Palm Canyon Trail | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Borrego Springs, California: Again, perfect weather - high 70's, no wind, no clouds. A great day to hike the Palm Canyon trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This is the second time we have hiked this trail - it didn't get any easier, probably one of the toughest 3-mile hike you will find. Most of the trail is flat and in sand, but there are many portions that require scrambling over boulders and it is easy to lose the trail... but impossible to get lost in the narrow, dead-end canyon. If you have a hiking stick, cane or trekking pole - this is the hike to bring that pole along!

Here are way too many photos of our hike, with brief descriptions:

This dude greets you at the trailhead


Deeper in the canyon, the rock walls rise straight out of the canyon


Cholla cactus (photo by DT)


Ocotillo (photo by DT)

From the hike brochure: "The ocotillo (oak-a-tee-oo) plant's life revolves around rainstorms. After a rainfall, leaves will burst out within 24 hours. They'll be full grown in only five days. The leaves photosynthesize sunlight to make food for the ocotillo After a month of dry weather, the leaves may turn "autumn" colors and fall to the ground. Amazingly, after the next rainfall the whole cycle repeats."

Ouch! Close-up of ocotillo leaves


Native grinding stone: evidence of early dwellers in the canyon


Canyon resident (photo by DT)


The first glimpse of the palm oasis appears about one mile up the canyon


Below the oasis, we suddenly hear water and then see a stream


Palm Canyon Oasis (photo by DT)

Just above the palms is a natural spring that provides water year-round in the canyon. The canyon is home to Peninsular Bighorn sheep, coyote, mountain lions, bird life, reptiles, rattle snakes and pack rats (to name a few). The palms are California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera), the only palm tree native to California. Common in garden shops and landscaped gardens, the trees are a rare find in the wild.

Arriving at the oasis


Marshy swamp area near the oasis


Desert grasses bloom below the oasis


My personal paparazzi at Palm Canyon Oasis...


...snapping photos of his second-favorite subject (photo by DT)


Hummingbird

It was a great hike, but we didn't see mountain sheep this time! Dang! We saw a ton of sheep poop and tracks, but no sheep. (The last time we were here, we saw many sheep.) We scoured the cliff-sides looking for the critters, but found nothing. We passed several other hiking groups and none reported seeing sheep - and they all said they always see sheep in the canyon... guess the sheep had the day off.

One of the most amazing things about the canyon is that it is one of the quietest places I have ever visited. We stopped to listen and could hear absolutely nothing. Not a bird. Not a plane. Complete silence. Eerie! As we continued up the canyon, suddenly the sound of the water fills the canyon and the "noise" is magical.

It was quite a day... and were we happy our motorhome is parked in a nice RV park with natural mineral spas! We needed a good soak!

In DT's further commitment to stimulate the local economy, we went to the best French restaurant in town, The French Corner. (Of course, the French Corner is the only French restaurant in town.) The cozy bistro is housed in a non-descript building just off the traffic circle in downtown Borrego Springs. Owned by two French men, who double as antique dealers, the menu is a perfect representation of any small cafe in France, with an 100% French wine list. There isn't a bottle of wine over $30 and prices on the menu are incredibly reasonable. We both had steak frites (of course) and small appetizers. Good food, good time, cozy atmosphere. The walls, ceilings and every nook are filled with French kitchen antiques! DT and I closed the joint down at 9pm and had quite a nice conversation with the owners about their restaurant and food philosophy. The owners live in Borrego Springs during the "season" and run the restaurant and sell antiques. From June to September, they travel back to France to visit family and buy more antiques. Interesting life.

We just love Borrego Springs! Until my next update, I remain, your Palm Canyon correspondent.

RV Park: The Springs at Borrego