Coyote Wash to Palm Spring — Anza-Borrego Desert Badlands and Narrows Circuit
Badlands, slot washes, and a hidden palm oasis.
Anza-Borrego hides some of the most technical desert terrain in the lower 48, and the Coyote Wash to Palm Spring corridor through the Borrego Badlands delivers the full dose. You’ll drop off Highway S22 at the Arroyo Salado primitive camp and work your way west through eroded badland washes, crossing soft silt beds and navigating tight canyon walls where the bentonite clay tells you exactly when the last rain was. The route presses toward the Borrego Palm Canyon drainage, where native Washingtonia palms cluster around a spring-fed grotto — one of the largest natural fan palm oases in the world and a payoff worth the miles of dust to get there.
Soft sand and silt in the wash bottoms will swallow underpowered or incorrectly-aired-down rigs without warning — 4WD low and 15-18 PSI tire pressure are mandatory, not optional. High clearance of at least 10 inches is required; rock rails save door skins in the tight narrows. Best season is November through March; summer heat in this canyon is genuinely dangerous. No permit needed for vehicle travel in most areas, though the state park charges a day-use fee at certain trailheads. Carry a minimum of four liters of water per person. Cell service is nonexistent once you leave the highway.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1400 ft |
| Best season | November-March |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD high-clearance with recovery gear |
| Nearest town | Borrego Springs, CA |
| Land manager | California State Parks — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | parks.ca.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run Coyote Wash to Palm Spring, or does it need to be built?
A stock Tacoma or 4Runner with factory 4WD and decent ground clearance can handle it, but you need to mean it — the slot wash sections are tight and unforgiving, and aired-down tires plus a full recovery kit are non-negotiable. Lifted rigs have more margin for error. Low-clearance crossovers and SUVs have no business here.
What time of year is this trail actually driveable?
November through March is the sweet spot — temperatures are survivable and flash flood risk drops significantly. Summer is genuinely dangerous; triple-digit heat in an exposed desert wash with zero shade and no cell service is a survival scenario, not an adventure.
Do you need a permit to drive this trail inside Anza-Borrego?
No permit is required to drive the trail, but California State Parks does charge a day-use fee if you enter through a staffed entrance. The backcountry itself is free to access, and dispersed camping is allowed throughout Anza-Borrego's backcountry without a reservation — just follow the 1/4-mile-from-water and 50-foot-from-road rules.
What's the hardest section on this route and what makes it technical?
The slot wash narrows are where rigs get humbled — low rock walls force you to commit to lines with almost no room to correct, and the sandy wash floor can swallow a tire unexpectedly. Articulation and width matter here; wide-body trucks will feel every inch of it.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there water at the palm oasis?
Borrego Springs has fuel and it's your last reliable stop — top off before you head out, because 18 miles of technical desert driving burns more than you'd expect. The palm oasis at the end does have water, but treat it before drinking; it's a wildlife source and desert water quality is unpredictable.
Trail track
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