{"id":4367,"date":"2011-03-23T01:32:57","date_gmt":"2011-03-23T01:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/?p=4367"},"modified":"2022-09-14T02:44:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T02:44:50","slug":"hellhole-canyon-hike-to-maidenhair-falls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/hellhole-canyon-hike-to-maidenhair-falls\/","title":{"rendered":"Hellhole Canyon Hike to Maidenhair Falls"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-4367\" data-postid=\"4367\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-4367 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_xnyj352 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-2 tb_hd4l353 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_trxp353    wow\" data-tf-animation=\"zoomIn\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><strong>This fantastic desert hike up Hellhole Canyon to Maidenhair Falls is located not too far from Borrego Springs.<\/strong> Hiking this trail will take you through classic desert landscapes, pass through a wild grove of California fan palms and, after a little bit of boulder scrambling, to a pure desert miracle: a waterfall in the middle of the desert \u2013 not only one, but two.<\/p><p>The 5 mile roundtrip hike up Hellhole Canyon is somewhat similar to the more popular hike up Borrego Palm Canyon.\u00a0 The only difference is that Hellhole Canyon isn\u2019t advertised much, so therefore it doesn\u2019t have as many people hiking the trail.\u00a0 Being closer to the Anza-Borrego visitor center, Borrego Palm Canyon typically attracts a lot of hikers.\u00a0 Furthermore, Hellhole Canyon has an added attraction, a waterfall surrounded by maidenhair ferns, suitably named Maidenhair Falls.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_bjew354 last\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_2rn4354 image-top rounded drop-shadow  tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"fadeInRightBig\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"293\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-4362\" title=\"Maidenhair\" alt=\"Maidenhair\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair.jpg 220w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair-192x255.jpg 192w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair-280x372.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_vf0w352 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_m00l354 first\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_7h2o354 image-top   tf_mw wow\" data-tf-animation=\"rubberBand\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown-200x75.png\" width=\"200\" height=\"75\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-2366\" title=\"ScrollDown\" alt=\"ScrollDown\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown-200x75.png 200w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown.png 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_9hwm354   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Getting There<\/h3><p>The trailhead for Hellhole Canyon is 2 miles from the center of Borrego Springs at Christmas Circle. From this unique traffic circle located in the center of town, reset your odometer and drive west on Palm Canyon Drive towards the park visitors center.<\/p><p>At about 1.4 miles, turn left onto County Route S-22; if you instead continued straight at this point, you would head into the park visitors center. Parking for the trailhead will be reached, on the right side, 2.2 miles from Christmas Circle. The dirt parking lot can easily accommodate 10-15 vehicles and is located about 100 feet west of S-22. Just beyond the parking area on Highway S-22 is the base of Montezuma Grade, which takes travelers over the mountains.<\/p><p>More&#8230;<\/p><!-- Either there are no banners, they are disabled or none qualified for this location! -->    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_48w6355   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Pictures<\/h3><p>Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><div  class=\"module themify_builder_slider_wrap tf_clearfix module-slider tb_l7sj355  slider-caption-overlay  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"themify_builder_slider tf_carousel tf_swiper-container tf_rel tf_overflow\" data-lazy=\"1\"        data-visible=\"1\"\n        data-tab-visible=\"\"\n        data-mob-visible=\"\"\n        data-scroll=\"1\"\n                            data-auto=\"4000\"\n            data-controller=\"0\"\n            data-pause_hover=\"1\"\n                data-speed=\"normal\"\n        data-wrapvar=\"1\"\n        data-slider_nav=\"1\"\n        data-pager=\"1\"\n        data-effect=\"scroll\" \n        data-height=\"variable\"\n        data-css_url=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/pinboard\/themify\/themify-builder\/css\/modules\/sliders\/carousel,http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/pinboard\/themify\/themify-builder\/css\/modules\/sliders\/slider\"\n                    >\n        <div class=\"tf_swiper-wrapper tf_lazy tf_rel tf_w tf_h tf_textc\">\n                         <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#4b4c44 25%,#2b75d4 25% 50%,#3e80de 50% 75%,#5b5d5a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#3d4037 25%,#505044 25% 50%,#7a7764 50% 75%,#8d7d70 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#4b4f1c 25%,#8e8b84 25% 50%,#d3c7b1 50% 75%,#7c7376 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#959490 25%,#c9c8c4 25% 50%,#38431b 50% 75%,#393536 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-4363\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-4363\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>The hike begins up Hellhole Canyon<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#262223 25%,#555249 25% 50%,#bbc2df 50% 75%,#654747 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#47473f 25%,#302d1e 25% 50%,#b5b6ba 50% 75%,#767642 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#2d301d 25%,#697d40 25% 50%,#a4a45a 50% 75%,#b8a795 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#323024 25%,#4b4b2f 25% 50%,#d0c38c 50% 75%,#acacae 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-4364\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-4364\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>The