BORREGO SPRINGS HIKING - PALM CANYON

As one of Anza-Borrego State Park’s most popular hikes, The Borrego Palm Canyon Trail is one of the best options for hiking in Borrego Springs. The trail leads to a lush oasis in the desert. At a 3-miles round trip, this hike is family-friendly and a great option any time of the year. Due to the water in the area, this hike is a top pick when exploring Anza Borrego wildflowers. Stop by the State Park Visitor Center to pick up the trail guide before you head out.

Table of Contents

WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK?

STOP BY THE ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
EXPLORE THE TOWN OF BORREGO SPRINGS
MARVEL AT THE LARGE ANIMAL SCULPTURES OF GALLETA MEADOWS
ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF DESERT WILDFLOWERS
EXPLORE THE GEOLOGY OF THE AREA ON THE TRIANGLE TOUR DRIVE
OFF-ROAD TO THE THE WIND CAVES
YOU ARE HERE (PART 7) – HIKE BORREGO PALM CANYON
HIKE SLOT CANYON

HOW TO FIND THE BORREGO PALM CANYON TRAIL

The Borrego Palm Canyon trail begins just north of the State Park Visitor Center, at the end of the paved road in Borrego Palm Campground. There is ample parking at the end of the campground for this trailhead. However, parking in this area does require a $10/day-use fee payable by machine in the area.

The trail from the parking lot leads you into Borrego Palm Canyon. The canyon can get very hot depending on when you are visiting. Make sure you have more water than you think you need. I also recommend packing a picnic from a favorite spot in Borrego Springs to enjoy when you reach the top of the canyon.

HIKING BORREGO PALM CANYON

We hiked this trail during the super bloom of 2017, so the wildflowers are abundant. You can read more about our strategy for enjoying wildflowers and avoiding crowds during super bloom years here. Our son was three at the time, so we opted for our Osprey pack, and it was an excellent choice for this trail. It gave us a great mix on the hike. Our son had ample opportunity to wander himself but also time to rest with sun protection as the heat picked up later in the morning.

The trail is well-marked, with rocks lining the way to the canyon. There is a reason this hike is so popular, especially in spring, which is pretty clear in my photos! The water in the area makes this a hub of animal and plant activity. If you are hiking early, make sure to look for bighorn sheep and other animals in the area. Borrego Springs hiking offers an abundance of desert plants, but Borrego Palm Canyon pops with color in spring!

You will cross over the creek bed a few times during the hike. Spring brings water that can make the trek even more adventurous for little kids. Water in the desert is always a fun sight to see. The scenery is beautiful.

The area surrounding the palm oasis makes for a great picnic stop. Although the palm oasis is currently closed (Spring 2021) due to fire restoration, the area surrounding it is worth the hike! This hike allows you to enjoy California’s only native palm in its natural habitat.

After enjoying the oasis for a bit, we could tell the trail was getting more crowded. Finally, the sun started blazing the temperatures began to rise, so we headed back out of the canyon. We were thrilled our son could cool down with water and rest in the shade of our Osprey Poco. The hike out of the canyon was beautiful, and we felt so fortunate to enjoy it during a super bloom.

TURN YOUR HIKE INTO A BORREGO SPRINGS DAY TRIP

Borrego Springs hiking is rewarding scenery any time of year, but wildflower season takes it to another level. I highly recommend you enjoy this 3-mile out and back trail with your family! Give yourself at least 2 hours to enjoy and a bit more if you plan to picnic. If you enjoy the trail in the morning, plan a trip into Borrego Springs for lunch. Then, you can take the triangle driving tour out of town in the afternoon!