ABDNHA Parking Lot

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer

Join me for an 11-mile RT hike on the Old Wilson Trail from Old Culp Valley Rd to the Overlook, then up to the Wilson Benchmark. This is a fun hike with 800 ft of elevation gain and loss. With lots of rolling hills, it never gets steep anywhere along the way. We'll have a rewarding view at the Overlook and the top of the Wilson Benchmark of Grapevine Canyon and the Salton Sea. The area is at a higher elevation near Ranchita and may have some wildflowers blooming in late March, along with cooler temperatures. High clearance or AWD vehicles will be required, so meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 7:30 am to arrange carpools. This hike will be limited to 15 people.

Leader: Bruce Kelley
Hike is CANCELLED

Hornblende canyon is a beautiful canyon with interesting rock features along the way.  This is also one of the best places in the park to see Dudleya. (See the Dudleya Presentation on March 13.) This beautiful succulent grows in several places along Hornblende Canyon. Meet in the parking lot of ABDNHA no later than 7:50 a.m. Call the Nature Center to reserve.

Leader: Amy Brewster

“I only went for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found I was really going in.” -- John Muir

Join writer/naturalist Amy Brewster for a lovely ramble up Glorietta Canyon.  We will hike about 2 miles, stopping at an overlook of Borrego Valley, and then take time to write. Some sections of incline and loose rocks. Option to share your writing if the spirit moves. Please bring writing materials, such as a small notebook. Max: 10 people. Meet at ABDNHA to carpool. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub

Hike 10 miles with 1000' gain on a loop starting with 3 miles on a jeep road up Rockhouse Canyon. Reach Hidden Spring, ascend to Jackass Flat, cross the flat, come down Butler Canyon. 4WD highly recommended, preference given to 4WD vehicles. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks, water. Limit 15. Reserve at 760-767-3098.

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer
Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 8 a.m. to drive to the slot parking area. This area has a day-use fee, so we'll try to take as few cars as possible. Starting out from the parking area, we'll follow the ridge and climb up to West Butte to admire the view of the Santa Rosa Mountains, the Salton Sea, and the Vallecito Mountains. We backtrack a bit after the summit and follow an informal trail down to Borrego Mountain Wash. We'll follow the wash to the bottom of The Slot and climb up to the parking area to finish our outing. Expect a 5-mile hike with 700 ft of elevation gain and loss. This trip will be limited to 15 people. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub

Hike five miles, 800’ gain. We will hike to all six oases and Torote Bowl. Lots of endangered elephant trees and six beautiful palm groves. A bit steep and rocky to Torote Bowl. One hour, 15 minute drive to trailhead. $10 parking fee. Short, unpaved road ok for any vehicle. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 am. Bring lunch/snacks, water, good hiking shoes. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leaders: Sanjiv Nanda and Alan Parks
PROGRAM IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
We will take the east fork of Truckhaven Wash. At about three-quarters of a mile, we will come to a boulder blockage that we will crawl our way through. An easy scramble then takes us over to Arroyo Salado. We will do an out-and-back exploration of this lightly visited portion of Arroyo Salado. On the way back, we will climb out of Arroyo Salado and visit the Elephant, a Native American solstice site. Here, you will have an opportunity to scale some of the iconic uplifted slanting Truckhaven Rocks. We complete the lollipop by returning via the east fork of Truckhaven. This six-mile hike is rated moderate, with one place where you will have to get down on your hands and knees. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Meet at 8:30 am at the ABDNHA Nature Center. We will carpool to the trailhead, as parking on the shoulder at Truckhaven Wash is limited. Max: 22. No charge, call or stop by to reserve, 760-767-3098.

Leader: Kathy Bussey, ABDNHA Volunteer

HIKE IS FULL - please call ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist

Surround yourself with the natural beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Clark Dry Lake, and the Borrego Badlands on this easy 2.5-mile round-trip hike. We will drive up Inspiration Wash, then hike up an unnamed wash to the man-made memorial bench for a 360-degree view. It is an easy hike, except for the final short ascent up a sandy wash to the bench. AWD or 4WD OK. Meet at ABDNHA to carpool. No charge; call or stop by the Nature Center to reserve.

Trip Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie
HIKE IS FULL - Please call ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist
There are only a handful of year-round springs in the Anza-Borrego park and we will be hiking to one of them. Located up Grapevine Canyon, Bitter Creek Spring is tiny, but remote and delightful. It often attracts many birds and other wildlife. With luck, we may also see some desert blooms. 3 mi RT, 500’ vertical. Sandy 2 mi access road, suitable for most SUVs. Optional side trip to visit Angelina Springs, 2.5 mi farther up the road. Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot by 7:50 a.m. Bring snacks and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit 10.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub
HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
Hike, 6 miles, 900’ gain. The lucky people who join us on this hike will go through four, yes, four slot canyons! There are a few challenging dry waterfalls to go up and one steep, rocky area to climb. After two stops, we'll be at Calcite Mine, followed by two more stops on the way back. A really fun hike! AWD cars can drive to the start of the hike in South Palm Wash. Regular cars can park at the top and walk 0.2 miles to the start of the hike. No charge. Max 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

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.

