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I went on an off-road adventure down Coyote Canyon Road in a camper van. This scenic dirt road leads to Sheep Canyon with palm groves and water in the desert.
It was fun exploring the back parts of Anza-Borrego and seeing Desert Gardens. You might even see Bighorn Sheep in this part of California.
I’ll share what to know when going, exploring the area, what to expect, and tips.
Getting to Coyote Canyon Road
So the first thing you’ll have to do is get to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
I was staying at a resort and took Palm Canyon Dr. to Di Giorgio Rd. From there, continue on until it turns into Coyote Canyon Road and follow that.
If you get the visitor information guide from the park, there’s a map. If you have a navigation app, that might work better.
It’s recommended you travel this road in a 4WD vehicle.
Exploring Coyote Canyon Road
The state park itself doesn’t really close. But I recommend stopping by the visitor center to get updates before going.
Some of the trails might close, especially after it rains. And this one was no exception either.
Anza-Borrego is very dark at night, and it’d be difficult to see the road. So it’s best to explore during the day.
Also, on a weekday afternoon, there were a good number of people traveling in the area.
Driving the Canyon
At the beginning of Coyote Canyon Rd., there was a sign that warned that the road was closed 5.2 miles ahead at the 3rd crossing.
Also, parking is limited at the closure gate. This closure was due to Tropical Storm Hilary back in 2023.
So the road got diverted into Coyote Canyon Dirt Road. It may be closed to vehicles, but you can still walk in, camp, and hike there.
Traveling along the dusty road, it was a perfect, bright day. I saw a lot of tall cacti and wonderful scenery.
The path itself didn’t have deep sand, like in other places I’ve gone off-roading in the park. But it got more rugged later on.
Visiting Desert Gardens
The first stop was Desert Gardens, and I had pictured it differently in my mind. The staff at the visitor center said to check it out along the way.
There will be a sign on the right-hand side. Pull into the parking area, or go to the pullout a little further down the road.
There was a group of people eating lunch on the picnic tables. They said it was such a wonderful place.
It’s full of desert plants, as you would expect. And there’s information about how they adapt to the extreme heat.
In short, some plants have short roots and stems that store moisture. Others have long roots and small leaves. And some go dormant during hot weather, until it rains.
You can take a short hike to the top and check out the view up there.
It wasn’t that steep, but I wore my hiking shoes. There were some loose rocks and soil.
At the top, there was a bench and wonderful views of the garden. The mountains stood in the distance, with a slight whisper of a breeze.
It was a beautiful sight, and nice to see the different plants from this view. I like cacti because they look like they come from outer space.
This was a pleasant highlight of the trip!
Lower Coyote Canyon
For the next couple of miles, I traveled deep into the desert. The roads were rather muddy since it rained days ago.
Water had washed over the road in some places. It didn’t look too deep, but from a distance it was hard to tell.
But the van handled the uneven path well.
The end of the road was blocked off, so you’ll want to stop here. There was a small parking area with just a few cars.
As soon as I stepped out of the van, loud gurgles sounded from the river. I didn’t realize how close it was.
Look for the sign warning that you’re entering Lower Coyote Canyon.
There was another that said the road is closed June 1 through September 30. This is to preserve the watering rights of the Desert Bighorn Sheep.
The Hiking Trail
I took a short hike to see what was out there. You’ll come to the gate, where you’ll have to walk around.
At this time, water was flowing over the trail, and I followed it. I saw small fish and lots of frogs out there.
Actually, the choir of frogs ribbiting was pretty loud. Other people looked in the water, naming the fish.
Obviously, people had been riding bikes out there. There were deep tire tracks in the mud!
On the other side of big boulders, there was a pretty view. The water trail went further on.
Well, I didn’t want to keep going or get wet. So it was time to turn around and head back at this point.
If you keep going, you’ll reach Sheep Canyon and Cougar Canyon. Over there, you can find waterfalls and palm groves.
Day Use & Camping
On the way back, there was a place with a fire ring on the side of a mountain, and I stopped for lunch.
The camper van came in handy for that. You can cook almost anywhere.
It was so quiet in the desert. I sat for a while to absorb this feeling.
Every so often, vehicles would drive past. They too wanted to find out what’s at the end of the road.
After that, it was time to head back. Make sure you pack up your stuff and leave no trace!
There were people tent camping in the pullouts. You find areas off the road where you can disperse camp.
I don’t blame them. It’s so peaceful out there!
Travel Notes
I was here during the winter, and the weather was perfect! It was pleasant in the 70s, and I couldn’t imagine coming here in the summer.
Although I’ve visited Anza-Borrego in the late spring, it was too hot. Just have a sun hat and water on hand, because the sun is intense.
I’d expect that right after a rain, the washes will be deeper. I’d keep that in mind while driving there.
I spent the majority of the afternoon out here. You can make a day of it, so pack a lunch!
Overall
Exploring Coyote Canyon was a fun experience and worth the drive. I finally got to see what was at the end of the road.
Maybe next time I visit, I’ll hike deeper to reach Sheep Canyon if there’s less water. I’m sure there are more pretty views to discover back in there.
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