Hike Bighorn Canyon Peak and Nolina Peak Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

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Jan 26, 2026 — Bighorn Canyon Peak and Nolina Peak are two minor summits within Anza Borrego desert State Park. The road in is a sandy drive where you’ll need some clearance, but two-wheel drive is probably fine. I parked at the end of the dirt road within the mouth of Nolina Wash.

I headed south through Nolina Wash and peered up at the steep and eroded southern face of Bighorn Canyon Peak. Despite how it appeared from below, the ridge I chose to ascend was actually pretty tame and only had some light Class 2, and allowed me to reach the ridgeline. The ridgeline leading to the summit was flatter, but covered in small boulders.

I dropped south off of Bighorn Canyon Peak via what seemed like a hint of a social trail that led down an annoyingly steep slope through a small cholla cactus garden. I slipped a couple of times and ended up with more than one cholla protruding from my skin. I could have continued directly to the saddle below, but instead I followed a spur ridge for a bit before deciding to do so, choosing this because it seemed more pleasant than the steep drop offs.

Once in the drainage below, I headed east around the base of Bighorn Canyon Peak to a junction with Nolina Wash. From here I started east up to Nolina Peak. It was a pretty straightforward hike with some light brush and occasional boulders, but nothing all that memorable. I backtracked from the summit into Nolina Wash once again, taking a slightly different descent slope.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Bighorn Canyon Peak

3561 ft

702 rise

Nolina Peak

3852 ft

373 rise

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Starting up Nolina Wash. My chosen ridgeline to ascent to Bighorn Canyon Peak seen on the right.

My chosen ridgeline to access Bighorn Canyon Peak.

Steep at times, but never too difficult.

View back into Nolina Wash on my way up to Bighorn Canyon Peak. Sunset Mountain seen top center.

Approaching the ridgeline to Bighorn Canyon Peak.

Bighorn Canyon Peak ahead.

Bighorn Canyon Peak summit, view back. Nolina Peak seen on the right.

Close-up toward the eroded slope to the northwest.

I dropped west toward the saddle below.

Close-up at the steep cholla-filled slope.

I took a spur ridge rather than a direct drop to the saddle, but ultimately had to drop into the drainage anyway shortly after.

Within a side drainage leading back to Nolina Wash.

Starting up Nolina Peak.

View back toward Bighorn Canyon Peak. The drainage I descended from seen far left.

This was basically the whole route up to Nolina Peak.

Nolina Peak, view back the way I came. Bighorn Canyon Peak seen left of center.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!