Anza Borrego Camping Guide

A DESERT CAMPING GUIDE FOR
ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
With over 500,000 acres of beautiful terrain,
Anza Borrego Desert State Park offers endless opportunities for
Boy Scout Troops, Venture Crews and Varsity Teams
searching for remote and rugged destinations for scout adventures.
This guide is intended for Boy Scout Troops, Venture and Varsity Scouts.
It is not intended for Cub Scout Packs.
Only the two specific group campsites listed in this guide are approved by
the Orange County Council Camping Guide for Cub Scout packs.
When I ask other scout leaders where they go desert camping, they usually say Joshua Tree. When I
ask if they have camped at Anza Borrego, they usually tell me they have heard about Anza Borrego,
but don’t know where to camp in Borrego. I have camped, hiked and backpacked in Anza Borrego
since I was a tenderfoot scout many years ago. I am still finding and exploring new places. My hope
is this guide will show you a few new places to camp, hike backpack and explore.
Questions, Comments, Changes – Contact Ren Higgins at 949-489-0787 or rshiggins@cox.net
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Table of Contents
Contact Anza Borrego State Park, Driving Directions, Map to Borrego .....................................................3
General Information ..................................................................................................................................4
CAR CAMPING SITES
Culp Valley Primitive : Hwy S22 near Mile Marker 9................................................................................5
Blair Valley: Hwy S2 near Mile Marker 23 , 6 miles south of junction HWY 78.......................................7
Mountain Palm Springs: Hwy S2, Mile Marker 47, 28 miles south of junction Hwy, 78............................8
Bow Willow Primitive Camp: Hwy S2 near Mile Marker 48 ....................................................................9
BACKPACKING TRIPS
Culp Valley, California Riding Hiking Trail ..............................................................................................5
Borrego Springs, Maidenhair Falls ............................................................................................................5
Coyote Canyon to Sheep Canyon, Cougar or Indian Canyon...............................................................6 & 7
Blair Valley – Pictograph Trail to Smugglers Canyon................................................................................7
Blair Valley – California Riding Hiking Trail, Box Canyon to Foot and Walker Pass.................................8
Mountain Palm Springs to Indian Valley ...................................................................................................9
Bow Willow Canyon...............................................................................................................................10
Bow Willow to Rockhouse Canyon Loop ................................................................................................10
DAY HIKES
Culp Valley - California Riding Hiking Trail.............................................................................................5
Culp Valley – Pena Springs and Look Out Loop........................................................................................5
Borrego – Maidenhair Falls Trail...............................................................................................................5
Borrego - Palm Canyon Nature Trail .........................................................................................................5
Blair Valley – Ghost Mountain..................................................................................................................7
Blair Valley – Morteros Trail ....................................................................................................................7
Blair Valley – Pictograph Trail .................................................................................................................7
Mountain Palm Springs Loop ....................................................................................................................8
Mountain Palm Springs - North Grove and Mary’s Grove .........................................................................8
Mountain Palm Springs to Indian Valley to Torote Canyon .......................................................................9
Bow Willow to Mountain Palm Springs.....................................................................................................9
Bow Willow Canyon...............................................................................................................................10
Bow Willow to Rockhouse Canyon Loop ................................................................................................10
Reference Topo Maps for campsites and hiking ...........................................................................11 - 16
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Contact Anza Borrego State Park - (760)767-5311 http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638
Download the Anza-Borrego Park Magazine from the website for more information on park
rules, safety, trails, camps and maps.
Directions to Anza Borrego
I-5 South to Hwy 76 in Oceanside, then East on 76 to Hwy 79. Turn left, north on 79 for 4.5 miles.
Turn right onto Hwy S2. Go 5 miles to the Junction of Hwy S2 & S22.
Northern Borrego: Turn left on Hwy S22. This takes you to Borrego Springs and the Park
Headquarters, Culp Valley, Sheep, Cougar and Indian Canyons.
Southern Borrego: continue straight on Hwy S2 to reach Blair Valley, Mountain Springs and Bow
Willow Camp.
References to jeep roads and camp grounds are to the nearest mile markers on Hwy S2 and S22.
