Anza-Borrego Desert: Pena Spring

Rating *****
length 1.3 mile - 30 minutes, it may take some time to find the spring. (Return trip). Easy.
Elevation 3320 - 3400 feet
Access All cars, on HWY S22 (Montezuma Highway) between mile 9.0 and 9.5, turn at the sign Culp Valley Camp.

A short hike up to the Pena Spring.

On HWY S22 (Montezuma Highway) between mile 9.0 and 9.5, turn at the sign Culp Valley Camp.
As this road forks to the left at a sign Pena Spring park. (Take this left fork)
Or drive further in a high clearance car, but the road may be in a bad shape in some years. But it may just as well be all cars in other.

Follow the road up to the sign CRH (California Riding and Hiking trail) and Pena Spring.
Turn right and follow the CRH downhill until you reach a sandy wash.
Follow the wash to the left, still going downhill.
Keep in the left branch of the sandy wash.

After about 200 yards, there is a faint trail on your left.
Follow it, up to the springs.
But there are a lot of trails here, Human and Animals.
There are patches of wet soil, bees on the ground are a clear sign.
The springs, are normally wet at least until May .

You will find a reservoir, running water and a raised (vertical) pipe a bit further away.
The amount of water coming out of the artesian well is sometimes considerable.

Hiking time: 30 Minutes return, but it may take some time to find the actual spring.

Disclaimer: Read this first before you start your hike. Contact: info/at/borregohiking/./com (leave out the /)
Hiking the Borrego Springs Area (Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Cuyamaca Rancho SP, Imperial Sand Dunes (Algodones Dunes), Jacumba, Laguna Mountain, Warner Springs) California, Hike with gps, gpx and kml (Google Earth).

© 2013-2024 Borregohiking.com.