Maidenhair Falls via Hellhole Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Hike Maidenhair Falls via Hellhole Canyon Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA

Class 1 5.4 miles 1000 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Mar 17, 2015
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Maidenhair Falls via Hellhole Canyon GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

The hike to Maidenhair Falls follows a popular trail up Hellhole Canyon within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trailhead parking area is located off the S22 highway and requires a day-use fee. The hike ascends through the open desert, gradually gaining elevation along the wide, sandy trail. Most of the mileage is completed before even entering Hellhole Canyon. Despite being in the desert, there is no lack of abundance of plant life, and if you're here in the spring, you may see an array of colorful wildflowers.

Hellhole Canyon is even more lush than the hike through the desert, complete with flowing water and a straggling native palm tree. As the canyon deepens, the slopes on either side make the hike feel nicely enclosed, but the trail becomes more winding as it weaves around boulders and crosses the water. The Hellhole Palms are a gorgeous oasis of standing native palm trees, and walking amongst them is a really nice experience.

Maidenhair Falls is still a bit of a hike past the Hellhole Palms, requiring a steep hike on the left of the oasis to get around a small cliff. Past here, the trail continues less obviously to a second palm grove, this one smaller than the featured Hellhole Palms. Nestled within the palms is the seasonal Maidenhair Falls, which drops about 20 feet and was flowing nicely on my visit. Palms create a grotto around the flowing water, so it's not the most picturesque waterfall, but it's a unique and cozy spot to hike to. Maidenhair Falls gets its name from the delicate maidenhair ferns that often grow in the vicinity.

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!

Hellhole Canyon Trailhead.
Hellhole Canyon Trailhead.
Along the Hellhole Canyon Trail.
Along the Hellhole Canyon Trail.
An overly-aggressive reminder to bring water.
An overly-aggressive reminder to bring water.
Continuing through the desert on the sandy trail, Hellhole Canyon seen ahead.
Continuing through the desert on the sandy trail, Hellhole Canyon seen ahead.
Entering Hellhole Canyon.
Entering Hellhole Canyon.
View back.
View back.
Ascending through the canyon.
Ascending through the canyon.
Straggling palms closer to the mouth.
Straggling palms closer to the mouth.
Flowing water within Hellhole Canyon.
Flowing water within Hellhole Canyon.
Hellhole Palms ahead.
Hellhole Palms ahead.
The beautiful palm oasis.
The beautiful palm oasis.
Approaching Hellhole Palms.
Approaching Hellhole Palms.
Within the palms.
Within the palms.
Flowing water within Hellhole Palms.
Flowing water within Hellhole Palms.
Image 14 from gallery
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
Onward to Maidenhair Falls. The trail is a bit less obvious past the palms.
Onward to Maidenhair Falls. The trail is a bit less obvious past the palms.
Approaching the falls.
Approaching the falls.
Maidenhair Falls is in the grotto ahead.
Maidenhair Falls is in the grotto ahead.
Maidenhair Falls.
Maidenhair Falls.
A shot from above at Maidenhair Falls.
A shot from above at Maidenhair Falls.

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!