Pink Flowers of Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa)
White Flowers of Spectacle Pod (Dithyrea californica)
Yellow Flowers of California Primrose (Camissonia californica)
Wildflower Watching Along the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail (South)
The south end of the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail starts at the north end of DiGiorgio Road in Borrego Springs. Under dry road conditions, passenger cars may drive as far as Ocotillo Flat but no farther. Only skilled drivers of very high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles should drive through the often deep water of the third crossing of Coyote Creek and attempt to drive the incredibly rocky jeep trail into the Collins Valley. The south end of the Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail ends at Middle Willows. Hikers only beyond that.
The trail to Desert Gardens and Ocotillo Flat can be considered in parts, as follows:
Start of jeep trail to end of citrus groves (0.5 mile). The aroma of citrus blossoms fills the air as you stop here to look for commonly seen species such as Spectacle Pod, Sand Verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Sunflower, and perhaps Desert Lily and Gray Sunflower. This is the easiest of walks. People often park just at the end of the pavement and go from there.
End of citrus groves to start of Desert Gardens (2 miles). Much of the viewing here will have the dramatic rocky slopes of the Coyote Mountain ridge in the background. The ridge can be particularly striking when dotted with flowering Brittlebush. This area offers opportunities for viewing plants perhaps not seen in the first half-mile, such as Arizona Lupine, Desert Dandelion, Borrego Milkvetch, Phacelia distans, and Borrego's two species of poppy, the Golden Poppy and Dwarf-Golden Poppy. There are ample places to park and walk.
Desert Gardens to Ocotillo Flat (1.5 mile). The terrain and the plants change remarkably at Desert Gardens. While much of the soil behind you originated from the creekbed, the soil in Desert Gardens washed out of mountain canyons, an alluvial fan. This is, as you can see, an excellent environment for Ocotillo, three different species of cholla, and such shrubs as Indigo Bush, Cheesebush, and Brittlebush. The spring wildflowers appear several days after the blooms where the jeep trail began. There are many places to park and walk around. The turnout with the Desert Gardens dedication sign has two picnic tables and trails toward the Coyote Mountain ridge.
At the northwest edge of Desert Gardens, the jeep trail reaches a wash and turns to the left, headed for the first crossing of Coyote Creek. Ocotillo Flat is the area to the northwest that is covered with Ocotillo. It extends to Lower Willows. Once leaving the Ocotillo of Desert Gardens, passenger cars are advised to turn around due to soft sand, large rocks, and water in the creek. Four-wheel drive is recommended.
Coyote Creek after a Rain
February 3, 2010
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
P O BOX 310 ( 652 Palm Canyon Drive) Borrego Springs, CA 92004-0310
Office 760-767-3052 | Desert Store & Nature Center 760-767-3098 | FAX 760-767-3099