first palm trees come into view<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#696269 25%,#cfdaec 25% 50%,#504330 50% 75%,#7a766a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#948b84 25%,#6f7261 25% 50%,#5c6b32 50% 75%,#e5e4df 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#685c4c 25%,#07080a 25% 50%,#3b3b3b 50% 75%,#605d4a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#313222 25%,#868072 25% 50%,#aa9a07 50% 75%,#70754d 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-4365\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-4365\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>Finding your way to the falls is difficult<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>                     <div class=\"tf_swiper-slide\" style=\"content-visibility:hidden\">            <div class=\"slide-inner-wrap\">\n                                    <div class=\"tf_rel tf_lazy slide-image\">\n                                                                            <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#437e10 25%,#50430f 25% 50%,#9c7d78 50% 75%,#a3a6c9 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#90c43b 25%,#384d0a 25% 50%,#231c0c 50% 75%,#a0a2cb 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#000200 25%,#7e7d68 25% 50%,#556526 50% 75%,#6a6c93 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#674b35 25%,#0c1407 25% 50%,#574e4f 50% 75%,#6c6e63 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"tf_svg_lazy wp-post-image wp-image-4366\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-4366\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>                                            <\/div>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"slide-content tb_text_wrap\">\n                        \n                                                    <div>Maidenhair Falls #2<\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>            <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_y5ys352 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_egil355 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_09m5355   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Shop for <strong><span style=\"color: #b8002b;\">Anza-Borrego<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0items<\/h3><p>Scroll down to see and shop for items related to the\u00a0Anza-Borrego area\u00a0from Amazon.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_z5cf356   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\namzn_assoc_ad_type = \"responsive_search_widget\";\namzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"backrcom-20\";\namzn_assoc_link_id = \"HNODTPSV2MFQLFN7\";\namzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";\namzn_assoc_region = \"US\";\namzn_assoc_placement = \"\";\namzn_assoc_search_type = \"search_widget\";\namzn_assoc_width = 160;\namzn_assoc_height = 600;\namzn_assoc_default_search_category = \"\";\namzn_assoc_default_search_key = \"anza-borrego\";\namzn_assoc_theme = \"light\";\namzn_assoc_bg_color = \"FFFFFF\";\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script src=\"\/\/z-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;Operation=GetScript&#038;ID=OneJS&#038;WS=1&#038;MarketPlace=US\"><\/script><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_ttcn356 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_y9uz356   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\n<!-- BRW Text Square Ad -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"      style=\"display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px\"      data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9021992350535116\"      data-ad-slot=\"1153789156\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_fmva356   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p><script src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\" async=\"\"><\/script><!-- Blog Above Videos Small --> <ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 300px; height: 250px;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9021992350535116\" data-ad-slot=\"0571485898\"><\/ins><script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_nvga352 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_1m8z357 first\">\n                    <!-- module video -->\n<div  class=\"module module-video tb_pukm357 video-top  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n            <h3 class=\"module-title\">Virtual Tour on YouTube<\/h3>        <div class=\"video-wrap-outer\" style=\"max-width:100%\">\n            <div class=\"video-wrap tf_rel tf_overflow\">\n                                    <noscript><iframe data-no-script src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dBeN661obW4?pip=1&#038;playsinline=1\" allow=\"accelerometer;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture;fullscreen\" class=\"tf_abs tf_w tf_h\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n                                <\/div>\n            <!-- \/video-wrap -->\n        <\/div>\n        <!-- \/video-wrap-outer -->\n            <\/div>\n<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_nfhh357   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Go For A Hike?<\/h3><p>For most of the hike, the trail is easy to follow. A large kiosk will be found at the parking lot which displays available information about the hike. This is also the trailhead for the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) that climbs the ridge to the south and heads over the mountains and into Culp Valley. About a quarter of mile from the trailhead, the CRHT turns left and climbs the steep ridge to the south.<\/p><p>The first mile or more of the hike is on a mildly slopping alluvial fan that drains Hellhole Canyon. Alluvium is ideal growing habitat for a multitude of desert-type plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. So keep you eyes peeled for all kinds of plants. February and March are the best months to see wildflowers.<\/p><p>About 1.5 miles from the trailhead, the canyon walls of Hellhole Canyon begin to narrow and you will soon notice that you are in a classic desert canyon. The trail twists around many large boulders and crosses the drainage often. At any point, you will notice that there is actually water flowing in the drainage. In the distance, you will see the palm trees of Hellhole Palms.