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.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub
Hike: 5.0 miles, 1000' gain. A very rocky and interesting canyon. Plenty of rocks and dry waterfalls to go up, over, and around. Many synclines and anticlines, hence the canyon's name. High clearance vehicles recommended. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring snacks/lunch, water, good hiking shoes, and a good attitude. (Hike statistics subject to change based on group, weather, or other factors.)

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer

Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 8 a.m. to arrange our car shuttle. We'll drive up to mile 11.2 on Hwy S22 and leave a set of cars at the Big Spring parking area. We'll take the rest of the cars down to Hellhole Canyon and start our hike up to Culp Valley Camp. There will be a $10 parking fee for any vehicle parked at Hellhole Canyon if participants don't have a State Park pass. From here, we hike up the California Riding & Hiking Trail to the Culp Valley Campground Trail, over a small pass, and descend into Dry Canyon, where we'll pick up a faint social trail. The group will follow Rachel up a hill out of Dry Canyon and eventually pick up a trail that will take us back to the parking area on S22. This hike is approximately 6 miles with 2500 ft of elevation gain, and some steep sections to navigate. Long pants, long sleeves, and hiking poles are strongly recommended. Max. 12 people. Call to reserve.

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers

We will visit not one, not two, not three, but five different palm groves, some of them with up to a hundred trees! 4.5-mile RT, 550’ vertical, mostly soft sand, but there are some moderate sections with a bit of bouldering. Be prepared to pay a $10 parking fee. Travel time is 1 1⁄4 hours each way. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

Leader: Tom Keffer, ABDNHA Volunteer

We start with a pleasant hike up well-shaded Plum Canyon, but then after a mile, we’ll head off-trail up a rough canyon, heading for the summit of Sentenac Mountain. The views on top are sweeping. The descent rejoins the Plum Canyon trail about a half mile from the parking area. 3 mi. RT, 800’ vertical. Steep with an occasional cholla. Sandy 1.5-mile access road, suitable for most 2WD. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Wear sturdy boots (no tennies!) and long pants. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit 10 people.

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer

HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.

Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 8 a.m. to carpool to a parking area South of Blair Valley. Parking is limited there, so we need to take as few cars as possible. The hike up Hornblende Canyon is fairly flat in the beginning, but you'll need to be able to navigate a few small dry waterfalls until we reach a 40-foot-high dry waterfall and our turnaround point. We'll eat lunch here and then return the way we came. This hike will be limited to 15 people. Call the Nature Center to reserve.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub

HIKE IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist.
N.B: This hike is replaced by a hike to Rattlesnake Canyon due to flooding.

Hike 8 miles, 1375’ gain. Walk up a beautiful canyon to where it ends at an interesting 25 foot dry waterfall. Have fun figuring out the best way up the canyon, as it is quite wide, and there are many different routes you could take, and many rocks to step up and around. But none of them are too difficult. No dirt driving, park right off the road. Max 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50. Bring lunch, snacks, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leader: Mike McElhatton, ABDNHA Education Director
PROGRAM IS CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
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.

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.

Hike Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers

HIKE IS FULL – PLEASE CALL ABDNHA TO GET ON WAITLIST

“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.

Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell and Terri Straub, ABDNHA Volunteers

Hike 4 miles, 500’ gain. Hike with us cross-country up Juanito Canyon to the top. There are plenty of big rocks to scramble up and around, but nothing too difficult. Then we descend the trail through pretty Glorietta Canyon and walk 0.6 miles on the road back to the cars. Dirt road suitable for all cars. Max 15 people. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring snacks and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve.

Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Volunteer

Meet at the ABDNHA parking lot at 7:50 a.m. to depart promptly at 8 a.m. to set up a car shuttle. We'll leave a set of cars at Culp Valley Camp, then drive up to the Jasper Trail, park the rest of the vehicles, and begin hiking. We'll hike 3 miles down the trail toward Culp Valley Camp, then turn west to explore the Peña Spring area and the top of Hellhole Canyon. Then, we’ll head back to Culp Valley and the first set of cars. We'll hike approximately 5.5 miles mostly downhill, with about 500 feet of elevation gain at the end. The route may be overgrown, making long pants, long sleeves, and hiking poles recommended. Limited to 12 people. Call the Nature Center to reserve, 760-767-3098.

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers

Typically, the Torote Tree (Elephant Tree) grows only in the harshest deserts of Mexico, but we have a small population here in Anza-Borrego, its northernmost range. 3 mi RT, 600’ vertical, sandy tread with a few loose rocks and step-ups. Travel time is 75 minutes each way; not suitable for passenger cars, but okay for high-clearance all-wheel drive SUVs. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

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.

HIKE IS FULL. Call 760-767-3098 to get on waitlist. Leaders: Carmelita Logerwell & Terri Straub, ABDNHA Volunteers Hike 4 miles, 500' gain. We will drive to the end of Nolina Wash Jeep Road to start the hike. Hike begins as a sandy wash then eventually narrows to a canyon. There are a couple easy dry […]

Hike Leader: Rachel Rench This hike will start at the parking area on Hwy 78  on a cross country route over to Plum Canyon. After dropping into Plum Canyon we'll turn Right and climb up a wash to Sentenac Mtn and enjoy the view of Granite Peak, Shelter Valley and the San Felipe Valley. From […]