Additional Maps Pages 11 – 16 are reference maps created from the TOPO map program. There is a map for
each of the six different areas presented in this guide. The Latitude and Longitude is given to
locate the primitive camp or trailhead for that area
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Council Approved Camps for Cub Packs
Group & Family Campsites with shower facilities, running water, and toilets:
1. Palm Canyon Campground, Borrego Springs. Make Reservations thru Reserve America.
http://www.reserveamerica.com/
2. Aqua Caliente County Park: Located on Hwy S2, 22 miles south of Junction of Hwy 78. It
also has a swimming pool and a caravan area for groups. Contact San Diego County Parks:
http://www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/ 858-565-3600, Toll Free 877-565-3600
Open camping is allowed in most parts of the park.
1. In Anza Borrego, you do not have to camp in a campground, you can pick your own
campsite. Use a pre-camped area! Do not clear vegetation to make a new campsite.
2. In a park about the size of Rhode Island, you have a lot of choices on where to camp, hike or
backpack. While in Anza Borrego, you are bound to find a new place to explore. Spend time
looking around for more unique places to hike or camp.
Leave no Trace Camping:
1. The State Park requests that you practice “Pack it in, Pack it out” as well as follow all
“Leave No Trace” Guidelines.
2. Park rules are posted on the website. You are responsible to know and follow them, as well
as the “Outdoor Code” and all “Guide to Safe Scouting” Guidelines.
3. Fires are allowed if you bring a metal ground pan and your own wood.
Trail Information
1. Obtain a current park map! If you are using the “Topo Map Software” Beware! Many of
the jeep roads are not marked accurately or their routes have changed over the years. Many
of the new trails in the park are not shown on the “Topo” program.
2. Park Maps can be obtained at the Visitors Center. Also, see the online park magazine.
Important Cautions:
1. Conditions change from year to year. Contact the park ranger for current conditions and
check out remote car camp areas in person before you go camping in the park.
2. The maps included with this guide are for reference and planning only. Obtain a current
park map if you are hiking or backpacking in remote areas.
3. The desert can be a hostile and unforgiving environment. Make sure you have checked out
the road and trail conditions in advance. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition.
4. Bring extra water, a shovel and an air pump. Bring 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Everyone should wear a hat and sunscreen. Hot, dry conditions are possible at any time of
year. Treat all water in the backcountry.
5. “Be Prepared”: Winter nights can quickly drop to below freezing temperatures! Day time
temperatures can be in the high 80’s even in January!
6. Desert Safety InformationScouter online website - http://www.scoutersonline.org/usscouts/safety/safe-desert.asp
California Parks Desert Safety tips website - http://www.californiadesert.gov/safety.php
Additional Reference Material
Books –
Afoot and Afield in San Diego County, by; Jerry Schad
Anza Borrego Desert Region, by; Lowell Lindsay
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CULP VALLEY AREA
Reference Map 1 - pg 11
Coordinates mark Culp Valley Camp off of Hwy S22. Long./Lat. - 33.13.22 x 116.27.19
Car Camping: Culp Valley Primitive Camp.
Hwy S22 near mile marker 9. Take dirt road north off the highway, at .25 miles take the right fork
to the camp ground. At 3,000ft, this is good a great area for early fall or late spring camping. Pit
toilet, no water, several open camp areas. Left fork at .25 miles goes to trail parking & Pena Spring.
Day Hikes
Loop Hike: starting from camp hike northeast to the view area, then head west up the Riding
Hiking Trail and you will find Pena Springs. Explore down the canyon and find a great view of
Borrego Springs. Return to the spring, and take the Pena Spring road back to camp = 1.5 to 2 miles.
Culp Valley to Borrego Springs: via the Riding Hiking Trail is 6 miles, a car shuttle is
recommended. Start your hike from the camp and follow the Riding Hiking Trail down the
mountain, ending at the parking area near the bottom of Montezuma grade (Maidenhair Falls Hike),
or hike on to the Park Visitor Center and get picked up there.
Jasper Trail Junction to Culp Valley, day hike: Start on S22 at mile marker 6.8 where the Jasper
Trail crosses. Hike the 2.5 miles into Culp Valley. Meet the cars and camp.
Backpacking: Start at the Jasper Trail crossing on S22. Backpack to Pena Springs and camp in the
canyon below the spring. The spring has water year round. Continue the next day down to Borrego
Springs on Riding Hiking Trail, total distance is about 8.5 miles downhill. Car shuttle required.