<br \/>The grove of Hellhole Palms is reached about 2.2 miles in from the trailhead. Starting here, the trail becomes difficult to follow because trails cannot be built or maintained over large stretches of boulders. Furthermore, every year usually brings new flash floods that rearranges all of the boulders and plants which changes the trail\u2019s path.<\/p><p>Reaching the two waterfalls requires some keen path-finding skills and patients. Our best suggestion to any hiker is to follow the majority of the footsteps. We are certain that many hikers that make the effort to come up this far never see the waterfalls. But they do exists as our pictures prove! Finding the falls requires repeated creek crossings and scrambling over boulders. Another hint: listen for the waterfalls.<\/p><p>Enjoy the views and the challenges!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_q93y352 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_lwzs357 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_nli8357   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Support Us<\/h3><p>Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we&#8217;ll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p><p>Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. 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Hiking this trail will take you through classic desert landscapes, pass through a wild grove of California fan palms and, after a little bit of boulder scrambling, to a pure desert miracle: a waterfall in the middle [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,23,8,19,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anza-borrego","category-california","category-floraplants","category-hike","category-season-spring","category-season-winter","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.9 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This desert hike up Hellhole Canyon to Maidenhair Falls is located in the 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03:39:26","updated":"2026-05-13 18:23:02","seo_analyzer_scan_date":null},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/anza-borrego\/\" title=\"Anza-Borrego\">Anza-Borrego<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tHellhole Canyon Hike to Maidenhair Falls\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog"},{"label":"Anza-Borrego","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/anza-borrego\/"},{"label":"Hellhole Canyon Hike to Maidenhair Falls","link":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/hellhole-canyon-hike-to-maidenhair-falls\/"}],"builder_content":"<p><strong>This fantastic desert hike up Hellhole Canyon to Maidenhair Falls is located not too far from Borrego Springs.<\/strong> Hiking this trail will take you through classic desert landscapes, pass through a wild grove of California fan palms and, after a little bit of boulder scrambling, to a pure desert miracle: a waterfall in the middle of the desert \u2013 not only one, but two.<\/p><p>The 5 mile roundtrip hike up Hellhole Canyon is somewhat similar to the more popular hike up Borrego Palm Canyon.\u00a0 The only difference is that Hellhole Canyon isn\u2019t advertised much, so therefore it doesn\u2019t have as many people hiking the trail.\u00a0 Being closer to the Anza-Borrego visitor center, Borrego Palm Canyon typically attracts a lot of hikers.\u00a0 Furthermore, Hellhole Canyon has an added attraction, a waterfall surrounded by maidenhair ferns, suitably named Maidenhair Falls.<\/p>\n<img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair.jpg\" title=\"Maidenhair\" alt=\"Maidenhair\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair.jpg 220w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair-192x255.jpg 192w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Maidenhair-280x372.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px\" \/>\n<img src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown-200x75.png\" width=\"200\" height=\"75\" title=\"ScrollDown\" alt=\"ScrollDown\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown-200x75.png 200w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ScrollDown.png 220w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\n<h3>Getting There<\/h3><p>The trailhead for Hellhole Canyon is 2 miles from the center of Borrego Springs at Christmas Circle. From this unique traffic circle located in the center of town, reset your odometer and drive west on Palm Canyon Drive towards the park visitors center.<\/p><p>At about 1.4 miles, turn left onto County Route S-22; if you instead continued straight at this point, you would head into the park visitors center. Parking for the trailhead will be reached, on the right side, 2.2 miles from Christmas Circle. The dirt parking lot can easily accommodate 10-15 vehicles and is located about 100 feet west of S-22. Just beyond the parking area on Highway S-22 is the base of Montezuma Grade, which takes travelers over the mountains.<\/p><p>More...<\/p><p>[adrotate group=\"10\"]<\/p>\n<h3>Pictures<\/h3><p>Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p>\n<img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#4b4c44 25%,#2b75d4 25% 50%,#3e80de 50% 75%,#5b5d5a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#3d4037 25%,#505044 25% 50%,#7a7764 50% 75%,#8d7d70 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#4b4f1c 25%,#8e8b84 25% 50%,#d3c7b1 50% 75%,#7c7376 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#959490 25%,#c9c8c4 25% 50%,#38431b 50% 75%,#393536 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr1\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr1-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> The hike begins up Hellhole Canyon <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#262223 25%,#555249 25% 50%,#bbc2df 50% 75%,#654747 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#47473f 25%,#302d1e 25% 50%,#b5b6ba 50% 75%,#767642 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#2d301d 25%,#697d40 25% 50%,#a4a45a 50% 75%,#b8a795 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#323024 25%,#4b4b2f 25% 50%,#d0c38c 50% 75%,#acacae 