Fish Creek Wash — Anza-Borrego Desert Slot Canyon and Badlands Circuit
Ancient seafloor, slot canyons, and deep desert sand.
Fish Creek Wash is one of Southern California’s most satisfying desert drives — a 30-mile round-trip route that cuts through the Anza-Borrego badlands past the infamous Sandstone Canyon narrows, Split Mountain gorge, and the wind caves carved into the canyon walls by millennia of abrasive desert wind. You’ll thread between towering ochre walls so tight at points that your mirrors whisper the rock, then pop out onto open alluvial fans scattered with fossil whale bones and ancient oyster beds — proof this chunk of California was once seafloor. The route runs from S-22 near Ocotillo Wells south through the wash to where it opens near the Vallecito Mountains.
Sand is the main enemy here — deep, loose, and unforgiving if you’re running street tires or anything under 32 inches. A stock 4WD with decent all-terrains will make it in dry conditions, but run your pressures down to 18–20 psi before you drop in. The wash can flash flood violently and without warning; October through April is the sweet window. No permit required for day use. Nearest fuel is Ocotillo Wells or Borrego Springs. Dispersed camping is allowed in the state park’s open zones. Cell service disappears at the canyon mouth — tell someone where you’re headed.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Mixed, Rock, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 30 mi / 48.3 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1200 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Borrego Springs, CA |
| Land manager | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| 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 4Runner or Wrangler handle Fish Creek Wash without modifications?
Yes — the trail's minimum requirement is a stock 4WD high-clearance vehicle, and a bone-stock 4Runner or Wrangler handles it fine. The sandy wash sections demand aired-down tires (around 20 psi), and a few rocky ledges near the slot canyon exit will test your departure angle but nothing extreme.
When is Fish Creek Wash actually driveable — and what kills access?
October through April is the window. Summer heat is genuinely dangerous — triple digits bake the wash with zero shade. Flash floods are the other killer; storms anywhere in the watershed (not just overhead) can send walls of water through the slot canyon with zero warning, so check weather upstream before you drop in.
Do I need a permit or pay a fee to drive Fish Creek Wash?
No permit needed for day use, but Anza-Borrego Desert State Park charges a day-use vehicle fee if you enter through a staffed station. If you're camping overnight in the wash, California State Park dispersed camping rules apply — you must camp at least 200 feet from water sources and pack out everything.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect there?
The tightest pinch is inside the slot canyon itself — walls close in and the sandy floor gets soft, so momentum matters. The badlands section near Diablo Dropoff has loose, eroded terrain with off-camber moves that'll feel sketchy in a tall rig. Nothing here requires lockers or a built truck, but slow and deliberate beats fast and reckless.
Is there any gas or water along the trail, and how far is Borrego Springs?
There is zero water and zero gas on the trail — this is full desert. Borrego Springs is roughly 20 miles north and has a gas station, so fuel up there before you head in. Carry at least a gallon of water per person per day minimum; the dry desert air will drain you faster than you expect.
Trail track
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