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Hellhole Canyon and The Slot, Anza-Borrego

Part of Hiking Trails, our guide to hiking trails across San Diego County, from city peaks to desert canyons.

Hellhole Canyon and The Slot (Buttes Pass area) have their own day-use parking in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Hours are sunrise to sunset and day use is $10 per vehicle. State Parks warns to carry plenty of water and food to avoid heat exhaustion. Trail distances are not confirmed.Checked October 23, 2026.

$10day use
Sunrise to sunsethours
Not postedtrail lengths
ParkingHellhole Canyon Trailhead Parking; Slot Canyon Day Use Parking (no street addresses on the page)
PhonePark (760) 767-4205; fire info 760-767-4037
HoursSunrise to sunset
Day use$10; seniors 62+ $9; Disabled Discount Pass $5
DogsPark-wide: allowed in the campgrounds, on designated park roads and the Visitor Center/Campground Trail
Who it suitsNot labeled by the source
Official pageCalifornia State Parks: Anza-Borrego

Heat

State Parks says to “have plenty of water and food for duration of your trip to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.” See our Anza-Borrego Visitor Center page and Borrego Palm Canyon Trail.

Slot Canyon

The Slot is a narrow wash area off a dirt road. Road conditions and flash-flood notices were not read; check with the park before you go.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Trail lengths, gain and difficulty are not confirmed. A 6-mile figure for Hellhole Canyon in a search excerpt was not read on a current page. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, (760) 767-4205, can confirm.
  • Road conditions to The Slot and Maidenhair Falls flow are not confirmed.
  • The park page has some older text alongside “Last Checked 10/23/2026”; only fees and hours are used.

More in Hiking Trails

FAQ

What does day use cost?

$10 per vehicle, per State Parks.

Sources

  1. California State Parks: Anza-Borrego

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.