Anza-Borrego Desert: Lycium to No Return Canyon

Rating *****
Length 9.2 mile (One way) - 5 Hour (One way). Easy/Moderate.
Elevation 270 - 1300 feet
Access High clearance, 4x4 advised, see below.

This is one of the most scenic area's in Fish Creek.
Start the hike in the Fish Creek North Fork (Park 2) or drive as far as you can.
Disregard the fist canyon on the right (Oyster shell).
Take the next exit into Lycium wash and follow it for a while.
At some point (GPS) take a branch to the right, basically short cutting the route up to Lycium wash.
At point Apex re-enter the main Lycium wash below on the left.

Once at the top of Lycium wash, the view upon the main branch of the No Return Canyon is great.
Turn right (east) and go down the ridge between the main branch and a fork on the right.
Go down up to a saddle in the ridge, at this point turn into the right wash below.
Optionally go further on the ridge and go down just before the end of the ridge.

Once in the main No Return Canyon, just follow the stream, everything comes together again close to point "Park 1".

This is a car shuttle hike, it's certainly possible to do this as a loop so there is no need for a high clearance car. This will probably add about 2 hours to the trip.

How to get here:

Take Split Mountain Road (asphalt sometimes with potholes) for about 8 miles.

Follow the road towards the Fish Creek campground.
The dirt wash road starts somewhere in the wash on the right, follow it.

Road condition vary a lot from year to year.
The road is mostly sandy with some rocks, sometimes with deep sand.

As soon as you see the wind cave sign on the left side of the wash (after 5 miles), take the first wash on the right.
This is called the North fork and it's a lot more rugged, so be careful.
Park just beyond the exit (Park 2) or drive further into the Lycium wash (second wash on the right).


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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