Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

From Hwy S22 at Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground you can 4WD or Hike to the 17 Palms Oasis, 5 Palms Oasis, Una Palma and the Pumpkin Patch at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Points of Interest - Distances from S-22

• 0.0 Miles from S-22 Arroyo Salado Primitive Camp
• 2.2 Miles from S-22 Truckhaven Trail Junction & Beaty’s Icebox
• 3.6 Miles from S-22 17 Palms
• 4.3 Miles from S-22 5 Palms and Una Palma
• 7.7 miles from S-22 Pumpkin Patch (sand concretions)

Arroyo Salado Primitive Camp

This is a primitive camping area with bathrooms. Anza-Borrego remains one of the few places in the country where open camping is permitted. This year, all primitive and backcountry camping is FREE of charge. Please help to keep Arroyo Salado an open camping area by following these guidelines:

• Camp at least 100 feet away from water
• Bring a metal container to hold your fire. Fires built on the ground are NOT permitted and violators will be cited.
• Park on the side of the road, so others may pass, but DO NOT trample vegetation or drive over geological formations.
• Keep a clean camp. Take your trash home with you. This location is approximately 0.2 from S-22.

Truckhaven Trail Junction

The early settlers of the Borrego Springs region were ranchers and farmers who grew alfalfa, tomatoes, dates, and pecans. Some ranchers also attempted to raise hogs and turkeys. Water wells were drilled and talk of a pipeline from Imperial Valley irrigation canals was a discussion during the early farming years.

In order to get produce to market the farmers and ranchers of Borrego had to drive with a horse and wagon for 2.5 days. A more direct route to market was needed. The community-funded Truckhaven Trail was built and became an important route to the east. It joined up with California 99, the original route that later became our modern day CA 86.

Doc Beaty, one of the early settlers of Borrego, was instrumental in the creation of this route. Doc Beaty and his crew dragged a mule-drawn scraper through the badlands to create a road that passed from Borrego to the Truckhaven gas station on Calfiornia 99. All of the funding to create the route was donated by local farmers and businesses.

While working on the Truckhaven Trail, Doc Beaty and the men who constructed the Trail used a nearby mud cave at the foot of the grade to store their food and perishables. This is where Doc Beaty and the workers made their permanent camp. The conditions in this area were extreme, and keeping food and supplies in good form was a challenge. The mud cave became known as “Beaty’s Icebox.” The original location of “Beaty’s Icebox.” was near the point of Arroyo Salado/Truckhaven Junction. The cave no longer exists as it has eroded over time due to the elements.

The Truckhaven Trail was completed in 1930 and cost $750 to create. The Trail was rough in places with many twists and curves, and required slow driving. In 1968, Truckhaven Trail was replaced by the Borrego-Salton Seaway which ran parallel to the Trail in some parts and replaced it completely in other sections. The S22 is part of the original trail, but there remains an 11-mile section that is unpaved and can be accessed by private vehicles and hikers.

To reach the Truckhaven Trail take the Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground turnoff from the S-22. This is a 4WD trail. The Truckhaven Trail Junction where it connects to the Arroyo Salado Wash is approx. 2.2 miles from S-22. This junction is also the location of “Beaty’s Icebox.” The Truckhaven Trail climbs Northeast (to the left) which would be a separate side trip.

17 Palms Oasis, 5 Palms Oasis and Una Palma.

These areas are well-known watering holes for the regional wildlife of the Borrego Badlands. The palms at both Oases are often green and brilliant compared to the stark and barren desert that surrounds them.

These verdant oases have attracted humans for thousands of years. Nomadic aborigines, wayfaring emigrants and determined prospectors have all taken shade and water from these islands in the badlands. Remnants of a time when grasslands, streams, and herds of camels and mammoths covered an ancient landscape, the native palms exist today only because water surfaces here.

As the spring here was unreliable, early travelers with extra water would leave it in large glass jars. Thirsty visitors came to rely on the jars hidden in the shade of the palms. The desert wanderers would leave notes attached to the jars. Today the custom of leaving messages in the prospector’s post office is carried on by visitors. In the post office barrel hidden in the 17 Palms, among the palm tree bases, lies a visitor’s log book, notes and of course, bottles of water!

The 17 Palms area is located off of the S-22. Take the Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground turnoff, travel approx. 3.6 miles on Arroyo Salado Wash to the Seventeen Palms Turnoff which puts you on Tule Wash (you will see a small sign with arrow heading West (right) and travel another 0.2 miles to the 17 Palms parking area. To visit the 5 Palms Oasis continue past Seventeen Palms on Tule Wash to arrived at the Parking area for 5 Palms. Una Palma can be reached by walking over the ridges of the 17 and 5 Palms locations. Or you can go right on Cut Across Trail to arrive at the Una Palma Location. Make sure you use a park map to verify all locations.

Pumpkin Patch

This unique landscape is the result of wind and water continuously eroding the surface soil and revealing globular sandstone concretions.

Such concretions are believed to be formed by the natural cementing of sand particles to a small object such as a piece of shell, a grain of sand or even an insect.

Please help preserve the Pumpkin Patch and the nearby ridges of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area where new pumpkin-size desert Pearls are emerging. Don’t travel in or about the fragile area of the Pumpkin Patch.

Take the S-22 to the Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground Turnoff and take the Arroyo Salado Wash for approx. 3.6 miles. At the 17 Palms turnoff sign go right down Tule Wash. Continue down Tule Wash until you are appro. 7.5 miles from S-22. The Pumpkin Patch is on the right off of Tule Wash.

Read more about the Pumpkin Patch.

Sources: Anza Borrego DSP, Desert Magazine

With more than 600,000 acres, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, has 7 unique areas that you can explore.

 Anza /Visitor Center Area | Blair Valley Area | Borrego Badlands Area
Bow Willow Area | Fish Creek Area  | Santa Rosa Area | Tamarisk Grove Area