Indianhead Mountain

Indianhead Mountain

Distance: 7.0 miles round trip Hiking Time: 7 hours, round trip Elevation Gain/Loss: 3200′/3200′ Trail Use: Suitable for backpacking

Directions: From Borrego Springs, go west on Palm Canyon Drive and turn right onto the entrance road for Borrego Palm Canyon Campground. A fee is required for any vehicle entry into the campground. The trailhead is at the far west of the campground.

From the trail head proceed up the Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail to the first palm grove (1.5 miles). From here you’ll pick up an informal path on the south side of the creek and follow it to a rightward bend.

The palm trees resume as you round the second bend (1.8 miles). You’ll reach the turnoff point for Indianhead at 2.5 miles (elevation 1800 feet), where the tributary canyon branches off to the north. Climb north and then northeast straight up the ridge just east of the tributary. After about .7 miles, you’ll reach a 3200 foot saddle northwest of Indianhead. From here make your way southeast around huge boulders and over slab rock to reach the summit of Indianhead.

From here the entire San Ysidro Mountains are in full view. To the north, beyond the lesser ranges, the snow-capped San Jacinto Mountains float like a mirage. To obtain the best view of Borrego Palm Canyon, scramble about .1 miles south of the high point, and work your way out to a jagged outcrop.