Anza-Borrego Desert: Mine Wash Loop 2

Rating *****
length 5.7 mile (the loop) - 2 hour, 45 minutes (Return trip). Moderate.
Elevation 1980 - 3300 feet
Access On the 78 exit on mile 79.1. 2.7 mile from the crossing with the S3.

A most scenic canyon wash loop.

The hike is easy/moderately.

From the parking you can see a canyon to the west, right of the main wash.
To get there start hiking north in a small sandy wash.
Follow this wash all the way up.
The sand is mostly firm and we were the first in quite some time.
We called it the pincushion wash, because it was filled with them, early in April.

Eventually you see the canyon narrowing, a small granite fall, easy to hike on the right hand side.
More sandy wash on top.
Keep more to the left as the wash levels and gets less distinct.

On the saddle you can see Shelter Valley.
Keep level and turn left (south) around the hill.
A bit uphill along a wash, keep Shelter Valley on your right, up to another saddle (saddle 2).
Down in front of you is the "No Pinyon Mountain Road"
Hike down to the left and follow the more sandy ridge down to the road.

Follow the road down into the mine wash. The road is firm, so hiking is easy.
You hardly see any vehicles on this road.

At the end of the road, the wash narrows, some small dry falls and you reach the other end of the mine road.
Hike down towards the car, short cutting the road.

How to get here:

Drive the mine road for 3.2 mile. Park roadside.

Load the hike in: GPX or KML (Google Earth file) Tip: use the right mouse key and select save.

Click on the button "Photo markers" to show pictures, or in the right upper corner to show full screen.


Our plant list

Missing the film above or to watch full screen, use this link. (Apr/7/2012)
Fouquieria splendens splendens , Ocotillo (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Prunus fremontii , Desert apricot (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Lasthenia gracilis , Common goldfields (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Lasthenia gracilis , Common goldfields (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Lasthenia gracilis , Common goldfields (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Erodium cicutarium , Red stem filaree (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012)Salvia columbariae , Chia (Apr/7/2012)
Eschscholzia parishii , Parish's poppy (Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
(Apr/7/2012) (Apr/7/2012)
Agave deserti deserti , Desert agave (Apr/7/2012)Agave deserti deserti , Desert agave (Apr/7/2012)
Justicia californica , Chuparosa (Apr/7/2012)Pholisma arenarium , Sand plant (Apr/7/2012)
(Dec/30/2014)San Felipe Dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides (Dec/15/2016) 🌎
Boundary goldenbush, Ericameria brachylepis (Dec/15/2016) 🌎Arizona carlowrightia, Carlowrightia arizonica (Dec/15/2016) 🌎
Arizona carlowrightia, Carlowrightia arizonica (Dec/15/2016) 🌎Arizona carlowrightia, Carlowrightia arizonica (Dec/15/2016) 🌎
Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens splendens (Dec/15/2016) 🌎California trixis, Trixis californica californica (Dec/15/2016) 🌎
Ditaxis lanceolata (Top), Carlowrightia arizonica (Dec/15/2016)Ditaxis neomexicana, New Mexico ditaxis (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Fouquieria splendens splendens, Ocotillo (Dec/18/2018) 🌎Adenophyllum porophylloides, San Felipe dogweed (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Cylindropuntia bigelovii, Teddybear cholla (Dec/18/2018) 🌎 (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Trixis californica californica, California trixis (Dec/18/2018) 🌎Porophyllum gracile, Odora (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Encelia farinosa farinosa, Brittlebush (Dec/18/2018) 🌎Marina parryi, Parry's dalea (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Ambrosia salsola salsola, Cheesebush (Dec/18/2018) 🌎Perityle emoryi, Emory's rockdaisy (Dec/18/2018) 🌎
Eriophyllum wallacei rubellum , Wallace's woolly daisy(white) (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Eremothera refracta , Narrowleaf suncup (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Emmenanthe penduliflora penduliflora , Whispering bells (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Phoradendron californicum , Desert mistletoe (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Lycium andersonii , Anderson's desert thorn (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Lycium andersonii , Anderson's desert thorn (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Eschscholzia parishii , Parish's poppy (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Acmispon rigidus , Desert lotus (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Phacelia distans , Common phacelia (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Mammillaria dioica , Fishhook (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Diplacus bigelovii bigelovii , Bigelow's monkey flower (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Eschscholzia parishii , Parish's poppy (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Eschscholzia parishii , Parish's poppy (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Diplacus bigelovii bigelovii , Bigelow's monkey flower (Mar/1/2019) 🌎
Nama demissa demissa , Purplemat (Mar/1/2019) 🌎Eremothera refracta , Narrow leaf suncup (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Nemacladus rubescens , Desert threadplant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Fouquieria splendens splendens , Ocotillo (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Trixis californica californica , California trixis (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Encelia farinosa farinosa , Brittlebush (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Cylindropuntia bigelovii , Teddybear cholla (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Porophyllum gracile , Odora (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Larrea tridentata , Creosote bush (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Funastrum hirtellum , Hairy climbing milkweed (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Eremothera refracta , Narrow leaf suncup (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Encelia farinosa farinosa , Brittlebush (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Salvia apiana , White sage (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Physalis crassifolia , Thick leaf ground cherry (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Nemacladus rubescens , Desert threadplant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Diplacus bigelovii bigelovii , Bigelow's monkey flower (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Delphinium parishii subglobosum , Intermediate larkspur (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Nemacladus sigmoideus , Sigmoid threadplant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Senecio californicus , California groundsel (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Chaenactis fremontii , Fremont's pincushion (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Rafinesquia californica , California chicory (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Nemacladus sigmoideus , Sigmoid threadplant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Ferocactus cylindraceus , California barrel cactus (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Allium fimbriatum fimbriatum , Fringed onion (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Platystemon californicus , Creamcups (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Eriophyllum wallacei rubellum , White Wallace's woolly daisy (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Echinocereus engelmannii engelmannii , Engelmann's hedgehog (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Mammillaria dioica dioica , Fishhook (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Malacothrix glabrata , Desert dandelion (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Nicotiana obtusifolia , Desert tobacco (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Aphyllon cooperi latiloba , Broomrape (Apr/24/2024) 🌎 (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Carlowrightia arizonica , Arizona carlowrightia (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Carlowrightia arizonica , Arizona carlowrightia (Apr/24/2024)
Nemacladus glanduliferus , Glandular threadplant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Dudleya saxosa aloides , Desert dudleya (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Ferocactus cylindraceus , California barrel cactus (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Encelia farinosa farinosa , Brittlebush (Apr/24/2024) 🌎
Pholisma arenarium , Sand plant (Apr/24/2024) 🌎Senecio californicus , California groundsel (Nov/29/2024) 🌎
Chaenactis fremontii , Fremont's pincushion (Nov/29/2024) 🌎Lasthenia gracilis , Common goldfields (Nov/29/2024) 🌎
Ericameria brachylepis , Boundary goldenbush (Nov/29/2024) 🌎Ericameria brachylepis , Boundary goldenbush (Nov/29/2024) 🌎
Agave deserti deserti , Desert agave (Nov/29/2024) 🌎
Date: 2016/12/15
Date: 2018/12/18
Date: 2019/3/1
Date: 2024/4/24
Date: 2024/11/29

 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).
© 2013-2025 Borregohiking.com.
BESbswy