Anza-Borrego Desert: Mine Wash Loop

Rating *****
length 5.2 mile - 2 hour 45 minutes (Round trip). Moderate.
Elevation 2170 - 2910 feet
Access Hwy S2 Exit (no) Pinyon Mnt Rd, at mile 21. Take the NO Pinyon Mnt rd to the left (and NOT the Pinyon Mnt rd). Follow this high clearance dirt road (4x4 preferred because of the sand), north east, up to the point parking or to the end. (check road conditions at the Borrego Springs Visitor Center).

You may be able to drive a bit further along the road. We had to stop because the boulders where too much for our car.
Head east downhill, until the road ends and the more narrow canyon starts.
Some dry waterfalls, that are easy to go down.
On the other side you meet the Mine Wash Road.
You don't have to follow the road but take a wash.
At a crossing with another big wash, go right, south east (no vehicles in this wash).
Follow this wash and keep a bit to the right, entering a small canyon straight ahead as the main wash goes left.
The canyon heads more and more to the west.
Near the end of this canyon, the canyon narrows and you have to go out of the canyon wash because of the vegetation in the wash.
At the top take the easiest way down, cross country. Be careful because it can be slippery at times.
In the canyon wash below, head north, down the canyon wash.
At a waterfall, pass it to the right or go left as we did over the small hill to the other side into the return canyon.
Head back along the canyon uphill towards the car.
Hiking time 2 3/4 Hour return. Except for the cross country part this hike is easy.

 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).
© 2013-2024 Borregohiking.com.