Anza-Borrego Discovery Trail

With over 500 miles roads and dirt trails, Anza-Borrego is one of the premier overlanding and off roading destinations in Southern California, and for good reason. An expansive desert wilderness of 600,000 acres, the desert landscape in Anza-Borrego is comprised of washes, badlands, slot canyons, mud palisades and palm oases. This corner of the northern Sonoran desert is sure to awe you!

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating:  Epic Trip Length: 216 miles, 4-6 days Season:   The best time to visit is typically October through early May. The desert comes alive with spring blooms in March and April. Summer travel is not advised as temperatures can reach 115F.

Digital Maps & GPX Files

Technical Ratings & Terrain

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Alternative Routes

Camping Recommendations

Discovery Points

Land Managers & Other Resources

Permits & Papers

Adventure Badge Get your Anza-Borrego Desert adventure badge at our online store.

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Route Details

Travel south to north This route is meant to be traveled south to north given two separate one-way sections of trail at Diablo drop-off and Borrego Mountain Wash drop-off.

The Anza-Borrego Discovery Trail travels over 200 miles of dirt roads and trails in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and, to a lesser extent, Ocotillo Wells SVRA (State Vehicle Recreation Area). At over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego is the largest state park in California, attracting many outdoor recreationalists and naturalists throughout the year. The park sits at the northern boundary of the Sonoran Desert before it transitions into the Mojave Desert to the north. The Peninsular mountain ranges to the west drain cloud systems of precious precipitation before they make their way towards the inland deserts of Southern California. Anza-Borrego and Ocotillo Wells are comprised of a series of badlands, slot canyons, desert washes, palm oases in steep canyons, and rugged mountains and buttes. Ocotillo Wells is also a favorite among the freestyle moto crowd and SxS (side-by-side) enthusiasts, while Anza-Borrego caters to primarily street-legal vehicles. Anza-Borrego features over 500 miles of roads and trails.

Anza-Borrego is surrounded by the Bucksnort and Santa Rosa Mountains to the north, the Jacumba Mountains to the south, and the Vallecitos and Pinyon Mountains to the west. The eastern side of the park slopes gently into the Salton Sink (more than 200 feet below sea level), and it is this section of the park where badlands predominate. Other favorite activities in the park include stargazing, hiking, mountain biking, and flora and fauna viewing. Late February through March is the best time to view wildflowers in the desert. Years with above-average rainfall typically feature superblooms when the desert landscape explodes with a variety of flowers and colors. Just over seven million years ago, Anza-Borrego and Ocotillo Wells were both marine environments, as the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) extended all the way up to Palm Springs. Many of the washes and canyons within these parks feature remnants of the area's marine past, like Shell Reef (discovery point), Mollusk Wash, and Oyster Wash. Approximately six million years ago, the sea began to recede, and the area transitioned to a terrestrial desert environment.

The Anza-Borrego Discovery Route is meant to be driven from south to north. This is because there are two unidirectional (one-way) drop-offs along the route. The trail has numerous sections that qualify as mild to moderately technical, but those with a 4x4 vehicle with a 2-inch lift and 32-inch tires should be able to tackle the entire route without issue. Novice drivers are recommended to travel with more experienced off-road drivers, as some sections, like Diablo Drop Off (discovery point) and Piepkorn Slot area, may require a spotter depending on current conditions. Those that tackle the route will experience a series of badlands and desert washes, slot canyons, stunning desert flora, spectacular views, and intriguing wind and mud caves. Those that prefer to explore on foot will enjoy the route as well, as many of the discovery points require short hikes to reach. Those seeking longer hikes may consider areas like Rockhouse Canyon (discovery point) and Goat Canyon Train Trestle.

The route begins just outside the small town of Ocotillo and heads up Carrizo Mountain, which affords nice 360-degree views of the surrounding desert and Salton Sea. Head back down Carrizo Mountain and over to Montero Palms (discovery point), which requires a short hike up the canyon to reach. Montero Canyon is one of about twenty canyons in the park where the endemic California fan palms can be found. From Montero Palms, head towards the Dos Cabezas Water Tower (discovery point). If you're feeling adventurous, you can follow the railroad tracks several miles to Goat Canyon, featuring the world's largest wooden trestle. Those seeking a quicker, easier alternative should head right from the water tower back to the pavement on Sweeney Pass Road. Those seeking to maximize their backcountry experience should turn left and follow the train tracks. Follow the sandy wash, which soon becomes a shallow canyon featuring a few technical sections as you drop in and out of the canyon. Eventually, the trail brings you back for a short stint on pavement before dropping back onto dirt.

