I had wanted to hike to Coyote Peak for some time. It is considered a mini-Villager Peak and classic desert peak. The weather and season were right, and it was set to be in the low 70’s, along with sunny today. The winter months, from December to February are generally the best time for desert hikes in California. So I left my house and drove out to Anza Borrego at 5:00 AM, on a Friday.
I arrived in Anza Borrego State Park around 7:30 AM, because it takes about 2 1/2 hours to get hours to get here from my house at this hour.
As I descended down into this beautiful desert state park, I noticed Indianhead Peak off to my left in the distance.
I drove into Borrego Springs making a right through the center of town, heading around the traffic circle. I noticed a farmers market was open there. I drove straight out into what feels like the middle of nowhere.
Borrego Springs that’s one of those places where you feel like you’re getting away from it all every sense of the word. It has very few stores, homes, or much of anything.
I continued onto Salton Seaway, which leads to the Salton Sea.
When I visited here a month ago, checking out the first wildflowers, it was pretty chilly out, hovering around 32 degrees at night, far colder than I thought it might be. I had planned to camp out at the campground here, but decided to head home and come back again for a Coyote Peak soon when it was not freezing.
I could soon see Coyote Peak off in the distance illuminated by the morning sun so I decided to stop along the roadside noticing there was an absolute abundance of wildflowers. The desert blooms were hanging on well into February or perhaps just getting started.
I continued right onto the Borrego Salton Seaway before making a left onto Rockhouse Canyon Road, an unpaved road, that takes you up into Coyote Canyon, towards Clarks Dry Lake.
The sun was just starting to rise over the mountains. I noticed multiple RVs parked around here. There is plenty of free camping in Anza Borrego State Park. Snow birds come here for winter time to enjoy the beautiful weather and camp in a dark sky community.
I wasn’t expecting to see an actual coyote, driving up the road to coyote Canyon. I felt this was significant and an indicator of what was to come. Would I actually make it to Coyote Peak? It seemed like I might, seeing this coyote here. It was almost as if he was greeting me to his canyon.
After driving about 4 miles up the road in a regular car with all-season tires, I had made it just fine, the trail being hard packed from recent rains, just days ago. There didn’t seem to be anybody around. I didn’t know how popular this trail would actually be.
Where the trail began there was no parking area or signage. I parked in what looked like a small turnaround, next to some brush. I managed to scratch the side of my car up on the brush while backing up. Nice. On these narrow desert roads, you can’t expect to come out unscathed.
Without any indication of a trail anywhere I started hiking toward Coyote Peak, using alltrails as my guide. I was distracted by the all the beautiful wildflowers, some just barley beginning to open up their petals to greet the morning sun.
As I was busy making my way through the brush, and grasses, I also noticed many beautiful cactus in various shapes and sizes.
The only indicator I had found so far was the occasional iron fence post, assuring me I was headed in the right direction.
I continued onward edging closer to the foot of the peak, aiming for the wash to the left of the spine leading to the peak. It seemed that picking up the wash was the most intuitive way to reach the foot of Coyote Peak. I figured I would eventually spot a trail leading up the ridge from there.
Clark’s Dry Lake was behind me, along with Villager Peak, and the expanse of Coyote Canyon was to my right, further off in the distance.
The wash branched off into several sections or tributaries, each lined in rock. There would be rock pile after rock pile, and even a wall of rocks after wall to contend with .
I had passed two fence posts so far, and came to a third that was sandwiched between two branches of wash on a little island of sorts.
It wasn’t intuitive if at this point either where to go next. I didn’t see any more fence posts anywhere, as I dipped down into the wash, trying to take the path of least resistance.
I was enjoying all the wildflower viewing, and not as focused on getting to Coyote Peak. I guess that is one of the joys of solo hiking, you are on nobody’s schedule but your own. There is no disappointing anyone, or stalling people, when you get sidetracked by a different unexpected adventure. I get sidetracked a lot, let’s just say.
I listed all the wildflowers and cactus I found below. This is one of the things I enjoy most about hiking, finding and identifying wildflowers, and butterflies.
Wildflower List
- Fritillaria gibbosa
- Desert Chicory
- Wallace’s Woolly Daisy is native to California, found in sandy soil, rocks, and gravel in desert
- Desert Star – a small annual herb native to the Southwest, with daisy-like flowers, which grows in desert flats, sandy washes, and rocky slopes.
