Peak 83 - Borrego Mountain West Butte - A Quick Ridgeline Trail to a View of the badlands
Borrego Mountain West Butte
Elevation: 1,207’
Mileage: ~2.2
Trailhead: Slot Canyon Trailhead
Agency: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Date Hiked: 12/04/2020
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12/04/2020
After my trip up to Borrego Mountain East Butte, it was time to drive over and get to the top of Borrego Mountain, which I will call Borrego Mountain West Butte, just for clarification. It is a mere 11 feet taller than its eastern sibling.
I exited the East Butte trailhead and went south on Goat Trail, and made a right on the 78 for about 2.2 miles, making another right onto Buttes Pass Road, a decent dirt road passable by most vehicles.
The ridgetop trail up to Borrego Mountain West Butte
Since the trailhead is shared with The Slot, a very popular hike, there were several other cars and hikers in various stages of hiking.
I headed up the ridge to the northwest of the trailhead, immediately leaving all other hikers behind.
On the way up to Borrego Mountain West Butte, looking back to the trailhead
I was feeling very good after my short hike up to East Butte, and the use trail on the top of the ridge was much easier to follow. Since this was my first time in this particular area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, I took my time, enjoying the views.
Scenery to the west of the trail
As I got higher, I could see some use trails here and there, leading down into the canyons to the left and right. The trail became more rocky, as I climbed up a sandy wash. I lost the use trail for a second until I got to the top of a small rocky shoulder where I turned right and ascended another short hill to the top of a rocky ridgeline.
Looking down Hawk Canyon from the Borrego Mountain West Butte Trail
From there I made a sharp right at the top of the ridge and dropped a bit before turning left to head to the summit.
Interesting rocks at the top of Borrego Mountain West Butte
Looking across San Felipe Wash to the Santa Rosa Mountains from Borrego Mountain West Butte
It was a beautiful morning, early enough to still be nice and cool. I could see out over San Felipe Wash and all the way north to the Santa Rosa Mountains. Also below were the Borrego Badlands, rippling off into the distance.
The use trail through the rocks on the way down
Looking down at the Borrego Badlands and the Santa Rosa Mountains from the Borrego Mountain West Butte Trail
I savored the view for as long as I could, knowing I still had a little bit of a drive to my last peak of the day and that darkness comes quickly in the winter.
I descended the way I came, not seeing another person until I got back to the trailhead.
Borrego Mountain West Butte Trail Map (Click to enlarge)
