Anza-Borrego Desert: Culp Valley - Big Spring Loop

Rating *****
Length 5.3 mile (return) - 3 Hour, 15 minutes (return trip). Moderate.
Elevation 2600 - 3700 feet
Access On the Montesuma, close to mile: 10.5 Just after the road becomes a 2/3 way road, in the bend. Take the dirt road left (West) signed "(old) Culp Valley". Park as soon as you find a spot to park

One of our favourite hikes in Culp Valley, but a bit adventurous, with some boulders.

The hike is hard to explain without a GPS.
Head South and you should see a boulder rich small canyon.
It's a lot better than it looks, look for animal tracks, they make the best trails.
Hike up on the right, sandy side of the canyon.
Keep going South, until you reach one of the Tubb Canyon forks.
The going is easy in the sandy wash.
Until you reach point "Steep", really steep with huge boulders.

Go back for about 100 Yards, and head North over a small saddle.
Once up, you can hike down the easy way, on sand.

Eventually you reach the main canyon again, still some boulders to come down on.

Keep left and leave the big spring going north.

This part is well hiked, you may even find some rock cairns.
Over the small saddle, follow the footprints going to the left (West).

Don't follow the trail, but keep in the sandy wash.
A small boulder canyon and back to the car.

When the time is right, you should see plenty of flowers as we did.
Because of the fire in 2012 the plants are exceptionally big. Your clothes may turn a shade of black, but it washes out just fine.

 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).
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