Anza-Borrego Central: Historic Trails

Photo of chocolate-colored cholla in the mornign shadows
Teddy-Bear Cholla in Morning Shadows in Historic Box Canyon

Here are some favorite places for hiking, backpacking, and off-road driving in central Anza-Borrego:

Anza Trail — Harpers Well, San Sebastian Marsh, Los Puertocitos, and Borrego Spring (San Gregorio) are among expedition checkpoints through central Anza-Borrego

Southern Emmigrant Trail — The route followed by Kearny's Army of the West, the Mormon Battalion, Gold Rush miners and adventurers, and the Butterfield Overland Mail went through Box Canyon, over Foot & Walker Pass, and up Earthquake Valley and San Felipe Valley.

Oriflamme Canyon — At various times, this lovely canyon has been used by Pedro Fages (onetime governor of California) in search of deserters from the Army post at San Diego, by the so-called Jackass Mail (officially the San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line), and by entrepreneus James R. Lassitor who grew hay in Green Valley (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park) for the stagecoach horses. Both James Birch, who founded the Jackass Mail line, and Lassitor died tragically. See Lindsay (Anza-Borrego A to Z).

Plum Canyon — The old route between Sentenac Cienega and Yaqui Well, said to have been built by pioneer John McCain. See Reed. Replaced by the Julian-Kane Springs Road. See Brigandi.

Old Borrego Valley Road — from just east of The Narrows to Ram's Hill. Before County Road S-22 was built, this was the road taken to Borrego Springs after coming from Warner Springs down Grapevine Canyon.

Old Culp Valley Road — Leads to the Parolli homesite, a fantastic setting (and picnic site) overlooking the desert

Truckhaven Trail — Built to bring tourists from Riverside County. It was tough to build and tough to keep in working order, especially the stretch through central Anza-Borrego which goes from Arroyo Salado Wash east to County Road S-22 at the roadhead for the Calcite Mine.