Anza Borrego: Elephant Knees

Rating *****
length 8.2 mile - 3 hour 25 minutes (round trip). Moderate.
Elevation 500 - 860 feet
Access Take Split Mountain Road (Dead End) and turn right on Fish Creek Wash Road (There is a sign) on a dirt road (AWD recommended). After 5 Mile (keeping left) you reach the Elephant Knees, just past the Wind Caves on the left.

There is an old marker just after the wash.
Take the Wash on an unmarked trail. The wash is firm sand so the hiking is fairly easy as you go slightly uphill.
The harder part starts as you go out of the wash to the right. Enjoy the splendid views from above.
Eventually circling back to the wash you came from.
Be careful as there may be sudden drops way down as you deviate from this route.
After leaving the wash expect a more sandy/rocky terrain.
There is no real trail but the hiking is not too hard. Sometimes a bit slippery as the mud hills tend to slide a bit.
Expect no shade, but awesome landscape, with beautiful flowers in spring. (March 2009)

WARNING:
The Carrizo Impact Area has been in use until 1959. it is an closed off of area with unexploded ordnance. Sometimes buried deep in the sand.
The hike is still within the Park Boundaries and outside the impact area.
Don't stray off to the East.



Impact area


Impact area boundaries
Impact area boundaries