Borrego Palm Canyon Trail | Anza Borrego

Let’s be honest, any hike that consists of a waterfall and/or some kind of oasis: I’m in. After having serious withdrawals from my 2011 hike along the Lost Palms Trail in Joshua Tree I was craving another hike that could compare. After seeing a fellow hiker’s Instagram post of the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza Borrego, I knew I had to hike it. And so I did just did that two weeks later.

Borrego Palm Canyon is just west of Borrego Springs, about a two hour drive from downtown San Diego, in a wide trench descending west to east down the San Ysidro Mountains. It is part of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , which began in the 1930s with the protection of this palm-filled canyon. Just like me, many seek this hike to get to the lush oasis of palm trees located at the end of the trail.

The trail is a 3.25-mile loop that ascends 450 feet to a shady oasis in a beautiful desert canyon complete with small waterfalls, and bodies of water along the way. The trail is clearly marked with number markers along the way to help guide the hikers, because if you’re anything like me you get lost easily without a clearly marked path.

The trail is located just north of the park visitor center, making it a great first stop to begin your exploration of the Anza-Borrego State Park. To reach the trailhead you will drive through the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground — did I mention you can camp here too?! Please note there is an eight-dollar day use fee to park. This is the only trailhead in the park that has a fee associated with it, but let me tell you it is worth the $8 bucks!

Tip 1 : Stop by the Visitor Center before you start your hike and grab an informational brochure on the Palm Oasis hike. Numbered markets along the trail coincide with entries in the brochure that tell the story of the canyon as you hike. Along the trail you’ll also find a variety of cacti and other desert vegetation.

Tip 2 : You will first reach a small cluster of palms, however this is not the oasis. Continue forward to the grand oasis of California fan palms just ahead.

When you get to the palm oasis: sit back, relax and take in the majestic scenery — these palms are huge and a unique/beautiful/glorious sight to take in.

Difficulty : Easy to Moderate

Total Distance: 3.25 Miles

Trailhead address : Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Trailhead coordinates : 33.269838, -116.418042 (33° 16′ 11.41″N 116° 25′ 04.95″W)