Activity

California - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon

Download

Trail photos

Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon

Author

Trail stats

Distance
13.45 mi
Elevation gain
1,798 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
1,798 ft
Max elevation
3,159 ft
TrailRank 
77 5
Min elevation
1,598 ft
Trail type
Loop
Time
5 hours 31 minutes
Coordinates
2529
Uploaded
March 30, 2012
Recorded
March 2012
  • Rating

  •   5 1 review
Share

near El Rancho Mobile Home Park, California (United States)

Viewed 6893 times, downloaded 34 times

Trail photos

Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon Photo ofCalifornia - Borrego Springs - Rockhouse Canyon

Itinerary description

A hike up to 3 rock houses used by miners.

Hike up the rockhouse canyon.
At the bend you can see a hiking trail, running along the canyon wall.
The not so hidden "hidden spring" can be found on the left side (north) of the canyon.

Hike further into the canyon, that narrows and the canyon walls go straight up.
The only obstacle is a granite fall, just about on the county line.

There used to run a road up here, so as you hike back from the fall, look to the right.
The road is easy to spot and starts close to the bend.
Hiking on the remains of the road to the top of the fall, takes about 2 minutes.

Keep on hiking up the canyon and keep left on every major fork.
Hiking is very easy, as the the wash is sandy and as smooth and firm as it gets.

As the canyon opens into a valley, keep in the left sandy wash.
The wash is in the left side (west) of the canyon.

1) As the wash nears a boulder ridge, hike just past the ride.
2) On the right you see 3 boulder groups, sticking out of the canyon floor.
Just past the last one turn right (North).

At point "Trail" look for rock cairns, the rock houses are north, that's to the right out of the wash.

You find the remains of 3 rock houses, with a little bit of restoration.

Hike back towards the wash and hike further north/west in the sandy wash.
Take the first fork to the right, the fork isn't that clear at this point, but turns into a small sandy wash.
The next fork keep right, (straight on) and you should see the cottonwood spring.
At least that's what we expect it is. It's the only green spot where the spring should be.



Hiking time:

Park->End: 27 Minutes.
End->Spring: 11 Minutes.
Spring->Fall: 22 Minutes.
Fall->Rock houses: 1 Hour, 43 Minutes.
Rock houses->Spring: 23 Minutes.


How to get here:

Drive up the Rockhouse road.

Waypoints

PictographOff Road Altitude 609 ft

Rockhouse

Rockhouse Trail

PictographOff Road Altitude 1,187 ft

XRockhouse

X Rockhouse

PictographOff Road Altitude 1,600 ft

Park

Park

PictographCar park Altitude 1,858 ft
Photo ofEnd

End

End

PictographHiking Altitude 1,982 ft
Photo ofHidden S

Hidden S

Hidden Spring

PictographHiking Altitude 2,186 ft
Photo ofOut Road

Out Road

Out Road

PictographHiking Altitude 2,224 ft
Photo ofFall

Fall

Fall

PictographHiking Altitude 2,480 ft

Fork Left

Fork Left

PictographHiking Altitude 2,998 ft
Photo ofTrail

Trail

Trail

Photo ofRockH 2

RockH 2

Rockhouse 2

Photo ofRockH 1

RockH 1

Rockhouse 1

Photo ofRockH3

RockH3

Rockhouse 3

PictographHiking Altitude 3,020 ft
Photo ofFork R1

Fork R1

Fork Right 1

PictographHiking Altitude 3,089 ft
Photo ofFork R2

Fork R2

Fork Right 2

PictographHiking Altitude 3,140 ft
Photo ofSpring

Spring

Spring

PictographHiking Altitude 3,049 ft
Photo ofCave

Cave

Cave

Comments  (1)

  • Photo of sextante
    sextante Nov 18, 2013

    Excellent contribution of part of the territory of USA. Very good pictures and a description of each route as detailed. Thank you for your contribution.

You can or this trail