Mountain Palm Springs Loop

Imagine a gentle three mile hike through SIX different fan palm groves...  Now load your day pack and head to Mountain Palm Springs!  From Christmas Circle go over Yaqui Pass, right on 78, left on S2, and head towards Canebrake.  It's an hour drive to the trail head but pack a swim suit for a post hike soak and it's worth the drive.  The Mountain Palm Springs area is well marked along the south side of S2.  Follow signs to the campground (like named) and continue past the camping spots to the road end.  From there you will find a main trail heading up the wash.  Avoid thinking too much about whether to turn right or left - the trails intermingle so either direction is a great choice.  If you start feeling a bit lost and the trail is slipping away, spy the tops of the nearest fan palms and head towards them.  A max of three miles hiking should get you to a total of six clusters of Washingtonia filifera (aka California Fan Palm - the only palm tree native to California). 

If you are camping, take advantage of the typically quiet camp sites at Mountain Palm Springs or any of the other neighboring camp areas like Bow Willow.  As for that swim suit you packed, stop at Aqua Caliente on the way back to Borrego and enjoy your choice of three different pools - and showers to wash off the trail dust!

Check out some nice photos of the palm groves before heading out for your hike by clicking HERE.

For information about local conditions, visiting Fish Creek and other points of interest in the Park, current road conditions, maps and brochures please see Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – Visitors Center

200 Palm Canyon Dr. Borrego Springs, CA