Anza-Borrego Desert: Moonlight Canyon - Inner Pastures

Rating *****
length 5.9 mile (the loop) - 4 hour, 15 minutes (round trip). Moderate. (A lot of smaller boulders).
Elevation 1250 - 2180 feet
Access On the S2, 0.2 mile past the east exit Agua Caliente (Second one, coming in from Shelter). Mile 38.8. Park roadside.

A very scenic hike in the narrow Moonlight canyon, up the pass and into the inner pastures.

From the parking, start hiking south/west toward the canyon entrance.
Hike into the narrow canyon, with lots of small (dry) falls.

The first part looks a bit like a tropical rain forest, if there is water, that is.

At the fork, take the right, less obvious one. The left one has a sign no entry, as it ends in a steeper fall, not impossible to climb up, but more dangerous.

Don't stay in the right (west) fork, the marked trail, because it's the wrong canyon, but move over to the left, when you see a saddle, as the canyon bends more to the right (west).

As of 2015 2 signs where put up that forbid entry to the side forks. Hike a couple of hundred yards further and hike south. Make sure not to end up in the closed of canyon too soon.
Point "Over" mark the in and out point we used.

Over the saddle hike toward the main wash (moonlight canyon).
Follow the wash/boulders all the way up to the pass.

At point "Fork Right" keep right, the other one leads the same way, but the right one is easier.
Look for the morteros.

Once on top of the pass, hike down into the inner pastures, or return.
The descend looks boulder rich, but it's easy to find a way around them.

The canyon is filled with lots of small boulders, so be prepared for a wash/boulder hike.
Nothing difficult, but harder to hike in.

WARNING: Watch out for jumping cholla. They are mean and plentiful out here. Sturdy higher leather boots are nice to have.
It took me about 20 minutes to get them out of my leather boots. They hook into the leather, quite nicely.
Make sure you stock some tweezers.

A more extensive list of the flora in the area:Tom Chester.

