Anza-Borrego Desert: Rocky gully wash

Rating *****
length 11 Mile - 5 hour 50 minutes (Round trip), Easy/Moderate.
Elevation 1680 - 2950 feet
Access High clearance 4x4.

A canyon between Middle and Upper Willows, most noticeable on satellite images by the white/gray slopes.

Follow the road or the stream up to Middle Willows.
The trail crosses the creek and follows the creek for a while.
Then all of sudden the trail is the creek, the water can easily get to ankle height and beyond.
The first stretch is generally the deepest part of the creek and there is no way to avoid the creek.

Once out to Middle Willows the creek is gone and the wash very wide.
Follow the wash until a very rocky wash joins from the right.
Now hike up this rocky gully.
Stopping at the GPS point or before is a good idea as this is all the scenery you will get.

Warning:
The creek can and most likely will be very slippery, a hiking stick is recommended.
Bringing in an extra pair of socks is always a good idea.


How to get there:

Enter coyote canyon, drive to first, second and third crossing.
This part is generally good for any high clearance car.
After third crossing, the road goes uphill on a stretch called boulder alley.
Road conditions on this stretch vary from good to very bad.
Don't even think about going up boulder alley, without knowing the state of the road. Unless driving a serious off-road vehicle.

Once past boulder alley the road is generally pretty good and if you make it past boulder alley this should be a breeze.
Keep left on the next crossing, after that keep right on every crossing (middle willows).
Past the Salvador canyon direction Middle willows, the road gets rougher and rougher (rocks and small boulders).

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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