Indianhead via Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Hike Indianhead via Borrego Palm Canyon Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Class 3 8.4 miles 3200 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Dec 10, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Indianhead via Borrego Palm Canyon GPX Track

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Although I've hiked Borrego Palm Canyon multiple times, I never continued past the palm oasis. It's a gorgeous spot where native palm trees live, and the trail leading from the Borrego Palm Campground to the oasis is well-maintained and pleasant. From the oasis, Austin and I set out to hike to Indianhead. A park ranger, convinced the hike would take us 12 hours, was concerned we were starting too late and took our information. She was very sweet and covered all her safety bases. Thanks, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for looking out for people!

From the palm oasis, we back-tracked to the main trail (please don't continue up-canyon from within the palms since they're fragile and whatnot). A social trail continued on the north side of Borrego Palm Canyon and dropped us down into the canyon shortly after the palm oasis. Almost immediately, we were faced with a massive blockade of granite boulders. We were convinced the whole canyon would be slow-moving, since car-sized boulders pose all sorts of fun (but time-consuming) obstacles. I immediately regretted not starting earlier, but late starts are my forte. The difficulty was short-lived, though, and soon the canyon mellowed out into a pleasant wash with the occasional Class 2/3 move. Water was flowing on our visit, and it was a lush and wonderful desert experience. Borrego Palm Canyon continued to be gorgeous the entire route up and I was definitely a little sad when we got to the standard ridge ascent we would use to eave the Borrego Palm Canyon to head up to Indianhead.

Our ridge started off as a steep slope, slowly introducing a bit of Class 2 until we reached the ridgeline proper. Although route-finding was easy along the ridge, there were definitely a couple of low Class 3 moves to look out for, and in general we were rock-hopping quite a bit. The ridge curved to the east and began to get more steep. We got to a false summit, where white granite boulders marked the start of more fun micro-route-finding (similar stuff to what was in Borrego Palm Canyon) as we continued up the ridge. If careful, you could keep it at Class 3. The boulders slowly weeded out and we got to the Indianhead summit, where the views were wonderful. I loved this route.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Indianhead
3960 ft
760 rise

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Starting up Borrego Palm Canyon.
Starting up Borrego Palm Canyon.
A nice trail, which crosses the stream a couple of times.
A nice trail, which crosses the stream a couple of times.
Looking back along the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail.
Looking back along the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail.
Borrego Palms ahead. A short detour leads to the palms. Keeping to the north side of Borrego Palm Canyon continues around the palms without walking through the oasis.
Borrego Palms ahead. A short detour leads to the palms. Keeping to the north side of Borrego Palm Canyon continues around the palms without walking through the oasis.
After the palm oasis, continuing farther up Borrego Palm Canyon. There's a short section of massive granite boulder hopping required.
After the palm oasis, continuing farther up Borrego Palm Canyon. There's a short section of massive granite boulder hopping required.
Boulder-hopping up Borrego Palm Canyon. The palm oasis is visible behind Austin.
Boulder-hopping up Borrego Palm Canyon. The palm oasis is visible behind Austin.
Borrego Palm Canyon mellows out shortly after the boulders, now with just occasional obstacles.
Borrego Palm Canyon mellows out shortly after the boulders, now with just occasional obstacles.
Continuing up Borrego Palm Canyon, Indianhead's ascent ridge visible ahead.
Continuing up Borrego Palm Canyon, Indianhead's ascent ridge visible ahead.
Pretty scenery in Borrego Palm Canyon.
Pretty scenery in Borrego Palm Canyon.
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More palms farther up Borrego Palm Canyon.
More palms farther up Borrego Palm Canyon.
 View toward Borrego Palm Canyon (bottom right), Indianhead visible top center. Our ridge ascent on the far left. This photo was taken right shortly before we started up the ridge.
View toward Borrego Palm Canyon (bottom right), Indianhead visible top center. Our ridge ascent on the far left. This photo was taken right shortly before we started up the ridge.
A last view up Borrego Palm Canyon. We didn't explore farther, instead heading up the ridge. It looked pretty and maybe one day I'll come back to go farther.
A last view up Borrego Palm Canyon. We didn't explore farther, instead heading up the ridge. It looked pretty and maybe one day I'll come back to go farther.
Austin starting up the ridge, Indianhead visible on the right.
Austin starting up the ridge, Indianhead visible on the right.
Looking down some Class 2 into Borrego Palm Canyon as we ascend a slope to the main ridge.
Looking down some Class 2 into Borrego Palm Canyon as we ascend a slope to the main ridge.
Along our ascent ridge, Indianhead top right.
Along our ascent ridge, Indianhead top right.
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Farther up the ridge, looking back toward Borrego Palm Canyon on the left.
Farther up the ridge, looking back toward Borrego Palm Canyon on the left.
Close-up of the talus that makes up the majority of the ridge ascent.
Close-up of the talus that makes up the majority of the ridge ascent.
The ridge starts to curve, false summit visible ahead.
The ridge starts to curve, false summit visible ahead.
Looking back the way we came, Borrego Palm Canyon visible below.
Looking back the way we came, Borrego Palm Canyon visible below.
More Class 2/2+ ridge ascending.
More Class 2/2+ ridge ascending.
Image 28 from gallery
Approaching the Indianhead false summit, lots of massive boulders requiring similar route-finding as we did earlier in Borrego Palm Canyon.
Approaching the Indianhead false summit, lots of massive boulders requiring similar route-finding as we did earlier in Borrego Palm Canyon.
Working our way up the massive boulder-filled ridge. This bit doesn't last long, but it's fun and requires a bit of thinking.
Working our way up the massive boulder-filled ridge. This bit doesn't last long, but it's fun and requires a bit of thinking.
A particularly interesting obstacle we encountered a bit before the summit.
A particularly interesting obstacle we encountered a bit before the summit.
The boulders fade out for the last bit to the summit, giving way to a really interesting landscape of grasses and boulders.
The boulders fade out for the last bit to the summit, giving way to a really interesting landscape of grasses and boulders.
Close-up of the interesting landscape just below the summit.
Close-up of the interesting landscape just below the summit.
Indianhead summit, view south. Borrego Palm Canyon is out of frame below on the right.
Indianhead summit, view south. Borrego Palm Canyon is out of frame below on the right.

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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!