Anza-Borrego Desert: Salvador canyon south fork

Rating *****
Length 5.3 mile (round trip) - 4 Hour, 35 minutes (round trip). Moderate.
Elevation 1540 - 2600 feet
Access High clearance 4x4, see below.

Salvador canyon a.k.a. one thousand palm canyon, one of the canyons with a very high number of palms in the Anza-Borrego Desert.
This route goes into the south fork of the Salvador canyon, a rough canyon with it's share of boulders, steep terrain and scrubs.

At the start of the canyon you will find some catclaw, but fortunately it's mostly absent further into the canyon.
A lot of times it's easier to go out of the canyon, when the canyon is steep, filled with boulders, or the vegetation is too dense.
And all depends on how much water flows in the seasonal creek.
This route ends at a palm grove just outside of the canyon. About were it's easier to go further into Sheep canyon than going back.

Warning:
How difficult this canyon is depends on the skill to find a route in this rough canyon.
In the middle of the seasonal creek, is a narrow gully, about 1-3 feet deep, take care not to accidentally step into this sometimes invisible gully.

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 at the next crossing, following Sheep / Cougar canyon.
At the next crossing take the road signed Middle Willows and finally the signed exit Salvador Canyon.

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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