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Coyote Canyon Road

Coyote Canyon Road

4.7/5 (24 reviews)

Borrego Springs, California (San Diego County)

Last Updated: 05/31/2024

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Hardest Part

Camping

Trail Information

Highlights

Beginner

Camping

Desert

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Overland

Scenic

Water

Coyote Canyon Road is a popular trail on the west side of Anza Borrego, known for its year-round water crossings. This oasis-like area of the desert is fun to travel through, especially in the spring during the desert flower blooms. The area directly around the trailhead is marked on State Park maps as a popular flower field with bright purple coloring the landscape. Be mindful of heavy foot traffic as visitors come to see the blooms, and respect management rules. During his overland exploration, Captain Juan Bautista De Anza named Coyote Canyon, where he camped in this area on March 14, 1774. In 1775, Anza led a colonizing expedition of 240 people and over 800 head of livestock from Tubac, Arizona, to modern-day San Francisco, California. Coyote Canyon Road closes at Waypoint 9 from June 1 to September 30 to preserve the watering opportunities for the Desert Bighorn Sheep.

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Josh Noesser

Official Crew

Trail Reviews

4.7/5 (25)

Josh Noesser

Official Crew

162400

Seasonal Closure

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/31/2024

The trail is closed for the season, till next year

Alex

1000

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 02/25/2024

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Trail is closed @ 33.36878, -116.42127 Easy trail with beautiful scenery that gets better the deeper you go. The camping spots are right on the road with no privacy.

Driven to Adventure

3900

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 11/27/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Scenic route with some nice camping spots. The gate at the end connecting to Collins Valley Road is closer. Ranger shared that the road has been washed away due to a storm. They are working on rebuilding it but anticipate it to take quite some time.

Josh Noesser

Official Crew

162400

Partially Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 11/27/2023

Some damage to the road has the gate closed

Darren

3700

Temporary Closure

Visited: 11/24/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

The gate at waypoint 9 is closed. My wife and I parked and hiked in to investigate and the road is impassible IMO. The creek is now running through the road instead of the old channel. To wit, 3rd crossing is now dry. Also, the slope up to Collins Valley has been severely eroded to cobbles and bedrock in places. Seeing how the state manages its resources, I don't see this road opening for some time.

Trail Review: Coyote Canyon Road - Darren

Josh Noesser

Official Crew

162400

Open

Visited: 10/07/2023

Trails are open for the winter

Josh Noesser

Official Crew

162400

Seasonal Closure

Visited: 06/08/2023

Trails are closed for the summer

This trail guide's difficulty was changed on 04/11/2023

Carlos Bautista Jr.

700

Open

Visited: 03/26/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

First time visiting Anza Borrego State Park, and ran this trail for the first time. It was extremely easy, with the first three or four miles of the trail being graded. The first water crossing hardly had any water, with the second and third having more water, maybe 6 inches at the most. There are a few areas along the trail that are a little more rutted but extremely doable in a stock 4x4 or for that matter AWD vehicle. We did a little more exploring along Collins Valley road and eventually to Sheep Canyon. We saw several Subarus back there, which tells me with proper tire placement, even AWD vehicles can do it. Right now with all the desert flowers blooming, it is very colorful and scenic.

Trail Review: Coyote Canyon Road - Carlos Bautista Jr.

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Brian Brentlinger

100

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 03/12/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Really fun trail. Nothing technical. Great place to see the dessert flowers blooming. The second water crossing was 24"+. Saw a couple of unmodified Subaru Crosstrecks and Outbacks make it across, but they were not having a fun time and wouldn't advise without more clearance. They did not attempt the 3rd water crossing. Ran in a Ram Powerwagon and had no width issues. Not busy in the morning, but definitely getting more crowded by the afternoon. Overall a great trail, and would recommend if you're in the area.

Brian Babb

300

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 03/04/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

I suppose the water levels in the crossings contribute to the difficulty ratings. We had three water crossings - only the second crossing had significant depth - ~ 12" deep at the deepest part.

Troy M

1700

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 03/04/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

With the water level about 2 feet it is more of a 2.5 rating. Lots of traffic. We will do this again.