Canyon Sin Nombre (discovery point), translated as "canyon with no name," is a mildly technical trail that is also a favorite among the overlanding and off-road crowds and is sometimes referred to as the "geologist tour." The trail features a number of interesting rock formations, some estimated to be 500 million years old. Once you reach Vallecito Creek, follow the trail north to Arroyo Tapiado. The canyon features numerous mud caves (discovery point), some of which exceed 1,000 feet in length and have cave ceilings up to 80 feet in height. From Arroyo Tapiado, the trail snakes through the desert landscape until reaching the famed Diablo Drop Off. The Diablo Drop Off used to be much more technical before California State Parks began grading the hill regularly. After heavy rains, the trail may degrade to its old form, featuring numerous potholes and off-camber dips and lips, creating a white-knuckle experience. Novices should plan on having more experienced drivers to spot them, although this may not be required if the trail has been recently graded.

From Diablo Drop Off, swing a left up Fish Creek Wash (discovery point) and then another left into Sandstone Canyon (discovery point). This is one of the tightest canyons in the park where vehicles are permitted, and it becomes increasingly technical as you make your way towards the trail's end. Next up are another set of mud caves, known as the famed mud palisades (discovery point), which can be explored just like the mud caves in Arroyo Tapiado. Descend back down the mountain into the heart of Fish Creek Wash, another favorite 4x4 trail in the park. If you're up for a short uphill hike (0.9 miles round trip), the Wind Caves (discovery point) are definitely worth checking out. At the top of the hill, you'll find various geologic features made of sandstone, some of which feature windows and caves. From Fish Creek Wash, make your way north into Ocotillo Wells SVRA.

Expect to see a lot of motos, ATVs, and side-by-sides in Ocotillo Wells, which is a designated State Vehicle Recreation Area. First up is Shell Reef, a favorite freestyle location for the moto crowd that likes to send it big and a reminder of the region's marine past. Other interesting discovery points in Ocotillo Wells include the bubbling mud pots, also known as Gas Domes (discovery point), and the Pumpkin Patch (discovery point). The Pumpkin Patch features dozens of rounded rocks called concretions, a process where sand sticks to smaller objects like a pebble or piece of a shell, and grows over time as more sand cements itself to the object. Seventeen Palms Spring (discovery point) is another desert oasis worth a visit. Near Slot Canyon Trail is your second drop-off, the Borrego Wash Drop Off. From Borrego Wash, the route works its way north through Inspiration Wash, which is in the heart of the largest badlands area within both parks.

Those wishing to capture a glimpse of the infamous metal sculptures at Galleta Meadows will want to head west towards the town of Borrego Springs (discovery point). Ricardo Breceda is the creator of the more than 100 sculptures featured at Galleta Meadows. Some of the favorites include the giant sea serpent, fierce dinosaurs, and the scorpion.

As you leave the badlands, Rockhouse Canyon stretches into the northern reaches of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trail grows increasingly rocky and more technical as you near the end of the 4x4 trail. Rockhouse Canyon is aptly named for the remains of three old rock houses several miles up the canyon. Reports indicate that it's about a 1.5- to 2-hour round trip from the trailhead to the rock houses. As you descend back down the mountain towards the Borrego Salton Seaway, keep an eye out on your left for the Clark Dry Lake (discovery point), which is also a great place to set up camp. (To avoid getting stuck, stay off the playa if there's been recent rain.) Crossing the pavement of the Salton Seaway, head over to one of the most photographed locations within the park, Fonts Point (discovery point). Fonts Point provides a spectacular 270-degree view of the badlands that surround it below. The badlands are especially impressive when the sun rises from the east and sheds its light on the creases and crevices of the barren landscape below.

The final leg of the route concludes through a series of sandy washes in Ocotillo Wells SVRA. Tectonic Gorge (discovery point) is a twisty and fun sandy wash that dumps you out at the Truckhaven 4x4 Training Area (discovery point). If you're looking to brush up on your off-road skills, this is the place to do it! There are all kinds of cool obstacles to try your hand at, like the impressively scary Cross Over Peak obstacle, a 30-foot nearly vertical wall over a series of concrete tubes. But don't worry, Truckhaven features obstacles for all skill levels! Truckhaven provides endless fun, and can you think of a better way to conclude a sweet overland adventure at a rad off-road skills park like this? We didn't think so!

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