- Wooly Star with it’s blue flowers, grows in the arid, rocky desert environment, of the Mojave
- Brittlebush – has yellow flowers, and grows in clumps in the Southwest
- The Desert Gold Poppy – thrives in sandy soils, washes, and slopes, blooming from February to May.
- The pink flowers of Trailing Windmills are found in desert washes and rocky openings, often with sand grains stuck to its sticky foliage.
- Virgin’s Mantle with its purple petals, thrives not only in Anza Borrego, but in the dry, rocky regions of the Mediterranean Basin and North Africa. It is sometimes used as a herbal remedy, known as Dhamasa, valued for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties.. The leaves have been consumed as a vegetable or boiled to make tea by nomadic tribes. It is used in traditional remedies to treat various ailments, including viral fevers, malaria, skin diseases, and respiratory issues.
- Sand Blazingstar with its yellow petals, grows in dry, gravelly desert areas and sandy soils.
- Rock Hibiscus or Paleface is adapted to arid environments, growing in shallow, rocky, or sandy soils in desert areas.
- Hedgehog Cactus
- California Barrel Cactus
Eventually, I made it through to the main wash, which began to narrow. This could be a destination in itself, with it’s heavy boulder’s perched alongside it, teetering over the edge. What would I find, if I ventured further along through tangled mess?
I continued up the wash admiring the wildflowers, surprised how undisturbed this area was, but not for much longer.
I hadn’t seen a footprint even one hiking boot at all. No crushed grass, or disturbed look to any of this. Was I on the right track? I started to slow down and contemplate where I should actually be going.
Feeling a bit lost
As I hiked on, slowing my pace a bit, I noticed that the walls of the wash had begun to increase on both sides. I kept turning around to see where I started, wondering how I was gonna get out of this wash and if I was ever going to see a trail leading to the peak.
When I hiked the trail to Villager Peak, I don’t remember having this much trouble finding my way. There was a very definite trail most of the way to the foot of Villager and there was also a trail going up, along with cairns. I occasionally lost that trail, but I knew I was on the trail. Here there was nothing to indicate where to begin.
I began to look for the ridge trail in earnest. Just then, about 30 feet away from me I overheard a group of three men, before spotting them, hiking along, about 20 foot above me, along the right side of the wash.
I decided to scramble up the side of the wash, and look for the trail up there, and see, since they seemed to have the right idea. I would’ve eventually figured it out. Such is hiking solo. There is a great deal of figuring things out and backtracking. You learn a lot about navigation, along with what to look for, when you solo hike.
I also overheard them talking about God, and would later meet them, learning they all belonged to a same church. It was very comforting to know that these three had nothing better to do than talk about bible verses and Jesus while hiking, an indicator that I would be in good company.
The first several hundred feet of this ridge was covered in grass, and quite steep.
I passed by the group briefly, and they would soon pass me by. After scrambling up the hillside, and over some small boulders, there it was, an actual trail. It wasn’t very well traveled, but it was definitely visible.
I was finally on a trail! An overwhelming sense of gratitude was felt, as I joyfully hiked on.
I took my time making switchbacks, I would lose the trail again and again, always remaining hopeful it would again materialize. I was starting to believe it would be like this the entire way.
The trail would disappear periodically, and the terrain was similar to that of Villager Peak, rocky, slippery granite.
I would come to a saddle, then it would flatten out briefly, and then there would be another steep climb.
This pattern continued. Each time I came to a saddle, there was always some sort of cluster rocks, and I would lose the trail briefly, meandering my way around them or all over them again.
This hike truly had adventure written all over it, since that every turn, there was spiny yucca to contend with, agave plants, drop offs to steer clear of, and awesome views.
About halfway of the peak I was overwhelmed with how steep it was, and how slow it going this was. I feared it may take far longer than expected to complete the hike.
I decided to just take my time, and enjoy the views, however, long it took to get up there. I didn’t know how long it would be exactly. I had a feeling that my Alltrails calculation would be off considerably.
I sat on a rock and enjoyed the scenery for about 20 minutes and had a snack here before heading back. I met the three hikers who had joined me at the peak. They were from Lake Elsinore and told me a bit about their church. They had been to Coyote Peak before and we talked peakbagging for a moment before I got on my way.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it is helpful in knowing what to expect, should you decide to visit here.
The Essentials
Just be sure to come prepared, bring the 10 essentials, and Pack Out Your Trash to keep the wilderness pristine for future hikers.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
Like and Subscribe to my Channel!
Follow my Journey @serafinabenjamin
Follow along on My Youtube Channel where I post videos!
Disclaimer:
The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2025 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
Serafina Hikes 