Taking advantage of the cooler weather before it starts to heat up in our local deserts I decided to head out to Anza Borrego and check out one its many slot canyons. The “Sheep Tanks” are Tinajas ( a term meaning “surface pockets” or “depressions”, formed in bedrock that tend to form below waterfalls, are carved out by spring flow or seepage, or are caused by sand and gravel scouring in intermittent streams. Tinajas are an important source of surface water storage in arid environments, the local Big Horn Sheep use these for water and you can find their bones at the bottom of this slot canyon. These “Sheep Tanks” are located at the bottom of a deep and narrow slot canyon in the Calcite Mine region of Anza Borrego.
Check out this hike:
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Added by Jason Neitzke
Distance: about one mile (no need to rush). Duration: 1-3 hours, depending on your speed. Short hike, easy access and amazing views. No permit required.
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.
From the parking lot, you will take the trail into the canyon that is directly in front of you. This will be the hardest and steepest part of the hike. There are no trail markers for the Slot. Do not take the trail to the right of the parking lot or you will miss the Slot. Once you are at the bottom, go left and head to where the canyon starts to narrow. As you enter, the walls start to close in and you are taking your bag off to get through some tight passages. Every turn is exciting, it is constantly changing and you are not sure what is going to be around the next bend. The Slot is made of siltstone and is very brittle so watch your footing if you decide to climb around. At the end of the Slot you hit a dirt road, from there you can either turn around and go back through or follow the road and find some other trails. Further down the road there are some awesome wind caves and arches that are worth checking out.
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Join the communityReviews
Sophia Steen
over 2 years ago
Great short hike
Beautiful sandstone slot canyon. It gets tight in areas. Went of the main trail a bit and did some climbing up! So much fun
5.0
Scott Sichler
🥇Top Contributor
almost 3 years ago
Slots O fun
This is a really fun hike. The slot is a little tight in spots but doable by most people. We like to hike out into cliffs beyond the slots for great views of the area.
5.0
Allett Wallets
about 4 years ago
Worth The Stop
This was an entertaining hike. It makes you feel like a kid again. It's a unique experience and a worth while diversion.
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4.0
Christine Thompson
almost 5 years ago
Hands Down One Of The Best Adventure
It is simply amazing! Your weaving in and out of the canyon you find yourself going through tunnels . A must see
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5.0
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