Hike Yaqui Well Nature Trail, California

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The Yaqui Well Nature Trail is an easy 1.6 mile loop trail located just outside of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. The trail begins across the road from Tamarisk region. An alternate trail returns via Yaqui Well Primitive Campground road. The trail leads to a historic watering hole and along the trail hikers will see abundant birds and other wildlife, as well as ancient Ironwood trees. Yaqui Well is a historic spring located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southeastern San Diego County, California in the United States about 21.4 mi (34.4 km) east of Warner Springs. The watering hole can be reached by a popular 1.64 mi (2.64 km) one-hour (round trip) hiking trail starting at Tamarisk Grove Campground. The trail was described in the New York Times as a "flat, gentle hike—the kind that wraps around small, sloping hills, abuts a shallow canyon, and rewards its guests with an otherworldly view of the desert at the finale." The name reportedly comes from a Native American couple that lived near the seep; he was Yaqui, she was Kumeyaay. According to another account the well was deepened and framed by two Yaqui left to the task by W.H. Ball of the Ball's Freighters mule train. If there was no water in Buena Vista Creek or Cañada Verruga, Yaqui Well was the only water between Warners' Ranch and the Colorado River. Storied gold miner Peg Leg Smith may have camped at Yaqui Well while prospecting his claim. In 1872 a former Butterfield stagecoach driver named John McCain and his brothers built a road from Scissors Crossing or Sentenac Cienega over the hill and down Plum Canyon to the spring. In the early 20th century ranchers built a cabin and watering troughs and created a cattle watering station. The historic Paul Sentenac cabin was located near Yaqui Well, close to the present-day site of Tamarisk campground. Nearby landmarks including Kenyon Overlook above Mezcal Bajada, and Cactus Loop Trail, which showcases teddy-bear cactus, beaver-tail cactus, barrel cactus, fishhook cactus, and cholla. California folklore holds that the ghosts of long-dead prospectors, or travelers lost for eternity on the Southern Emigrant Trail, appear at the Well at night when the moon is full.

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