Anza-Borrego Desert: Sentenac Cienega

Rating *****
Length 4.2 mile (round trip) - 2 hour 50 minutes, Easy or Hard (bush-walk).
Elevation 2060-2270 feet
Access All cars

The Sentenac Cienega is a 'swamp' where the San Felipe (seasonal) creek meets the Sentenac canyon.
Start at the small PCT parking, follow the unmarked trail underneath the bridge.
Continue along the sandy San Felipe wash.

Follow the creek-bed, wildlife trails and the route of least resistance.
Parts are unavoidable bush-walks, often dry but will dry after rain.
There are animal tracks everywhere, so this must be a frequently visited place.

Warning
*The plants growth is getting denser, so it might become impregnable in parts.
This is a seasonal swamp and may be dangerous when wet. Don't head in after rain and when rain is predicted
Mountain lions visit this area, so be alert.

How to get here:

Park at a small parking north/east of scissors crossing.

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

Click on the button "Photo markers" to show pictures, or in the right upper corner to show full screen.


Our plant list

Missing the film above or to watch full screen, use this link.Start of the hike (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Follow the San Felipe wash (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Atriplex polycarpa, Cattle saltbush (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Distichlis spicata, Salt grass (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Atriplex canescens canescens, Four wing saltbush (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎Atriplex canescens canescens, Four wing saltbush (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Salix gooddingii, Black Willow (Nov/15/2018) 🌎 (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎 (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎 (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎 (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Prosopis pubescens Screwbean mesquite (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Baccharis salicina Willow baccharis (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Baccharis salicina Willow baccharis (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Baccharis salicina, Willow baccharis (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎Phragmites australis, Common reed (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Baccharis salicina, Willow baccharis (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Euthamia occidentalis, Western goldenrod (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
Euthamia occidentalis, Western goldenrod (Nov/15/2018) 🌎Phragmites australis Common reed (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎Baccharis salicina, Willow baccharis (Nov/15/2018) 🌎
(Nov/15/2018) 🌎Xanthium strumarium , Cocklebur (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Lactuca serriola , Prickly lettuce (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Lactuca serriola , Prickly lettuce (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Sambucus nigra caerulea , Blue elderberry (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Artemisia douglasiana , Douglas mugwort (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Laennecia coulteri , Coulter's horseweed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Croton setiger , Dove weed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Atriplex canescens canescens , Four wing saltbush (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Atriplex canescens canescens , Four wing saltbush (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Xanthium strumarium , Cocklebur (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Datura wrightii , Jimson weed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Bassia hyssopifolia (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Laennecia coulteri , Coulter's horseweed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Isocoma acradenia eremophila , Solitary leaf alkali goldenbush (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Cirsium vulgare , Bull thistle (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Baccharis salicina , Willow baccharis (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Cirsium vulgare , Bull thistle (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Fields of invasive Bassia hyssopifolia (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Phragmites australis , Common reed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Persicaria punctata , Dotted smartweed (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Lythrum californicum , California loosestrife (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Euthamia occidentalis , Western goldenrod (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Euthamia occidentalis , Western goldenrod (Oct/2/2019) 🌎
Eriogonum plumatella , Yucca buckwheat (Oct/2/2019) 🌎Heliotropium curassavicum oculatum , Salt heliotrope (May/19/2020) 🌎
Argemone munita , Prickly poppy (May/19/2020) 🌎Amsinckia retrorsa (left) / Amsinckia menziesii intermedia (right) (May/19/2020) 🌎
Salix gooddingii , Black Willow (May/19/2020) 🌎Cressa truxillensis , Alkali weed (May/19/2020) 🌎
Alkali heath, Frankenia salina (May/19/2020) 🌎Alkali heath, Frankenia salina (May/19/2020) 🌎
Broadleaved pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium (May/19/2020) 🌎Salix gooddingii , Black Willow (May/19/2020) 🌎
Date: 2018/11/15
Date: 2019/10/2
Date: 2020/5/19

 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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