Anza-Borrego Desert: Rainbow Canyon Loop

Rating *****
length 8.5 mile - 3 hour 40 minutes (Round trip). Moderate.
Elevation 2230 - 3100 feet
Access Accessible by all Cars from the S2 close to Marker 27. Park at a large parking area on the east side of the road.

From the parking lot it is about 20 minutes to Rainbow Canyon Wash (go southeast).
Follow close to the road (down) or go cross country (southeast) as we did, through a beautiful cactus "forest".
Enter the sandy wash of Rainbow Canyon and head east - northeast.

The hike is fairly easy all the way except for the part after "Difficult".
After this section there is a short stretch of dry rocky waterfalls, nothing too difficult but you may need your hands at times.
As we near the end of the canyon, the canyon more or less ends and you have to go cross country (easy, not too much vegetation) until you hit another wash that goes downhill on the other side of the mountain.
Follow this wash down.
At the point "Xing - cross country" go a little left a few 100 yards out of the wash cross country (easy not too much vegetation) until you hit a dirt road of a primitive campsite.
Follow this road until you reach the California Riding and Hiking Trail.
Follow the CRHT to the left (west). You will get closer to the road, but the trail will go deeper into a box canyon.
When you get back to the road (S2) where the CRHT crosses the road, go left just before the road on a faint trail along the road.
After a short distance the trail turns left, away from the road in a wash toward the parking lot. Hike time 3 hours 40 minutes return.

Alternative with car shuttle.
Start at the entrance of Rainbow Canyon "Park 3" and end at the "Park 2" point in Blair Valley.
Going the other way will make the hike more difficult for most hikers.
"Park 2" (see GPX file) can be reached by taking the second Blair Valley exit (west), turning right on California Riding and Hiking and following the dirt road up to Park 2.
This road is usually passable by most cars with some ground clearance, except after rain.
Hiking time for the car shuttle hike: 2 hours 45 minutes (5 miles).

Alternatively, hike over a saddle, the GPX file contains a shortcut that may shorten the hike, but you will have to navigate through agave plants.

