Slot Canyon Trail Borrego Springs Ca

admin 4/4/2022

Slot Canyon Trail Ca-78 Borrego Springs Ca 92004
Slot Canyon Trail Borrego Springs Ca Homes For Sale

I recently stayed at Ocotillo Wells State Park, CA for a night, on my way to San Diego to visit family.

Canon Sin Nombre – Anza Borrego Mud Caves and Slot Canyon Hikes. Desert Slot Canyons – South Anza Borrego State Park region, just off County Road S-2 east of the ‘badlands overlook’ view point is a whole network of narrow walkways & skinny canyon trails to explore. Some are so tight you have to turn side ways to fit through. Slot Canyon, Borrego Springs: See 83 reviews, articles, and 141 photos of Slot Canyon, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 33 attractions in Borrego Springs.

In addition to doing some 4x4 on the back roads with my Tacoma/FWC camper, finding some desert flower bloom, I decided to check the adjoining Borrego Springs State Park, CA, just a few miles down the road.

Driving in this portion of Borrego Springs SP, I came across “The Slot” Canyon. I was surprised by the number of people at the trailhead, hiking The Slot.

Above is a picture of my truck and camper on the rim of the slot canyon.

From the surface this is what the slot canyon looks like.

Down in the slot canyon the hike is very narrow. So narrow that I could not squeeze through many narrow portions of the slot with my backpack on. In retrospect I should have noted others without backpacks.

And the slot got narrower.

This group of people spent time checking out each of the narrows.

Looking overhead, this portion of the slot canyon wall slipped and is now wedged above our heads.

Eventually the slot canyon opens up and I hiked the wash to the end.

At the end of the trail is this interesting rock formation with all these pockets along the top. It’s possible to drive along the slot rim, although it is narrow in many places to one car width.

The opposite end parking area of the slot canyon is 4x4 only. The road down from the rim is extremely steep and gravel. There is a sign cautioning this. I opted not to take my truck/camper down as there was no viable way out if I could not make it back up the hill.

After hiking the slot canyon I explored some of the 4x4 roads in the area. One road in particular was very steep one vehicle wide. I got to the top but could not see the road over the nose of my truck. I had to get out to look and decided to turn around on the hill top, as it became too difficult to see the road in many spots due to hills being steep like this.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

4.8

Added by Jason Neitzke

Distance: about one mile (no need to rush). Duration: 1-3 hours, depending on your speed. Short hike, easy access and amazing views. No permit required.

The Slot is an amazing short hike located in the Anza Borrego Desert. Drive east on Hwy 78, and about a mile and a half after Borrego Springs Road, turn left onto Buttes Pass Road. Buttes Pass road is a dirt road and not marked well so look carefully. The road is pretty smooth, about a mile in you will take a left at the fork. From there, you will drive about another mile to a parking lot. Two wheel drive vehicles should be fine unless there was a recent rainstorm.

From the parking lot, you will take the trail into the canyon that is directly in front of you. This will be the hardest and steepest part of the hike. There are no trail markers for the Slot. Do not take the trail to the right of the parking lot or you will miss the Slot. Once you are at the bottom, go left and head to where the canyon starts to narrow. As you enter, the walls start to close in and you are taking your bag off to get through some tight passages. Every turn is exciting, it is constantly changing and you are not sure what is going to be around the next bend. The Slot is made of siltstone and is very brittle so watch your footing if you decide to climb around. At the end of the Slot you hit a dirt road, from there you can either turn around and go back through or follow the road and find some other trails. Further down the road there are some awesome wind caves and arches that are worth checking out.

Hiking

Food Nearby

Scenic

We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more!

Join the community

Reviews

Sophia Steen

over 2 years ago

Great short hike

Beautiful sandstone slot canyon. It gets tight in areas. Went of the main trail a bit and did some climbing up! So much fun

5.0

Scott Sichler

🥇Top Contributor

almost 3 years ago

Slots O fun

This is a really fun hike. The slot is a little tight in spots but doable by most people. We like to hike out into cliffs beyond the slots for great views of the area.

5.0

Allett Wallets

about 4 years ago

Worth The Stop

This was an entertaining hike. It makes you feel like a kid again. It's a unique experience and a worth while diversion.

4.0

Christine Thompson

almost 5 years ago

Hands Down One Of The Best Adventure

It is simply amazing! Your weaving in and out of the canyon you find yourself going through tunnels . A must see

Slot Canyon Trail Ca-78 Borrego Springs Ca 92004

5.0

Slot Canyon Trail Borrego Springs Ca Homes For Sale

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.