Palm Trees in Park Are More Than Mirages

At Mountain Palm Springs in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, half-a-dozen palm groves welcome the walker. These groves of California fan palm in the Tierra Blanca Mountains are less secretive than most others in the Colorado Desert; some are visible from the highway, all can be visited on a mellow hike.

The palms are clustered in closely bunched communities within several narrow canyons. Abundant teddy-bear cholla and the occasional elephant tree grow on the canyon walls above the palms.

(Herds of the curious elephant trees thrive in Torote Canyon, located about a mile northwest of Mountain Palm Springs. Turn off Highway S2 on Indian Valley Road and travel 1.8 miles to the signed trail head. A half-a-mile hike up a sandy wash brings you to a large group of elephant trees.)

Anza-Borrego, California’s largest state park with 763 square miles, has more than 20 palm groves. Borrego Palm Canyon, adjacent to the park’s visitor center, shelters the state’s third-largest population of palms, and by far the most visited groves.

Mountain Palm Springs, located in the southern end of the park not all that far north of the Mexican border, is considerably off the beaten tourist track. However, palm tree fans who sojourn here will find their efforts rewarded. The palms all lie within a square mile, so hikers get lots of palms-per-mile in a tour of Mountain Palm Springs.

Directions to trail head: From Highway S2 at mile marker 47, about 55 miles from the park visitor center, turn west at the signed turnoff for Mountain Palm Springs. Follow the dirt road into the primitive campground and park at the trail head.

The hike: From the parking area, two trails lead into the canyon. Begin on the main (southernmost) trail heading west up a sandy wash. About three-quarters of a mile of hiking brings you to some smallish, fire-scorched palms in a rocky setting known as Pygmy Grove.

After another half-a-mile, stay left with the main canyon and continue a quarter-mile more to Southwest Grove. Pools of water and nearby elephant trees add to the charm of this tranquil oasis.

From Southwest Grove, you’ll look carefully for, then follow, the northbound trail that leads one mile over a rocky ridge to Surprise Canyon and its small palm grove.

From Surprise Canyon, the dogged hiker will turn left and travel up-canyon a half a mile past Surprise Canyon. You’ll pass near North Grove, another handsome cluster of palms. Finally, just a half a mile from the trail head, you’ll intersect a half-a-mile long side trail leading northwest to Mary’s Grove, where large palms cluster in a rocky gorge.

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Six Oases Trail

WHERE: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

DISTANCE: To Southwest Grove is 3 miles round trip with 300-foot elevation gain; to Palm Bowl is 6 miles round trip with 300-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Sandy washes, rocky canyons

HIGHLIGHTS: Half-a-dozen palm oases.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, P.O. Box 299, Borrego Springs, CA 92004; tel. (760) 769-5311 or (760) 767-5312.