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Hiking Gear: Reviews and
Information
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Anza
Borrego Desert
California Riding and Hiking Trail
By Sheri McGregor
At-a-Glance
Length:
Approximately 11 miles roundtrip
Configuration: Out and back
Difficulty: Strenuous
Scenery: Spring wildflowers, desert
vegetation, breathtaking views of the desert valley, wildlife
Exposure: Sun
Traffic: Light to moderate
Trail surface: Sandy, rocky soil
Hiking time: 6.5 hours
Access: Free
Maps: At the Visitor Center,
approximately 1 mile north of the trailhead; also on trailhead
kiosk
Facilities: Public restrooms at
trailhead
Special comments: Desert temperatures
can be extreme-suggest fall, winter and early spring hikes.
Dress in layers and bring lots of water. Not recommended for
children.
In Brief
Springtime wildflowers, interesting year-round cacti and boulder
formations, plentiful wildlife, and an isolated atmosphere
nurturing to pleasant thoughts make this strenuous hike a
paradise for those in good physical condition.
Directions
Take Interstate 15 North to the Pala/76 exit and drive east for
33.6 miles to Highway 79. Turn left, traveling 4.1 miles to S2,
where you'll turn right and drive another 4.6 miles to Montezuma
Valley Road (commonly called the "Montezuma Highway"). Turn
left. Drive approximately 14 miles to the trailhead on the left,
which sits about a mile above the Visitor Center.
Description
From the trailhead staging area, move generally
southwest toward the mountains, starting on a flat wash of sandy
soil through desert chaparral spotted with cholla cactus. Also
present, Ocotillo reaches heavenward with its spiny arms
bedecked with lipstick red blooms. Less than a mile in, you' ll
come to a split in the trail. Head left (the right-hand route
will take you to Maidenhair Falls), and the trail narrows,
beginning its zigzagging ascent.
Steady climbing becomes a constant, up through boulder
outcroppings baked brown by the desert sun and heat. In the
early mornings, and later on cold winter days, the fog-filled
valleys open in the distance, giving an otherworldly feel to the
hike.
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As the trail's elevation rises, the ocotillo
plants thin, leaving Hedgehog and cholla cacti as
surrounding mainstays. Some cactus varieties are short and
stout. Others are taller and lined in protective spines the size
of toothpicks (be careful). With your mind free of citified
clutter and stress, let your imagination go, finding animals and
other shapes within the cactus and rock formations - - -
nature likes to have fun, and so should you!
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| Around 3 miles up, you'll descend a little on rocky trail,
continue uphill for awhile, and reach a flat wash area - - -
welcome after climbing. Watch for big horn sheep on the
mountainsides. Well-camouflaged, they aren't easily spotted.
You're more likely to see their tracks near the trail, which
prove the elusive creatures share this desolate space. You might
also see bobcat tracks (or perhaps get a glimpse of one of the
cats, more likely in early morning or evening hours). Low-flying
quail skitter by in large groups startled by your presence. On a
recent hike, a kangaroo rat hopped off, its furry hind feet and
bushy tail a flashing glimpse among the rockscape.
Past the wash, continue climbing. Wide steps of flat ground and
trail offer restful meanderings between gains in elevation as
you hike along. Towering boulder groupings on either side of the
route all begin to look alike as you head continually upward.
Don't search for trail markers, which become virtually
non-existent past about two miles. The trail, however, isn't
difficult to follow from the valley up; although people starting
near Pena Springs to head downward often report difficulty in
locating the descending route. Roadrunners hop among the rocks,
their long tail feathers flicking up and down, balance ballasts
for their quick movement up the rocks.
The short viewpoint trail to the Culp Valley Overlook comes as a
surprise when you finally reach it. Marked by a sign on the left
and with a yellow-topped California Riding & Hiking Trail pole
on the right, you can't miss it. There is no denying that the
view is spectacular, but having enjoyed the approximate six-mile
journey through desolate landscape that allows one to escape
civilization, the overlook can be anti-climactic. The Pena
Springs pullout, which leads just half a mile from Montezuma
Highway up to the overlook, is often busy, urging hikers who've
spent the last three or four hours with quiet, nature-nurtured
thoughts to head back down the mountain and its solitude. Be
sure to enjoy views of the valley as you descend.
The hike up might have logically seemed the more difficult trek
- - - but your body may tell you otherwise at the end of the
day. Descending on the sometimes steep narrow trail lined with
cacti means putting on the brakes, and in gusty desert winds,
requires attention to every step. Your lower legs, tendons, and
toes may backtalk later. The concentration needed to navigate
the downward trail also tires the mind. Once at home, a hot soak
and a fluffy pillow pave the way to a good night's sleep - - -
dreaming of your next visit to the Anza Borrego Desert State
Park.
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All photographs and written material
© copyright Sheri McGregor and
www.SanDiegoHikes.com and may
not be reproduced without the express written consent of Sheri McGregor.
Email
Sheri McGregor.
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