Anza-Borrego North: Driving & Hiking: Palm Wash

Photo of a round rock concretion in North Palm Wash in morning shadows
Basketball-size Concretion in Morning Light, North Fork of Palm Wash

Where they begin in the mountains below the Calcite Mine, Palm Wash and its North Fork and South Fork attract hikers. As the wash flows eastward toward the Salton Sea and widens, it attracts motorists with 4-wheel drive vehicles. In Imperial County, outside the boundaries of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the wash is open to off-highway vehicles as well.

South Fork is known for its slot canyons. North Fork is known for its sheep tanks (not to be confused with the Natural Sheep Tanks in Smoke Tree Canyon). The Lindsays describe hikes to both places. Halford and Paul Johnson's out-of-print Weekender's Guide describe walks to the slot canyons.