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Borrego Palm Canyon

San Diego · Managed by California State Parks · Region: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Difficulty 4/100 · Easyout and back#desert#palm-oasis#beginner-friendly#wildflowers
Distance
3 mi
Total gain
700 ft
Net gain
700 ft
Net loss
700 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Not required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

Borrego Palm Canyon is Anza-Borrego's signature walk: 1.5 miles up a rocky canyon to an overlook above the state park's most famous palm oasis — the grove itself still recovering from fire. It doubles as the gateway to California's largest state park and its 600,000 acres of open backcountry.

Highlights

  • The iconic palm oasis, seen from the post-fire recovery overlook
  • Bighorn sheep sightings in the canyon
  • Winter wildflowers blanketing the lower canyon
  • The doorstep of a 600,000-acre backcountry with 500 miles of dirt roads

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Borrego Palm Canyon Trailhead (1,129 ft) · parking: End of Borrego Palm Canyon campground road, Borrego Springs
  • Water: None on the trail — carry a gallon per person per day.
  • Resupply: None; Borrego Springs has full services.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route

Permits

No wilderness permit is required for this route (per California State Parks).

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires prohibited. Ground fires are prohibited in the Anza-Borrego backcountry. Campfires must be inside a camp stove or a metal container with bottom and sides; fire restrictions tighten during extreme heat and fire-danger warnings. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: October, November, December, February, March.

Snow: Year-round, but summer brings 120-degree heat.

Heat: Avoid summer; winter and spring are the season.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The palm grove itself is closed — the trail ends at an overlook
  • Ground fires are prohibited; stoves only
  • Carry a gallon of water per person, even for short walks
  • Summer temperatures reach 120°F — this is a cool-season park

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Hiking — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29304. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail (3 mi round trip, ~700 ft gain, minimum two hours); palm grove closure with overlook access; PCT rules and ground-fire prohibition.
  3. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Backcountry camping definition and 30-day limit, fire and stove rules, dog rules, $10 day-use fee, and summer closures including Coyote Canyon.
  4. Borrego Palm Canyon Trail Map. California State Parks. https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/BPC_Trail%20to%20interp%20sign%2009.30.20.pdf. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Trail map and closure boundary for the palm grove area.