Exploring the Borrego Badlands
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A Guide to Solitude and Adventure
The Borrego Badlands of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offer a unique and captivating landscape unlike any other. Located in Southern California, this area extends from Highway 78 in Anza-Borrego Central to the Santa Rosa Mountains in Anza-Borrego North. It’s a place where the rugged beauty of the desert meets the serenity of solitude, and it’s waiting for you to explore.
However, be aware that the unpaved roads in the Borrego Badlands area can be extremely sandy, making four-wheel drive essential, sometimes even mandatory. With that in mind, here are some of the best access points and trails for you to explore:
- Old Springs Road – This short road to the county dump leads to jeep trails that can be driven or hiked to some of the most spectacular views in the Borrego Badlands, including Mammoth Cove, Inspiration Point, and Borrego Sink.
- Beckman Wash (North) – This jeep trail is a right turn off the Borrego-Salton Seaway at mile 27 and leads southward to the badlands before turning westward. This road is narrow in several areas and goes past Mammoth Cove and a turnoff to a Bishop’s Tuff deposit.
- Inspiration Wash – This jeep trail leads south to Inspiration Point and then west to the county dump and Pegleg Road.
- Fonts Wash – A 5-mile drive to Fonts Point is one of the area’s most popular, especially for watching the sunset or sunrise. Be careful, as the sands can be deep and difficult.
- Thimble Trail – Short Wash – Vista del Malpais – This jeep trail from mile 31.9 crosses several fault scarps and ends at Short Wash, which extends from Font’s Wash to the west to Palo Verde Wash to the east.
- Palo Verde Wash – A jeep trail that bends southward into the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and is joined by Ella Wash and Short Wash.
- Truckhaven Rocks – Located north of S-22 at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
- Call Box S22-364 – A short circular drive that affords views of the Borrego Badlands from your car.
- Ella Wash – A short sandy trail from the Borrego Salton Seaway to Palo Verde Wash at the edge of the Borrego Badlands.
- Arroyo Salado Wash – Begins with a primitive camp off the Borrego-Salton Seaway and continues to Truckhaven Trail, Seventeen Palms, and south to Highway 78.
- Calcite Mine Road – Departs from the Borrego-Salton Seaway opposite Call Box S22-382 and continues 1.5 miles to the former Calcite Mine. High-clearance 4WD only.
- Palm Wash (North Fork and South Fork) – Palm Wash extends from below the Calcite Mine to the Salton Sea. The South Fork has some notable concretions and ends at a slot canyon, while the North Fork can be hiked to some sheep tanks.
- Truckhaven Trail – The section leaving the Borrego-Salton Seaway at Call Box S22-382 leads to an area of concretions known as Cannonball Wash.
- Tectonic Gorge – Located in Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area
Anza Borrego Park Information
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®
200 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Park Headquarters (760) 767-5311
Visitor Center (760) 767-4205
Anza-Borrego Foundation
(760) 767-0446
Anza Borrego State Park Map
Palm Canyon Map
Coyote Canyon Map
Guide Map – Popular Hikes
