California - Borrego Springs - Palo Verde Smoke Tree Loop

More Anza Borrego Hiking

This hike is a shorter version of:
Palo verde Smoke tree loop
Without missing out the good stuff.
The longer version is only interesting when the Palo Verde are blooming, most likely in March/April.

The hike starts out easy on a sandy wash.
But it gets more rocky further on. The trick is to get on the banks, where there is sand.

Once in the more sandy Palo Verde Wash, turn right up the last ridge before the fork on the east.
Or as my wife describes it, just behind the Palo Verde up the ridge.

Once you find the trail, it's a very good trail, running opposite the Moly mine.
The trail leads up to the saddle and follows the ridge that's in the center on the canyon.
A bit of a climb, but the trail is surprisingly good.

Over the saddle, as you see the rugged Palo Verde Wash below, the trail follows the more steeper canyon wall.
The trail is a bit washed away, but that's only for a short stretch.

The trail ends in the Smoke tree Wash close to the Natural Rock Tanks, A worth while visit, you need to go into the canyon to the east. A couple of feet south of where you enter the wash.

The Smoke tree wash is rugged and interesting to hike in. Expect some small rock falls and a narrow.

The return route may be difficult to find without a GPS.
It's just beyond an outcrop with some boulders on top.

An easy hike up a small stream bed.
Follow the animal trails into the canyon on the other side.
A bit of a rocky wash, but nothing slippery or difficult.

The wash gets better and better and heads straight for the car.


More Pictures

How to get here:

The trail starts from the asphalt.
East of the Palo Verde Wash sign (on the opposite side).