Hidden Hikes Borrego Palm Canyon & Indianhead Mountain
By Jason Ritter

The summit of Borrego Palm Canyon offers spectacular views.

The Borrego Palm Canyon trail is one of the most popular trails in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Its proximity to the visitor's center and to the nearby campground makes it an easy starting point for a day of exploration.

The Borrego Palm Canyon trail will lead you west between the San Ysidro Mountains to the southwest and the very prominent Indianhead Mountain to the north. Along the way, you will witness signs of the "100-year flood" that passed through this canyon in 2004, taking with it over 70 percent of the palms that once thrived within the canyon.

The first palm oasis can be reached in under 45 minutes, depending on the time of year, there will be standing and/or running water, which makes for a great place to cool off and relax.

For those looking for a more challenging hike, there's Indianhead Mountain that stands tall at 3,990 feet. There are several routes to the summit, but most of them start just off of the Borrego Palm Canyon trail.

This is an intense hike that requires being prepared with time, food, and water. Plan to gain more than 3,000 feet of elevation and be prepared to do some boulder scrambling. The higher you climb the tougher it will get.

You will begin to notice a change in the surrounding rocks; near the bottom are the larger granite boulders and near the top, there are smooth desert varnished rocks that give this peak its distinct summit shape.

Once on the summit, you will be rewarded with views of the Borrego Valley like none other. To the north you will see Coyote Mountain and the mouth of Coyote Canyon. To the southwest you will see the prominent San Ysidro Mountains. To the east you will see all of the Borrego Valley.

If you work your way out to one of the summit's jagged outcroppings, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the Borrego Palm Canyon and the many palm oasis stands. It is here that you can dangle your feet over the canyon 3,000 feet below you.

If you are lucky (and quiet) you may be graced with a sighting of one of the estimated 200 Peninsular Bighorn Sheep in residence in the park.

Photos by Jason Ritter