PINYON MOUNTAIN
About 4.4 miles southeast of Scissors Crossing on the left side of the Highway is the turnoff for PINYON MOUNTAIN.The road crosses several washes as it climbs to it's highest point,3950 ft. It enters a secluded valley with numerous campsites among the Pines.
About 5.7 miles in is the highest point of the route. On the North side of the road is a lone Pine which may be the largest in the Park. Pinyon nuts were a staple of the Indians of the area. A walk up the north side of the road will give you quite a view of the Borrego Valley and the Borrego Badlands, with the Santa Rosa Mts. in the background.
About 6.4 miles in, you can hike to Whale Peak. The trail is on the right side of the road and it goes about 3 miles through a narrow rocky wash, across an open meadow and up a bushy slope to the summit.(5349 ft.) Because there has been no burn in this area for a long time , the plant life has grown into large, well-developed specimens.
About 7.4 miles in. THE SQUEEZE. This is where the road gets narrow and interesting. The road passes between two rocks that are about 6 feet apart. Most people turn around at this point. If you continue on through the rocks, you enter a small valley that continues on to the PINYON MOUNTAIN DROPOFF.
About 8.3 miles in, THE PINYON MOUNTAIN DROPOFF.
"Looking UP the dropoff"
Of the several dropoffs in the Anza-Borrego area, this is probably the most "DANGEROUS". It is a good idea to let any passangers walk down this area. From here you enter the FISH CREEK area and on through SPLIT MOUNTAIN to the paved highway to Ocotillo Wells.