Borrego Springs
Reference Map 2 – pg12
Coordinates mark Maidenhair Falls trailhead off of Hwy. S22. Long./Lat – 33.14.53 X 116.24.21
Day Hike or Training Backpack – Maidenhair Falls
Parking: At the bottom of Montezuma Grade, Hwy S22 on the west side of the road. Pit toilet at
trailhead, no water. The trails to Maidenhair Falls, for the California Riding Hiking Trail to Culp
Valley and to the Park Headquarters and Visitors Center, start from here. Hike west from the
parking area on the trail to Hellhole Canyon. Pass the Riding Hiking trail junction on your left and
continue across the valley for about 1.5 miles. At this point you enter the mouth of Hellhole
Canyon. The grade will get steeper and you should pass a mountain lion warning sign. If you are
backpacking, the best places to stop and camp are here along the left side of the canyon, for the next
¼ mile. Beyond this the canyon narrows and gets steeper as the path winds between the palms and
boulders. If water is not flowing, the falls may be had to find. Look for a wall of Maidenhair Ferns
tucked between two large boulders screened by large sycamore trees. Explore farther up the canyon
if you like. You can also start this hike from the Park Visitors Center.
Day Hike - Palm Canyon Nature Trail
A good day hike from the Palm Canyon campground is the nature trail to the palm groves. The loop
trail is about 3.5 miles. If you are lucky, it is possible to see big horn sheep. Follow the well marked
trail to the Palm grove. At 1 mile you cross the creek, there is a trail junction here. The left fork
makes a loop hike for your return to camp Turn right, up canyon to reach the palm grove. The trail
ends at the palm grove and waterfall. The adventurous hiker can scramble up the canyon through
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the boulder field to explore the canyon above the palm grove, where more palm groves can be
found. Allow plenty of time for an up canyon adventure, there is no real trail above the grove.
SHEEP CANYON, COUGAR CANYON & INDIAN CANYON: Backpacking
Reference Map 3 – pg13
Coordinates mark parking at 2nd crossing. Long./Lat – 32.21.56 X 116.24.57
All 3 canyons are good areas for training and advanced backpacking trips.
High clearance vehicles are recommended to reach the trailhead at 2nd or 3rd crossing. Water
flows in the Sheep and Cougar Canyons year round. Sheep Canyon Trail Camp has pit toilets and is
suitable for large groups. Cougar Canyon and Indian Canyon are great remote camping areas for
smaller groups. Treat all water!
Driving Directions to the Trailhead: When you reach Borrego Springs via the S22, turn right at
the stop sign, (restroom facilities are available to the left at the Visitors Center). Continue east on
S22, through the traffic circle. Drive for 1/2 mile on S22, turn left on DiGorgio Road and continue
for 5 miles. The paved road will end as you enter Borrego State Park. Follow this dirt road for 5
miles until you reach 2nd crossing. There is a small parking area on the left and a water gauging
tower. Depending on the water flow, the stream crossing here can be challenging. If in doubt, park
and start hiking here. If you chose to drive across the creek, continue another ½ mile and park near
the historic markers.
Sheep Canyon: If you begin your hike at 2nd crossing, cross the creek and follow the road past the
markers. You have to cross the creek again at 3rd crossing. On the west side of the creek is a trail
junction, and I highly recommend this loop trip. Follow the jeep road up the narrow canyon, across
the pass and down the other side. A side hike takes you to a historical marker. The jeep road passes
through a small valley followed by a gap. After the gap the hiking trail breaks off to the left. It is
marked by white posts. If you miss the hiking trail junction, continue on to the jeep road junction.
The left fork takes you to the Sheep Canyon trail camp, Cougar and Indian Canyons. Right before
you reach Sheep Canyon you will find the junction to Cougar & Indian Canyons. If you are
camping at Sheep Canyon, continue west into the mouth of the canyon. The camp areas are near the
two stone outhouses to your left. A shade structure and camp area are located 200 yards further up
the canyon. The creek in Sheep Canyon runs year round and tends to soak into the desert sand
quickly. If there is a lot of water flowing, you will find it in the wash opposite the shade structure. If
the flow is low, work your way up canyon to find where the water is flowing.
To make the loop hike, return on the jeep trail back to the jeep road junction in Collins
Valley. Here you will find a marked trail that continues east. When the trail reaches the far canyon
wall in the wash, it turns south into the Lower Willows, then follows the canyon back to 3rd
crossing. The trail is cleared annually by equestrian groups and should be easy to follow, but may
be damp in places. Distances: 2nd crossing to Sheep Canyon via the jeep road is 4 miles, and 2nd
Crossing to Sheep Canyon thru Lower Willows is 5 miles.
