Coyote Canyon from Anza to Desert Floor now Open

With who? I've been to the Fillmore and the Whiskey and spent a lot of time in Haight-Ashbury. Do I know you...and more to the point, would I remember it if I did? :-)

-- Old Crow '82 Shovelhead FLT 92" 'Pearl' '95 Jeep YJ Rio Grande ASE Certified Master Auto Tech + L1 TOMKAT, BS#133, SENS, MAMBM

I get it, I thought you were saying the trail was open from Anza to the desert floor, but it is only open to the Middle Willows. It is open from the top down, and from the bottom up, but it is closed in the middle. I'm here now ...

Try jstrickland at ez2 dot net.

The other emails are poor disguises that only fool the spambots.

Jeff is refinancing home loans these days. The money is good, and the work is available on a steady basis. The high tech jobs let me down twice in 18 months, and I spent 12 months looking for more high tech jobs, including about 6 months trying to sell a high tech product to low tech clients.

This post originally entitled "Coyote Canyon now Open to Desert Floor" was perhaps deceptive in its title as it has led to confusion and if indeed I am at fault I apologize for my lack of exactness. Loving the Coyote Canyon run as much as I do, not solely because of its local to my own habitat, but for its archaeological and historical significance, its geographical and geological beauty, its unique riparian habitats, its demanding trail, its elevation changes of over 4000' and its vistas of plains stretching into Mexico framed by the Santa Rosa mountains, its versified array of cacti and the possibility of fatal collision with pronghorn sheep whose demise might open the Willows wetland to some good mud jeeping, I will take the effort here to expand on my post taking pains to be more clear and coherent.

Coyote Canyon is within the Peninsular Ranges geomorphic province controlled by the San Jacinto fault. The creek bed that follows the fault separates the San Ysidro and the Santa Rosa mountain ranges. The canyon extends 36 miles North-West from Borrego Springs, a town in the center of Borrego Springs State Park in San Diego County to Anza in Riverside County.

Three clusters (as Jeff said) of desert willow, know as Lower, Middle and Upper Willows are found along the year-round Coyote Creek in the central of the canyon. California fan palms, cottonwoods, mesquite and acacia are also abundant. The route along the creek bed is not static. Summer floods dramatically alter the shape and route of the road near the Willows and over the rugged side trail into Collins Valley. A 3.1 mile segment of the road between Upper and Middle Willows is permanently closed to vehicles. Also the North-West (top) half of the canyon above the Willows is closed to all users (even hiking Sierra Club members) from June 1 to September 30. My post specifically related to the northern part of the canyon from Upper Willows to Anza. Because of the closures noted above this trail is only accessible from Anza and then only from October 1 thru the end of May. It is this section that opened just last week. I am sorry if I led some to think the

A benefit of the closure of the Willows is to have completely stopped thru traffic. Before the Willows was closed a "round trip" existed from Borrego Springs to Warner Springs, Aguanga, Anza and back to Borrego Springs. Also visitors to Borrego Springs coming from Palm Springs might use this route and at one time this Jeep trail was maintained and passable by pickup truck. Today not only is the road not maintained the park service seem to discourage passage and do not repair even major washouts. This makes the trail demanding and deserted. Points of interest along the trail include The Anza Monument, Nance Canyon, Turkey Track Canyon, Tule Canyon, Horse Canyon, Alder Canyon, Fig Tree Valley and Bailey's Cabin. Bailey's cabin is restored and is kept stocked by visiting Jeep groups with emergency food supplies for persons who get stranded. The Anza monument honors Juan Bautista de Anza the Spanish captain of the epic 1775 expedition from Mexico to San Francisco who was the first non-native to pass through the canyon as well as being the first European to enter California by land. The name "Borrego" of course is Spanish for sheep and the combined name "Anza-Borrego" probably relates to the lack of women Anza took with him on his journey. Today, thankfully we have Jeep chicks.

I hope this clarifies the situation.

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Bill: There is no grazing there now. If you live near Anza you might have heard the story of the canyons stolen wild horses. Up until this summer there was a herd of about 35 wild horse living in the top part of the canyon. It appears the park manager made a deal with a well-known local snake oil salesman to round them up and take them for personal property. Considerable local anger existed but the park policy now is to remove all non indigenous livestock.

I have not been down the canyon this year yet and would like some company. We really should organize a weekend ride spending Saturday night at the Willows for a BBQ.

So when are we going Jeff, Jerry, Pete, others? (any place actually) The season is upon us. We need to plan something enough in advance to make sure everyone can come. KH

" drinking beer and smoking cigars until 2:00AM is a large part of rock crawling."

I probably would have been wearing a white shirt, black skinny tie and a pocket protector if I were in my prime in the sixties. NASA was booming back then, our space program sux now. KH

I'm rather anxious to do something like that with you and those names Kevin. :)

Jerry

Even if its just sidewinder. (easy day trip for san diego)

Man I need to wheel more local stuff... never heard of Sidewinder, where is it Kevin?

Jerry

Sidewinder is in Corral Canyon. Its the second hardest run there but its short. Next to it is Bronco Peak. Bronco Peak is a 33"s and lockers run but I bet I could muscle through with my 31's. KH Heres a few pictures and movies of the area. Ive done everything there but bronco peak. Maybe thats what we need to go do.

Right click and save as.

Looks like a good new place to try out, is that spot in the video typical of the trail or does it offer anything more challenging?

Jerry

I hear it is challenging, but I have never run it myself. KH