Anza-Borrego Desert: Arroyo Seco del Diablo

Rating *****
Length 1 - 4.9 mile (return) - 30 minutes - 2 Hour (return trip). Easy.
Elevation 730 - 890 feet
Access Exit Palm Spring, you need some ground clearance. Sometimes soft sand, so drive carefully if you don't have an AWD. May be difficult after rain.

A stunning deep and narrow canyon, with slots in the forks.
Hiking time is as long as you want.

How to get here:

The easiest route is to take the exit Palm Spring and drive the Vallecito Wash.
Some sand, so drive carefully if you don't have an AWD.
Some ground clearance is recommended and an AWD is a lot safer in the sand.

Take the marked exit Arroyo Seco del Diablo going North.
This canyon has rather steep walls, but is fairly easy to drive, firm sand and hardly any rocks.
You need a little bit more ground clearance.
That said, it may be a different story after rain, you may get stuck in the mud.

Don't miss out the spring, you should see a lot of white (salt) and probably water.

Park after about 1.5 mile or drive up to the first fork, with a no vehicles sign.
Make sure to park safely, away from the walls.

WARNING:

Other routes:
The Great overland route may seem nice on the map, and it is the first mile or so.
After that the sand is way way deep, we barely made it.
The sand is only a short stretch, but really deep.

The South Carrizo creek is also a good road to drive. But you need more ground clearance and it may be very muddy after rain.

 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.