Cougar Canyon: At the junction before you reach Sheep Canyon Trail Camp take the left fork
(south). The road ends quickly and is replaced with a wide footpath, stay on this and head south.
After approximately ¾ mile you will be opposite the mouth of Cougar canyon. Make camp in any
open area left of the trail. If you are small group, you may find some camp areas in the canyon
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mouth. Water flows down to the mouth of the canyon. A good side hike is to scramble up the
canyon and find the hidden palm groves.
Indian Canyon: Follow the trail past Cougar Canyon going south another ¾ mile. The trail will
bend south west into a narrow canyon where you will pass by the palm groves of Bennis Bowl.
Because this specific trail can be brush choked and hard to follow there is limited camping. Water
can be found farther up the canyon. The mine marked on the map can be found.
You may want to get water in Cougar Canyon, make camp at the mouth of Indian Canyon and
explore up the canyon without backpacks.
BLAIR VALLEY
Reference Map 4 - pg 14
Coordinates mark the restroom at Blair Valley entrance. Long./Lat – 33.02.13 X 116.24.33
Just off of Hwy S-2, near mile marker 23, 6 miles south of Hwy 78 from Scissors Crossing.
Blair Valley is a large valley with many places for car camping. No water is available. There
are pit toilets at the valley entrance. The area is popular with weekend RV campers, resulting in
many of the popular camp areas to be occupied by early Friday. There are 3 marked trails with
interesting day hikes in the valley. The California Riding Hiking Trail passes thru Blair Valley
providing a good training backpack or a day hike. For the more adventurous scouts the 5 mile drive
into Little Blair Valley will provide a remote camp area. I recommend high clearance vehicles.
Drive only on established roads and camp in previously camped in areas!
Car Camping
There is a good campsite on the left as you enter the valley, and a second camp area can be reached
by turning right, and following the road for about 175 yards past the bathroom. A large pullout area
is available for parking, with the camp area just beyond the posts. Further down the road against the
low hill are 3 more large camp areas, and the Riding Hiking trail crosses near here. To reach
additional camping: as you enter the valley, drive straight past the kiosk and follow the main jeep
road to the three marked trailheads. Drive about 1.1 miles from the kiosk until you reach an area
marked “Group Camping”. There is room for several troops to camp in this area. You will need to
be self contained, there are no toilets, no water in this area! There are other camping areas
scattered about Blair Valley, scout around.
Hiking: Blair Valley Trailheads.
See the road sign at the valley entrance for driving distances to the trailheads. These trailheads are
marked with parking areas.
Ghost Mountain Trail to Marshal South homestead is a 2 mile round trip.
Ghost Mountain Trailhead; There is a cross country route to a jet crash site, the distance can be 2
to 3 miles depending on how far you explore. This is a good compass exercise for scouts!
Send me an e-mail, and I’ll send the directions. rshiggins@cox.net .
Morteros Trail: ½ mile round trip has a Native American camp area with grinding holes.
Pictograph Trail is a 2.5 miles round trip with areas to view Native American Pictographs.
Backpacking –
Pictograph Trail to Smugglers Canyon – Continue past the pictograph rock into Smugglers
Canyon. Go left or right and find a place to make camp. This is a good training backpack.
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Box Canyon to Blair Valley – The Riding Hiking trail crosses hwy S2 near mile marker 26.8. The
trail goes east up the wash following the old stage route. In about 2 miles the trail reaches the jeep
road at the south end of Blair Valley. The trail turns north and follows the jeep road, past the low
hill where there are camp areas, then across the dry lake to the “Foot and Walker Pass”. The pass is
about 4 miles from Box Canyon. The second day you can continue north over the Foot and Walker
Pass. After crossing the pass, follow the jeep road northwest. You reach hwy S2 in about 1 mile.
Blair Valley – California Riding Hiking Trail
From the entrance kiosk go .5 miles mile into the valley and you will cross the California Riding
Hiking Trail. Foot and Walker Pass will be on your left. This is the old Butterfield Stage Route.
MOUNTAIN PALM SPRINGS
Reference Map 5 - pg 15
Coordinates mark the restroom in campsite. Long./Lat – 32.51.44 X 116.12.54
Car Camping, Day Hiking, Backpacking, Mountain Palm Springs has pit toilets, no water. Hwy S2.
Mile Marker 47, 28 miles south jct. Hwy 78.
