Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Borrego Springs, CA
$10 per vehicle day-use
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.8(308 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Not a stroller trail. Reviewers describe rock scrambling, and one carried a twenty-month-old for much of the way. Bring far more water than usual and proper shoes; there is no shade and the footing is loose. Dogs are not allowed. Trailhead toilets are clean but have no sink, so pack wipes.
This roughly 3-mile loop rewards families with a genuine palm oasis fed by a year-round stream, home to California's only native palm and sometimes bighorn sheep on the ridges — the classic Anza-Borrego hike and a great intro to desert plants. Start early with plenty of water since there's little shade, and skip it on scorching afternoons.
Happening near here
- Borrego Days Desert FestivalBorrego Springs · 3 miFree
- Borrego Springs Certified Farmers MarketBorrego Springs · 3 mi · 8am–12pmFree
Unnamed Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, USA
Map
What visitors say
- N J★★★★★
A truly gorgeous place to hike. We especially love the palm oasis, it is a sight to behold :) The bathrooms at the visitor center are always clean, if you are planning on visiting make sure to purchase a day pass at the visitor center, or at the gate entering into the oasis parking lot. Make sure to display your pass in the window at all times. Check the weather before you go, wear a hat, sunscreen and bug spray before you set off down the trail. Also, make sure to carry lots of water, more than you would normally carry for a hike. Wear shoes that are comfortable and protect your ankles. Make sure they have good soles that arent slick. You will walk over boulders and rocks and wearing the wrong shoes can lead to rolling an ankle or slipping. There are 2 routes, the main route and the alternate. The main route is a wider, less rocky path. The alternate route involves walking up and down hilly inclines and moving past some rocks and boulders. Carrying trekking poles makes for a steadier walk. When you reach the palm trees, you will pass a couple of spots where you have to walk across some shallow running water. There are stepping stones you can step on, but some of them move when you step on them and you might get your shoes wet, so plan accordingly. Truly a lovely hike :)
8 months ago
- Ben Park★★★★★
Very nice hike with great rock formations and an oasis with water at the end. There is an alternative trail, so it doesn’t have to be a full out and back trail. The restroom at the trailhead is interesting with an open too stone design. It’s harder than the distance suggests because there is a lot of rock scrambling. It’s $10 for day use.
8 months ago
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