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. (Mar/22/2009)
Rainbow canyon entrance. (Mar/22/2009) (Mar/22/2009)
(Mar/22/2009) (Mar/22/2009)
(Mar/22/2009) (Mar/22/2009)
(Mar/22/2009) (Mar/22/2009)
Mason Valley Cholla, Cylindropuntia xfosbergii (Jan/12/2014) (Jan/12/2014)
California groundsel, Senecio californicus (Jan/12/2014)Desert woolly star, Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum (Jan/12/2014)
Wild-Heliotrope, Phacelia distans (Jan/12/2014)Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Jan/12/2014)
chuparosa, Justicia californica (Apr/12/2014)chuparosa, Justicia californica (Apr/12/2014)
chuparosa, Justicia californica (Apr/12/2014)Bigelow's desert four-o'clock, Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa (Apr/12/2014)
trailing four o'clock, Allionia incarnata var. villosa (Apr/12/2014)Emory's rock-daisy, Perityle emoryi (Apr/12/2014)
Arizona chalk dudleya, Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. arizonica (Apr/12/2014)California suncup, Camissonia californica (Apr/12/2014)
golden yarrow, Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum (Apr/12/2014)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Apr/12/2014)
Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Apr/12/2014)Arizona chalk dudleya, Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. arizonica (Apr/12/2014)
white-stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis (Apr/12/2014)Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Apr/12/2014)
golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Apr/12/2014)golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Apr/12/2014)
California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Apr/12/2014)climbing milkweed, Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii (Apr/12/2014)
California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium (Apr/12/2014)Schott's calico, Loeseliastrum schottii (Apr/12/2014)
scarlet spiderling, Boerhavia coccinea (Apr/12/2014)Wild-Heliotrope, Phacelia distans (Apr/12/2014)
Coves's cassia, Senna covesii (Apr/12/2014)desert sand-verbena, Abronia villosa var. villosa (Apr/12/2014)
Gander's cholla, Opuntia ganderi (Apr/12/2014)teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii (Apr/12/2014)
white rhatany, Krameria grayi (Apr/12/2014)Desert agave, Agave deserti (Apr/5/2015)
Teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii (Apr/5/2015)Gander's cholla, Opuntia ganderi (Apr/5/2015)
Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Apr/5/2015)Pungent brickellbush, Brickellia atractyloides odontolepis (Apr/5/2015)
Beady lipfern, Cheilanthes covillei (Apr/5/2015)Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. rubellum (Apr/5/2015)
Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Apr/5/2015)Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Apr/5/2015)
Anderson's desert-thorn, Lycium andersonii (Apr/5/2015)Climbing milkweed, Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii (Apr/5/2015)
Slender wreathplant, Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua (Apr/5/2015)Desert nemacladus, Nemacladus rubescens (Apr/5/2015)
Purple mat, Nama demissum var. demissum (Apr/5/2015)Schott's calico, Loeseliastrum schottii (Apr/5/2015)
Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. rubellum (Apr/5/2015)Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii subglobosum (Apr/5/2015)
Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii subglobosum (Apr/5/2015)Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum (Apr/5/2015)
Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Apr/5/2015)Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Apr/5/2015)
California groundsel, Senecio californicus (Apr/5/2015)Golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Apr/5/2015)
Golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Apr/5/2015)Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum (Apr/5/2015)
Golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Apr/5/2015)Rattlesnake weed, Chamaesyce albomarginata (Apr/5/2015)
Rattlesnake weed, Chamaesyce albomarginata (Apr/5/2015)Gander's cholla, Opuntia ganderi (Apr/5/2015)
Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana (Apr/5/2015)Shrubby brickellia, Brickellia frutescens (Apr/5/2015)
Shrubby brickellia, Brickellia frutescens (Apr/5/2015)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Apr/5/2015)
Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Apr/5/2015)Broom twinberry, Menodora scabra var. glabrescens (Apr/5/2015)
Splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens (Apr/5/2015)Desert woolly-star, Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum (Apr/5/2015)
Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Apr/5/2015)Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Apr/5/2015)
California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium (Apr/5/2015)California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium (Apr/5/2015)
Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii fremontii (Apr/5/2015)Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum (Apr/5/2015)
Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum (Apr/5/2015)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Apr/5/2015)
Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris (Apr/5/2015)Desert nemacladus, Nemacladus rubescens (Jan/1/1970)
Star gilia, Gilia stellata (Jan/1/1970)Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Jan/1/1970)
Golden linanthus, Linanthus aureus (Jan/1/1970) (Dec/2/2015)
Climbing milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides hartwegii (Dec/2/2015) (Dec/2/2015)
Six weeks three-awn, Aristida adscensionis (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Thick leaf ground cherry, Physalis crassifolia (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Fishhook, Mammillaria dioica (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Red stem filaree, Erodium cicutarium (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides (Jan/7/2017) 🌎 (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Littleseed muhly, Muhlenbergia microsperma (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Wright's buckwheat, Eriogonum wrightii nodosum (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Fishhook, Mammillaria dioica (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Pungent brickellbush, Brickellia atractyloides odontolepis (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
(Jan/7/2017) 🌎Arizona carlowrightia, Carlowrightia arizonica (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Pungent brickellbush, Brickellia atractyloides odontolepis (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Boundary goldenbush, Ericameria brachylepis (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides (Jan/7/2017) 🌎San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Carpet-weed, Mollugo cerviana (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Tansy mustard, Descurainia pinnata (Jan/7/2017) 🌎Yucca buckwheat, Eriogonum plumatella (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Desert threadplant, Nemacladus rubescens (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Mason valley cholla, Cylindropuntia fosbergii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Anderson's desert thorn, Lycium andersonii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii subglobosum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
White stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Yellow turbans, Eriogonum pusillum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Sigmoid threadplant, Nemacladus sigmoideus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Nemacladus longiflorus breviflorus , Short flowered Long flowered Threadplant (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Nemacladus longiflorus breviflorus , Short flowered Long flowered Threadplant (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Golden linanthus, Leptosiphon aureus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei rubellum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Odora, Porophyllum gracile (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Golden linanthus, Leptosiphon aureus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum fimbriatum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Coastal gilia, Gilia diegensis (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Nemacladus longiflorus breviflorus , Short flowered Long flowered Threadplant (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Nemacladus longiflorus breviflorus , Short flowered Long flowered Threadplant (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Yellow turbans, Eriogonum pusillum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Golden linanthus, Leptosiphon aureus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎White sage, Salvia apiana (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
California groundsel, Senecio californicus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum fimbriatum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Woolly plantain, Plantago patagonica (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Lemmon's linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Lemmon's linanthus, Leptosiphon lemmonii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Muilla, Muilla maritima (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Long flowered Threadplant, Nemacladus longiflorus longiflorus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Nemacladus longiflorus breviflorus , Short flowered Long flowered Threadplant (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Fremont's monkeyflower, Mimulus fremontii fremontii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Thistle sage, Salvia carduacea (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/18/2011) (Feb/18/2011)
(Feb/5/2013) (Jan/12/2014)
(Jan/12/2014) (Jan/12/2014)
(Jan/12/2014) (Jan/12/2014)
(Apr/5/2015) (Apr/5/2015)
(Dec/2/2015) (Dec/2/2015)
(Jan/7/2017) 🌎California juniper, Juniperus californica (Jan/7/2017) 🌎
Desert chicory, Rafinesquia neomexicana (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Mason valley cholla, Cylindropuntia fosbergii (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Desert goldenhead, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus sphaerocephalus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Emory's rockdaisy, Perityle emoryi (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii subglobosum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Purplemat, Nama demissa demissa (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Golden linanthus, Leptosiphon aureus (Apr/11/2017) 🌎California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum polifolium (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata (Apr/11/2017) 🌎 (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Fringed onion, Allium fimbriatum fimbriatum (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Common phacelia, Phacelia distans (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Rattlesnake spurge, Euphorbia albomarginata (Apr/11/2017) 🌎Thistle sage, Salvia carduacea (Apr/11/2017) 🌎
Bebbia juncea aspera , Sweetbush (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Adenophyllum porophylloides , San Felipe dogweed (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus sphaerocephalus , Desert goldenhead (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Acmispon glaber brevialatus , Shortwing deerweed (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Porophyllum gracile , Odora (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Bahiopsis parishii , Parish's goldeneye (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Adenophyllum porophylloides , San Felipe dogweed (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Eriogonum fasciculatum polifolium , California buckwheat (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Pectis papposa papposa , Chinch weed (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Krameria bicolor , White rhatany (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Brickellia frutescens , Shrubby brickellbush (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Menodora scabra glabrescens , Broom twinberry (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Shortcut (Nov/9/2024) 🌎Eriogonum fasciculatum polifolium , California buckwheat (Nov/9/2024) 🌎
Date: 2017/1/7
Date: 2017/4/11
Date: 2017/1/7
Date: 2017/4/11
Date: 2024/11/9

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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