Alex Salazar

1200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 02/04/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Lots of offerings such as water features, views, and paths to explore. This was our first time out here and we had a great time. Really didn't seem too long to get to our dispersed campsite. I only wish I went for about 2 days to explore as there was a lot to see. The only part is that there is a lot of people who visit, so it's difficult to find a good spot to set up shop. We'll be back!

Brian Toro

100

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 01/27/2023

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Recently drove most of this and then footed the pass section which is the more difficult section. Despite all the rain in SoCal, everything was still in good shape and the water crossings were very easy in my stock sequoia. The second water crossing has a giant berm from the rain though and is a bit dicey. The pass at the end has some decent rock gardens, but it looked like there were lines that most stock trucks could get by. I don't know that I would, but in the carribean I've driven a Corolla over much worse. Park service had some heavy equipment vehicles up on the pass between markers 5 and 6 and appeared they were getting ready to do some work, keep an eye out for road closures if that's the case. If you're at Anza, check out Culp Valley primitive campground. It's along Montezuma road at the summit of the mountains. Was empty when I visited and has beautiful views.

Pete

600

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 05/15/2022

Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I did this trail twice in my stock Tacoma SR5 in the first part of 2022. It's a fantastic drive with a little bit of everything. After the water crossings, there's a fun rock garden, and it's a good idea to have a bit of clearance through this section. My stock Tacoma did just fine, but maybe something like a Subaru might have some trouble???

Cullen Powers

500

Open

Visited: 11/14/2021

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

As others have mentioned, used to be a lot more fun before they graded the trail. Still a nice and very scenic route to get you to the campground at Sheep Canyon.

Trail Review: Coyote Canyon Road - Cullen Powers

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Justin Van Bibber

100

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/23/2021

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Super rad trail. It’s probably like a 1 most of the way right up until about 3/4 of the way in when you start to climb a steep hill. Even then, the park seems to have graded it over the summer. It used to be much rockier and loose. As of this October it was graded and only requires 2WD. I’d say this is a 2/3

Bob Damico

300

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 03/22/2021

Beautiful trail, drove the day after rain so the water crossing had some water, love the changing plants and views, easy drive

Wade Norton

6100

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 01/27/2021

Fun trail with some interesting history. We liked the fact that the vegetation changed as you proceed through the trail. Water crossing were shallow. The third crossing was the only one with water. Loved the history of Anza camping here in 1774.

John

1200

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 11/28/2020

Only the third crossing had water in it. Everything was relatively easy but further down the track there were areas where 4x4 and some clearance was needed. Doable in a decent SUV I would say. Really is pretty and the third crossing was fun in the dark.

Tj Sleboda

3800

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 01/04/2020

Did the trail for the first time but ran it with others that had done it many times. The 3 water crossings were full of water and fun. Not to deep so no water on the floorboards of the 4runner. Like the previous reviewer stated, the boulder climb was apparently graded by the park service. It is much easier now, but you should really run in it with 4wd with clearance.

Alex Waldron

100

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 07/04/2019

Great trail, but at this time of year there was hardly any water in any of the crossings. It sure was windy and it was about 95 degrees at night. My stock Silverado Trail Boss did this trail just fine without needing 4 low at all. I probably could have made it in 2wd I think, as long as you don't stop in some of the sandy areas. I definitely plan on going back though when the flowers are out in the spring.

Trail Review: Coyote Canyon Road - Alex Waldron

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Taylor Kempkes

Official Crew

14700

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 11/10/2018

Beautiful area to drive through and the water crossings, although shallow at this time of year, kept things exciting. Before actually driving the trail, we were concerned about bringing along a friend with their stock late model Grand Cherokee 4X4, but he ended up having no problems whatsoever.

Tyler Buffett

600

Open

Rated 4/5

Visited: 11/02/2018

Wow! Super sad. Boulder Alley is no more. They have totally wrecked the trail. Should be called Decomposed Granite Expessway. Was so forlorn at the loss of the ‘great people filter’ that I nearly failed to enjoy water at all three crossings. Kind of at a loss for words. Another one bites the dust. Don’t get me wrong, the land and route is beautiful, I guess I am just resistant to change.

sdde4n

750

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 10/07/2018

Trail was in great shape. Creek was flowing at three of the crossings.

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