Anza-Borrego North: Travertine Palms Wash

The Dry, Rocky Terrain Around Travertine Palms Wash

Travertine Palms Wash is an isolated and lonely area in the northeast corner of San Diego County, a few miles south of Oasis, California, in one of the hottest places in the United States in summer.

Calling it a "wash" might be misleading. This area emcompasses a series of washes and tributaries, all of them winding, twisted, and braided, with steep sides that can throw a hiker off course. The washes drain the Santa Rosa Mountains to the Salton Sea.

Except for a private road along the Riverside County line, there are no roads. Occasionally there are faint pieces of trails created by animals or humans. You are left to find your own way either up or across the washes. The soil is rocky, and the rocks can be large enough to make the going slow.

Once you get to the Travertine Palms Oasis, known also as Steen's Rest, you can sit in the shade of California Fan Palms. The oasis is situated below the east slope of Hill 568, approximately two miles southwest of the point where the three counties (San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside) come together. Given the right conditions, it can make a nice day hike. See the Oasis topo map.

For those wishing greater adventure, it is possible to backpack across the mountains to County Road S-22. See the Lindsey Guide.

Getting to Travertine Palms Wash. From Borrego Springs, drive east on County Road S-22 to Highway 86 in Salton City and turn north. Make a left turn at Avenue 86 at the Riverside County line, just past Travertine Rock. Avenue 86 is an unpaved dirt road. After about a quarter of a mile, there is a gate which can be locked. Be sure to park outside.

Travertine Palms