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


Our plant list

Missing the film above or to watch full screen, use this link.Ovis canadensis Bighorn Sheep (Dec/29/2013)
(Mar/28/2012)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Mar/28/2012)
California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii (Mar/28/2012)
Whispering bells, Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii (Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii (Mar/28/2012)
Common phacelia, Phacelia distans (Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii (Mar/28/2012)
Wishbone Plant, Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa (Mar/28/2012)White-stemmed milkweed, Asclepias albicans (Mar/28/2012)
Narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua var. exigua (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Arizona Fiestaflower, Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum (Mar/28/2012)
Desert globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa (Mar/28/2012)Mojave ragwort, Senecio mohavensis (Mar/28/2012)
Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora (Mar/28/2012)Pebble pincushion, Chaenactis carphoclinia carphoclinia (Mar/28/2012)
Burrobush, Ambrosia dumosa (Mar/28/2012)Burrobush, Ambrosia dumosa (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Ghost flower, Mohavea confertiflora (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei (Mar/28/2012)
Pygmy Poppy, Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora (Mar/28/2012)Desert agave, Agave deserti var. deserti (Mar/28/2012)
Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris (Mar/28/2012)Star-flowered bedstraw, Galium stellatum (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica (Mar/28/2012)
Chuparosa, Justicia californica (Mar/28/2012)Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Mar/28/2012)
Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei / Purple mat, Nama demissum var. demissum (Mar/28/2012)Purple mat, Nama demissum var. demissum (Mar/28/2012)
Chuparosa, Justicia californica (Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii / Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii / Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei (Mar/28/2012)
Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii / Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei (Mar/28/2012)Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii / Wallace's woolly daisy, Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei (Mar/28/2012)
Desert dandelion, Malacothrix glabrata (Mar/28/2012)Red-gland spurge, Chamaesyce melanadenia (Mar/28/2012)
Gander's cholla, Cylindropuntia ganderi (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Desert Goldenhead, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus var. sphaerocephalu (Mar/28/2012)
Desert Goldenhead, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus var. sphaerocephalu (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Mar/28/2012)Gander's cholla, Cylindropuntia ganderi (Mar/28/2012)
Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Mar/28/2012)Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii (Mar/28/2012)
Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris (Mar/28/2012)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Mar/28/2012)
Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Mar/28/2012)Intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Whispering bells, Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora (Mar/28/2012)
Arizona lupine, Lupinus arizonicus (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012)Desert globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa (Mar/28/2012)
(Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
Whispering bells, Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora (Mar/28/2012) (Mar/28/2012)
Pygmy Poppy, Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora (Mar/28/2012)Arizona lupine, Lupinus arizonicus (Dec/29/2013)
Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Dec/29/2013)Desert lotus, Acmispon rigidus (Dec/29/2013)
Desert Goldenhead, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus (Dec/29/2013)Queen Butterfly, Danaus gilippus (Dec/29/2013)
Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis (Dec/29/2013)Ovis canadensis Bighorn Sheep (Dec/29/2013)
Ovis canadensis Bighorn Sheep (Dec/29/2013)Danaus gilippus Queen Butterfly (Dec/29/2013)
Mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium (Nov/25/2014)Mountain California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium (Nov/25/2014)
Emory's rock-daisy, Perityle emoryi (Nov/25/2014)Honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (Nov/25/2014)
Sand plant, Pholisma arenarium (Apr/15/2015)Sand plant, Pholisma arenarium (Apr/15/2015)
Tarantula Hawk, Pepsis thisbe (Apr/15/2015)Desert agave, Agave deserti var. deserti (Apr/15/2015)
Glandular nemacladus, Nemacladus glanduliferus (Apr/15/2015)Desert thornapple, Datura discolor (Nov/21/2015)
Salt heliotrope, Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum (Nov/24/2015)Salt heliotrope, Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum (Nov/24/2015)
Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora (Nov/24/2015)Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora (Nov/24/2015)
Smoke tree, Psorothamnus spinosus (Nov/24/2015)Chinch-weed, Pectis papposa var. papposa (Nov/24/2015)
Short leaf baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla (Nov/24/2015)Short leaf baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla (Nov/24/2015)
Climbing milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii (Nov/24/2015)California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium (Nov/24/2015)
California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium (Nov/24/2015)California-fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium (Nov/24/2015)
Spiny rush, Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii (Nov/24/2015)Spiny rush, Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii (Nov/24/2015)
Tarantula (Nov/24/2015)Arrow-leaf, Pleurocoronis pluriseta (Nov/24/2015)
Arrow-leaf, Pleurocoronis pluriseta (Nov/24/2015)Parish's goldeneye, Bahiopsis parishii (Nov/24/2015)
Desert brickellia, Brickellia desertorum (Nov/24/2015)Desert brickellia, Brickellia desertorum (Nov/24/2015)
Desert agave, Agave deserti var. deserti (Nov/24/2015)Silky Flycatcher, Phainopepla nitens (Nov/24/2015)
Rock hibiscus, Hibiscus denudatus (Nov/24/2015)California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus (Nov/24/2015)
Sonoran spurge, Chamaesyce micromera (Dec/6/2015)Spectacle-pod, Dithyrea californica (Dec/6/2015)
Frost mat, Achyronychia cooperi (Dec/6/2015)Frost mat, Achyronychia cooperi (Dec/6/2015)
Thurber's sandpaperplant, Petalonyx thurberi thurberi (Dec/6/2015)Turtleback, Psathyrotes ramosissima (Dec/6/2015)
Turtleback, Psathyrotes ramosissima (Dec/6/2015)Turtleback, Psathyrotes ramosissima (Dec/6/2015)
Desert tobacco, Nicotiana obtusifolia (Dec/6/2015)White-stemmed blazing star, Mentzelia albicaulis (Dec/6/2015)
Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia aculeata (Dec/6/2015)Narrow leaf cryptantha, Cryptantha angustifolia (Dec/6/2015)
Narrow leaf cryptantha, Cryptantha angustifolia (Dec/6/2015)Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora (Dec/6/2015)
Wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora (Dec/6/2015)Six-weeks three-awn, Aristida adscensionis (Dec/6/2015)
Narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua var. exigua (Dec/6/2015)Southwestern bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis (Dec/6/2015)
Southwestern bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis (Dec/6/2015)Southwestern bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis (Dec/6/2015)
Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon (Dec/6/2015)Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon (Dec/6/2015)
Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon (Dec/6/2015)Yellow-head, Trichoptilium incisum (Dec/6/2015)
Yellow-head, Trichoptilium incisum (Dec/6/2015)Yellow-head, Trichoptilium incisum (Dec/6/2015)
California suncup, Eulobus californicus (Dec/6/2015)Mediterranean schismus, Schismus barbatus (Dec/6/2015)
Newberry's velvet mallow, Horsfordia newberryi (Dec/6/2015)Needle Grama, Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides (Dec/6/2015)
Needle Grama, Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides (Dec/6/2015)Littleseed muhly, Muhlenbergia microsperma (Dec/6/2015)
Saltgrass, Distichlis spicata (Dec/7/2015)Saltgrass, Distichlis spicata (Dec/7/2015)
Saltgrass, Distichlis spicata (Dec/7/2015)Brittlebush, Encelia farinosa (Dec/7/2015)
Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens (Dec/7/2015)Alkali muhly, Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Dec/7/2015)
Saltgrass, Distichlis spicata (Dec/7/2015)Alkali muhly, Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Dec/7/2015)
Alkali muhly, Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Dec/7/2015)Short-leaved baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla (Dec/7/2015)
Short-leaved baccharis, Baccharis brachyphylla (Dec/7/2015)Saltgrass, Distichlis spicata (Dec/7/2015)
Alkali muhly, Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Dec/7/2015)Alkali muhly, Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Dec/7/2015)
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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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