Hiking “The Slot” in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was probably one of my favorite nature walks of all time. I say that because it’s not a very strenuous hike, more like an adventurous walk through a nature park.
Walking through this siltstone canyon makes it feel like you’re walking in a scene of Star Wars and you might just see a clan of Jawa carrying R2-D2 away over their shoulders. Like this…
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The Slot hike is only about 0.8 miles and barely has any elevation change (300 feet). Perfect for kids and those who are not in-shape, although some parts are very narrow and can be a challenge for those with a wide build. We did the hike as an out-and-back, but I suppose you can keep going when you get towards the end up a steep hill and climb back to the parking lot. I don’t recommend this as it’s loose rock and dirt and you will probably slip pretty easily.
Photos of The Slot in Anza-Borrego
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Getting to “The Slot” hike
I can’t remember the details… so I’ll caption an excerpt from The Outbound where I get a lot of my hiking information:
The Slot is an amazing short hike located in the Anza Borrego Desert. Drive east on Hwy 78, and about a mile and a half after Borrego Springs Road, turn left onto Buttes Pass Road. Buttes Pass road is a dirt road and not marked well so look carefully. The road is pretty smooth, about a mile in you will take a left at the fork. From there, you will drive about another mile to a parking lot. Two wheel drive vehicles should be fine unless there was a recent rainstorm.
TheOutbound
And there you have it. If you’re looking for an easy hike in Anza-Borrego State Park that has plenty of shade, you’ll definitely want to check out “The Slot Hike”.
Thanks for reading and safe travels!