Borrego Valley from Christmas Circle to La Casa del Zorro.
Bike Route
From Christmas Circle, head east on Palm Canyon, turn right (south) onto DiGiorgio, left (east) onto Tilting T and then right (south) onto Borrego Valley Road. Continue on Borrego Valley Road as it becomes Rango Way, and you will come to the junction of Rango Way, Borrego Springs Road, and Yaqui Pass Road. Turn right (west) onto Borrego Springs road and head back to Christmas Circle.
Click here to download the map.
Mid-Borrego Valley
This is an 8-mile road bike tour on paved roads that goes past the churches and into Mid-Borrego Valley from Christmas Circle to Church Lane to DiGiorgio Road.
Bike Route
From Christmas Circle, go west on Palm Canyon Drive and turn left (south) onto Country Club. Go past the post office and then turn right (southwest) onto Sunset Road in between the library and Borrego County Park. Sunset Road offers great views of the mountains to the west and then swings to the left (southeast), becoming Church Lane, which features four of Borrego Springs’ churches as well as striking desert landscaping. Turn right (south) onto County Club and follow it through a quiet residential area as it slowly climbs to Tilting T Drive. Turn left (east) onto Tilting T Drive. Take care crossing Borrego Springs Road (S-3) and continue on Tilting T Road, crossing DiGiorgio, where it widens and passes between Club Circle to the south and the Borrego Springs Resort to the north. You can take a side trip into either area if you wish. Turn left (north) onto Borrego Valley Road and then turn left (west) at Palm Canyon which will bring you back to Christmas Circle.
Click here to download the map.
Henderson Canyon Road
This is a 16.5-mile road bike tour on paved roads that goes past the Borrego Springs airport, along Henderson Canyon Road and past numerous sculptures in the northern part of Borrego Valley.
Bike Route
From Christmas Circle, head east on Palm Canyon Drive, passing the Borrego Valley Airport, on your left. The highway then swings in a big curve to the left (north), with a nice view of Fonts Point directly in front of you. Continue around the curve and the straight section that follows until you come to the junction with Henderson Canyon Road. Turn left (west) onto Henderson Canyon Road and continue straight ahead, all the way to Borrego Springs Road. Swing to the left (south) onto Borrego Springs Road and then turn left (east) onto Big Horn Road. There are several interesting sculptures in this area, including the scorpion, grasshopper and the grape workers. Turn right (south) onto DiGiorgio Road and continue to Palm Canyon Drive. Turn left (west) here and return to Christmas Circle.
Click here to download the map.
Texas Dip
This is a 23.6 mile road bike tour on paved roads that takes you through the Texas Dip, a 1.1 mile wide dip in where the highway crosses through San Felipe Wash. Lots of water can flow through here during a summer flash flood, but in drier times, cycling across the Texas Dip is just a “must do” on any biking trip in Borrego.
Bike Route
From Christmas Circle, go east on Palm Canyon Drive, right on DiGiorgio Road, left on Tilting T Drive and then right on Borrego Valley Road. At the junction with Borrego Springs Road, turn left (east) towards Ocotillo Wells. The road now climbs slowly and steadily for about five miles up to the edge of San Felipe Wash, then it’s down to the bottom of the dip and back up the other side. The really good parts are the nice downhills, straight and fast down into the wash from either side. On your return, when you come to the junction of the three highways go straight ahead, on Borrego Springs Road, and you will get a chance to see the sculptures that are described for the South Borrego Valley route.
Click here to download the map.
Note: Experienced riders can add 15 miles to this trip by making a second loop, using highway 78 and Yaqui Pass Road. However, be aware that the road up to Yaqui Pass is very narrow, very steep, and visibility between cars and rides can be poor, with many twists and turns against the canyon walls.
Old Borrego Valley Road
This is a 13-mile mountain bike tour along Old Borrego Valley Road (5 miles of dirt road) and returning via 8 miles of paved roads.
Bike Route
If you wish to do the entire loop of paved and dirt roads, you can start this route at the power substation on highway 78. If you have two vehicles and only want to do the dirt road portion, park one vehicle at the starting point across from the substation on highway 78, and park the other car on Borrego Springs Road just east of La Casa del Zorro.
This route is best taken with a fat tire bike as there are many sandy areas where a typical mountain bike can get bogged down.
Click here to download the map.
Glorietta Canyon
This is a fat tire bike tour on the dirt road leading into Glorietta Canyon.
Glorietta Canyon is a good place to enjoy a nice ride in beautiful scenery close to the center of Borrego Springs. It is just slightly uphill on the way in and a great ride on the way out.
Click here to download the map.
Blair Valley
Blair Valley has many miles of dirt roads to explore with a mountain bike or fat tire bike.
Click here to download the map.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and take plenty of water on your hike! We also suggest bringing a hat, sunscreen and snacks. It would be good to bring along a tire repair kit if possible.
Bicycles, including mountain bikes, fat tire bikes and e-bikes, are not allowed on any of Anza-Borrego’s hiking trails. The only exception is the paved path between the Visitor Center and the Borrego Palm Canyon campground. Bicycles must stay on established roads within the park. There are plenty of paved and dirt roads to choose from! Here are a few suggestions:
- Coyote Canyon
- Fish Creek Wash
- Grapevine Canyon
- Mine Wash