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Borrego Palm Canyon Trail

Part of Julian, Mountains & Anza-Borrego, our guide to Julian, Descanso, Pine Valley, the Laguna Mountains and Borrego Springs.

Borrego Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 3 miles round trip, starting at the end of the main campground road. The park says the first palm grove is closed due to fire damage, so the trail ends at a viewpoint. Day use is $10 per car, and the park warns of summer heat to 125 degrees.Checked October 23, 2026.

3 MilesRound Trip
$10Day Use Per Car
ClosedFirst Palm Grove, Per Park
125°FSummer Heat Text
Fan palms and green plants in a rocky desert canyon
Palm oasis in Borrego Palm Canyon. Z3lvs, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
WhereTrailhead at the end of the main campground road, west of Borrego Springs. The page gives no street address.
HoursDay-use lot: “sunrise to sunset.”
Admission“$10 per car” day use.
Closure Notice“The first palm grove in Borrego Palm Canyon is closed due to fire damage”; the trail ends at a viewpoint over the grove. The page gives no date for this notice and links a trail map dated 09.30.20, so it may be old.
Heat, Read October 23, 2026The park page says “During the summer season, temperatures can range reach 125 degrees during the day.” This is general text, not a dated alert. Go early.
DogsNot allowed on the trail. The park limits dogs to campgrounds, designated roads and the Visitor Center and Campground Trail.

Start At The Visitor Center

Stop at the Visitor Center first for current conditions.

Borrego Palm Canyon Trail Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Whether the first-grove closure notice is current: it carries no date and links a 2020 map.
  • Trail difficulty, elevation gain and kid suitability: not stated by the park.
  • Free days: not confirmed. Map point is “Borrego Palm Canyon” in OpenStreetMap, not an official trailhead point.

More in Julian, Mountains & Anza-Borrego

FAQ

How long is the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail?

The park describes it as a 3-mile round-trip trail starting at the end of the main campground road.

Can you reach the palm grove?

The park says the first palm grove is closed due to fire damage, so the trail ends at a viewpoint over it. The notice is undated, so confirm with the Visitor Center.

Sources

  1. California State Parks: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
  2. California State Parks: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Home

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.