Camping – There are caravan camping areas near the toilet. These are usually occupied by RV
campers. Tent camping is available in the sandy wash beyond the restroom facilities. A better car
camp area is in the closed parking area. To find the closed parking area, as you approach the day
use parking area at the end of the road, you will see a blocked side road to the right, north. Park in
the day hike area (where display is) and carry your gear up to the flat cleared areas on this low rise.
You are a short walk from the toilet, separated from the RV campers and you have views of two
palm groves from your camp. There is enough room here for a large troop and space to practice
scout skills.
Day Hikes: There are several options from your camp.
Palms Loop Trail – I suggest going clockwise. From the day use parking area where the display is,
head west up a narrow canyon heading towards Pygmy Grove and continue west up the canyon
until you reach Southwest Grove. This is an excellent opportunity to stop and explore the grove to
witness the powerful effects of fire on vegetation. To continue the trail to Surprise Canyon, (the trail
sign is missing). As you enter Southwest Grove, note 3 lone palms on the right. Just behind them at
the base of the ridge are two palms close together. The trail to Surprise Canyon starts here. There is
a short switchback that takes you near the lone elephant tree (a torote) and then heads north. After a
mile the trail descends into Surprise Canyon and into Surprise Grove. For a longer Hike, go left up
canyon to explore Palm Bowl Grove. To return to camp, hike down Surprise canyon following the
trail through Surprise Grove until you reach the wash that will take you south to the parking area.
Torte Bowl. Take the trail to Southwest Grove, and about halfway into the grove you will see a
trail marker on the left side of the canyon. This is the trail to Bow Willow Primitive Camp and the
side trail to Torote Bowl. Follow the trail to the marked junction, then on to the Torote Trees. It is a
2 mile round trip hike from Southwest Grove.
The North Grove Hike to Mary’s Grove does not follow an official trail. It takes you to a remote
grove that is not often visited where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some rock scrambling
and cross country navigation. Bring a map and compass or GPS. From the Day Use Parking kiosk
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follow the wash/path north out of the parking area. Hike past the rock markers for the Surprise
Canyon Trail and continue up the wash. You will soon reach North Grove. Allow time to stop and
enjoy the scenery. To continue on to Mary’s Grove, take the wash north, the right fork, thru North
Grove. You will have to do some scrambling over rocks to get to Mary’s Grove. After you find the
grove, you can return the way you came, or plot a route across country into Surprise Canyon, then
return to camp down Surprise Canyon from there.
Surprise Canyon to Indian Canyon to Torote Canyon – Start at the Day Use Parking and hike
north up the wash on the trail to Surprise Canyon. A row of rocks in this wash that marks the
Surprise Canyon Trail. Follow the trail left out of the wash, into Surprise Canyon and keep going on
the trail through Surprise Grove and on up the canyon. When you are in site of Palm Bowl Grove,
look right to see the steep side canyon entering from the north. On the east/right wall of the canyon,
rock ducks mark a steep eroded trail that takes you up the canyon to the pass. When you reach the
pass, the trail crosses to the west side of the pass and into Indian Gorge. The path is well defined
and heads west, joining the Indian Valley Jeep Road. Take note of where the trail meets the jeep
road, it is not well marked. To reach Torote Canyon, hike east, down Indian Gorge for about ½
mile, where Torote canyon opens to the north. Explore up the canyon as far as you like. Look for
elephant trees (Torote) as you hike the canyon.
Backpacking: Mountain Palm Springs to Indian Valley –
This is a good training backpack trail that takes you up Surprise Canyon and over the pass to Indian
Gorge. Once in Indian Valley, follow the left canyon wall and hike as far as you like. There are
many good areas to camp. You may not see anyone else back here. For a longer backpack, follow
the jeep road west to the junction, take the right fork and hike up north fork Indian Valley. At the
end of the road there are campsites. In a wet year, water flows out the canyon, but then quickly
disappears into the desert sand. Unless you have verified the stream is running, do not depend on it
for a water source.
BOW WILLOW CAMP & BOW WILLOW CANYON AREA
Reference Map 6 – pg 16
Coordinates mark Bow Willow Camp. Long./Lat – 32.50.33 X 116.13.34
The Bow Willow Primitive Camp is located off Hwy S2 about 30 miles south of Scissors Crossing.
