Anza-Borrego Desert: Cougar Canyon

Rating *****
length 9.7 mile - 4 hour 45 minutes (round trip). Moderate.
Elevation 1140 - 1850 feet
Access Take the road into Coyote Canyon. You need at least a high clearance car to make it to the gate before third crossing. (Check at the visitor center)

Park at the parking just before the gate, or at third crossing.
Walk the dirt/rocky road, pass Lower Willows and head uphill on the rocky road called boulder alley.
The road goes down again and after some time you see the Sheep Canyon (horse) trail on your left.
Follow this trail until you reach the road again.

Follow the road, signed Cougar Canyon (straight ahead) at the crossing with Sheep Canyon.
This is close to the end of the road. At a sign post, where you can see Cougar Canyon to the right.
After a short while, there is the stream. Keep close to the stream, heading up the canyon as far as you like / dare.

Cougar Canyon from the trail head

Tom Chester plant list, our own plant list in the link below.

 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.