Anza-Borrego Desert: Wind Cave wash - Gypsum Peak - loop
| Rating |
***** |
| Length |
7 mile (return) - 4 Hour (return trip). Moderate. |
| Elevation |
500 - 1680 feet |
| Access |
Fish creek wash. AWD recommended. |
The hike starts at an unmarked wash heading South/East, but basically it's the wash (wind cave wash) that runs below (south) the Wind caves.
Keep left in a fork and soon, small boulders and small dry falls make the hike up more strenuous.
At the end of the canyon, a faint road to the right (East), go up steeply following a ditch that's what left of the road.
After a short while the road is visible as such and is even pretty good, follow it all the way to the peak.
Interesting are the Gypsum flowers, growing out of the sand, mixed with other minerals some are very colorful. But in some years they are better than in others.
Enjoy the view on top and for Botanist, at least one rather rare plant.
Follow the slightly climbing road back over an ridge (South/East).
The road is old and sometimes completely washed away, but still fairly easy to follow.
Follow the road all the way down, until it's very easy to get into a wash. Any wash will do, eventually they all end up in the same location.
The wash winds and winds up to the start of the hike.
How to get here:
Take Split Mountain Road for about 8 miles.
Follow the road towards the Fish Creek camp ground.
The road starts in the middle of the wash in most years.
Road condition vary a lot from year to year.
But normally any AWD should do. The road is sandy with some rocks.
[In some years a regular car can make it all the way up to the wind caves. But unless you check at the visitor centre, don't even think about it. As the road, in some years, may even be challenging for high clearance cars.]
As soon as you see the wind cave sign on the left side of the wash (after 5 miles), keep left and turn into the South fork.
Drive another 500 yards or so and park.
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