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr2\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr2-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> The first palm trees come into view <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#696269 25%,#cfdaec 25% 50%,#504330 50% 75%,#7a766a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#948b84 25%,#6f7261 25% 50%,#5c6b32 50% 75%,#e5e4df 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#685c4c 25%,#07080a 25% 50%,#3b3b3b 50% 75%,#605d4a 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#313222 25%,#868072 25% 50%,#aa9a07 50% 75%,#70754d 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr3\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr3-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> Finding your way to the falls is difficult <img src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20width='800'%20height='450'%20viewBox=%270%200%20800%20450%27%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" loading=\"lazy\" data-lazy=\"1\" data-tf-not-load=\"1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(to right,#437e10 25%,#50430f 25% 50%,#9c7d78 50% 75%,#a3a6c9 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#90c43b 25%,#384d0a 25% 50%,#231c0c 50% 75%,#a0a2cb 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#000200 25%,#7e7d68 25% 50%,#556526 50% 75%,#6a6c93 75%),linear-gradient(to right,#674b35 25%,#0c1407 25% 50%,#574e4f 50% 75%,#6c6e63 75%)\" decoding=\"async\" data-tf-src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" data-tf-srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-tf-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img data-tf-not-load data-no-script src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-800x450.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" title=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" alt=\"MaidenhairSldr4\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MaidenhairSldr4-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript> Maidenhair Falls #2\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Shop for <strong>Anza-Borrego<\/strong>\u00a0items<\/h3><p>Scroll down to see and shop for items related to the\u00a0Anza-Borrego area\u00a0from Amazon.<\/p>\n<p><br \/> <\/p>\n<p>\n<ins style=\"display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9021992350535116\" data-ad-slot=\"1153789156\"><\/ins> <\/p>\n<p> <ins style=\"display: inline-block; width: 300px; height: 250px;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9021992350535116\" data-ad-slot=\"0571485898\"><\/ins><\/p>\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dBeN661obW4[\/embed]\n<h3>Go For A Hike?<\/h3><p>For most of the hike, the trail is easy to follow. A large kiosk will be found at the parking lot which displays available information about the hike. This is also the trailhead for the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) that climbs the ridge to the south and heads over the mountains and into Culp Valley. About a quarter of mile from the trailhead, the CRHT turns left and climbs the steep ridge to the south.<\/p><p>The first mile or more of the hike is on a mildly slopping alluvial fan that drains Hellhole Canyon. Alluvium is ideal growing habitat for a multitude of desert-type plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. So keep you eyes peeled for all kinds of plants. February and March are the best months to see wildflowers.<\/p><p>About 1.5 miles from the trailhead, the canyon walls of Hellhole Canyon begin to narrow and you will soon notice that you are in a classic desert canyon. The trail twists around many large boulders and crosses the drainage often. At any point, you will notice that there is actually water flowing in the drainage. In the distance, you will see the palm trees of Hellhole Palms.<br \/>The grove of Hellhole Palms is reached about 2.2 miles in from the trailhead. Starting here, the trail becomes difficult to follow because trails cannot be built or maintained over large stretches of boulders. Furthermore, every year usually brings new flash floods that rearranges all of the boulders and plants which changes the trail\u2019s path.<\/p><p>Reaching the two waterfalls requires some keen path-finding skills and patients. Our best suggestion to any hiker is to follow the majority of the footsteps. We are certain that many hikers that make the effort to come up this far never see the waterfalls. But they do exists as our pictures prove! Finding the falls requires repeated creek crossings and scrambling over boulders. Another hint: listen for the waterfalls.<\/p><p>Enjoy the views and the challenges!<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>Support Us<\/h3><p>Help us fill up our tank with gas for our next trip by donating $5 and we'll bring you back more quality virtual tours of our trips!<\/p><p>Your credit card payment is safe and easy using PayPal. Click the [Donate] button to get started:<\/p><p>[paypal-donation]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Subscribe<\/h3><p style=\"text-align: left;\">Submit your email address and we'll notify you when there is new content.<\/p><p>[subscribe2]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>See all our comprehensive virtual tour guides at<\/em>:<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"BackRoadsWest\" href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/brw\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg\" alt=\"BRWlogo\" width=\"300\" height=\"40\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo-300x40.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/BRWlogo.jpg 438w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p> <ins style=\"display: inline-block; width: 468px; height: 60px;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9021992350535116\" data-ad-slot=\"7695972004\"><\/ins><\/p>\n<h3>More Trips<\/h3> Perhaps you would like to go on other trips near this area? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/category\/anza-borrego\/\"> See more trips on Anza-Borrego <\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4367"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6241,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4367\/revisions\/6241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}