The 1.3 mile dirt road to camp is marked with a brown sign a few hundred feet before the turn. The
camp has 16 family camp sites, allowing a maximum of 8 occupants, and a pit toilet and running
water are available. The camp is popular on spring weekends and is first come first serve. Cost is
$15.00 per night. I recommend this camp for patrol sized groups. For larger groups, see Mountain
Palm Springs.
Hikes - * There is no reliable water in this area other than Bow Willow Camp *
Mountain Palm Springs Hike is an easy to moderate hike 2.6 miles to 6 miles long.
Near Camp Site 1, walk west out the end of the road to locate the trail marker post. There is a 1.3
mile hike to the Southwest Grove at Mountain Palm Springs. The trail is fairly easy to follow. You
can stretch this into a 5+ mile adventure by hiking the loop around the palm groves in the Mountain
Palm Springs area, then returning to Bow willow Camp by this trail. There is also a spur trail
marked “Torote” that takes you on a .5 mile side hike to a grove of elephant trees.
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Bow Willow Canyon Backpack Hike is an easy 6 mile roundtrip that is great for training
backpacks. Near Camp Site 1, walk out the end of the road and locate the trail post. Continue
walking west past the trail post, up Bow Willow Canyon. At about a mile the canyon bends to the
south, continue up canyon. The hiking is better on the left/east side. After about a mile the canyon
slowly bends back to the west, keep hiking on the left, now the south side of the canyon. If you are
day hiking when you reach the area where the canyon bottom narrows and you can see a few tall
palms ahead, you have gone almost 3 miles. The canyon gets rougher if you chose to explore further
on. For the backpackers, there is a long wide sandy shelf above the main wash in this area that is
good for camping. Make camp and explore up canyon.
Bow Willow to Rockhouse Canyon is a moderate to strenuous 8 mile hike that is not
recommended for beginners! Hikers should be experienced and in good shape! This trip is a
backpack or a day long hike. Hikers have several chances to utilize a compass, and/or a GPS and
trail finding skills.
Near Camp Site 1, locate the trail post near the end of the road. Hike up Bow Willow
Canyon for approximately ½ mile. On your left a small canyon opens up, and an old fence post
marks where the rough trail heads up canyon. The Canyon quickly narrows and bends left. Follow
the narrowing wash up. You will pass a lone palm tree. Above here the trail involves some route
finding and scrambling as you ascend the wash for the next ¼ mile. The canyon then flattens out
into a slow climbing and winding sandy wash that heads south across the plateau. Look for the old
“Foot Trail” markers along the way. Follow the wash/trail for about 1 ½ miles. At this point the trail
will ascend the left bank of the wash up a steep 20 foot high slope. There are rock ducks marking
the trail at the top and bottom of the bank.
From here find and follow the faint, sometime elusive, trail south. It is marked by rock
ducks and an occasional “Foot Trail” marker. The trail reaches the top of a narrow wash and
quickly descends into Rockhouse Canyon. Some scrambling is required near the bottom of the
canyon. The jeep road marked on the topo maps was washed out years ago. To hike to the
“Rockhouse” turn right and hike up Rockhouse Canyon along the canyon wall. You may see an
occasional rock duck. Hike up canyon thru the narrows and continue to where the canyon widens
out. The cabin and reservoir are marked on the map. Continue southwest across the canyon and hike
to the base of the ridge. If you find the old jeep road, it will take you to the “Rockhouse”. This was
a cattleman’s shack, back when cattle were grazed in this area. There are camping spots in the clear
areas near the house, and to the left of the house is the old reservoir.
To continue the hiking loop, hike due north from the Rockhouse , across the valley where a
side canyon enters the main canyon. Ascend this wash up the canyon. About two thirds the way up
the canyon, a rock duck trail can be found that will lead you to the pass. The trail descends into to
Bow Willow Canyon dropping to the left. It is marked by occasional rock ducks. About half way
down the trail gets vague. If you want to explore up Bow Willow Canyon, head straight for the
main canyon. You can make camp here and explore up canyon more. If you camped at the
Rockhouse and wish to return to your car, stay to the right side of the canyon as you walk towards
Bow Willow Canyon. You may find some rock ducks marking a trail. Where you drop into the main
wash, there should be a post marking a path down the steep bank. From here it is a 2.5 mile walk to
your cars at the Bow Willow Primitive Camp.
Map Symbols –
Flag is approximate location for Longitude/Latitude coordinates
Triangles note possible trail camps.
Circles, Squares, Diamonds note trail junctions or points mentioned in route description.
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