8 January 2023
West Butte Trail to Borego Mountain Wash
(5 miles, +800/-800 feet).

It’s Half Cookie’s birthday this weekend! (er, birth-weekend?)

We decided to go do a couple of hikes in Anza Borrego State Park. It’s California’s largest state park, but relatively unknown to people outside of Southern California. We love it!

We decided to do a hike I’ve always wanted to try through a slot canyon. In a vast stretch of the imagination, this hiking area is called “The Slot!”

The trail started up towards Borrego Mountain.

The low light made the desert look steely and austere.

At the top of Borrego Mountain we had wonderful views in every direction.

We then headed down towards Borrego Mountain Wash. It was easy going until the last 100 feet of descent, which was a bit of a steep scramble down a side canyon of the wash.

The wash itself was wide and flat for about a mile and then things got more interesting.

There were many lovely flowers in the wash.

And then the walls got steeper and narrower as we entered “the slot.”

At the end of the slot we climbed out and back to our car and headed to Borrego Springs to spend the night.

What a great day!