Anza-Borrego Desert: Mortero Palms to Goat Canyon (Trestle)

Rating *****
length 6.5 mile - 5 hour 40 minutes (Round trip). Moderate/Hard.
Elevation 1980 - 3300 feet
Access A higher clearance car is preferred.

Hiking to the train Trestle, a boulder hike.
The Spanish name for the area close by is Piedras Grandes (Big Rocks), this sums it up nicely.

Starting the hike, notice the gigantic boulders while hiking up Palm Canyon.
The best way up is keeping right on a steeper boulder free slope. (Pick up the trail)

Once at the palms, the best way up is over the boulders on the right, way above the canyon is the best place to be.

Once past the palms it gets easier as a trail appears.

At point photo 10 down, prepare for the descent into Goat Canyon.
The first part of the hike was challenging, this part is even more so...

The canyon narrows. At point Photo 11 falls, it's getting interesting, as some dry waterfalls pop up.

At point Ended there is a sheer drop, that was more than enough to stop us.
A nice place to see part of the Trestle and head back.

Hiking time: 3 hours in, 2 hours 40 minutes out.

Don't be fooled by the shortness of this hike in miles.

With special thanks to http://www.anzaborrego.net For pointing out this hike.

How to get here:
Take the EC 119 (Number is on the road markers) Dos Cabezas (easiest), or the EC 109.
There are a couple of new roads, made for the windfarm, making it a bit more complicated.
A high clearance 4x4 car is recommended, but you probably can do without the 4x4.
While crossing the railroad, turn right and immediately turn left away from the railroad.
At the end turn right into the Mortero Palms parking.

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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