Off-road to Arroyo Salado Trail to Pumpkin Patch, 17 Palms & 5 Palms Oasis, Anza-Borrego Park & Ocotillo Wells, California

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To reach Pumpkin Patch, Seventeen Palms, Una Palma & Five Palms turn off S-22 at Truckhaven Rocks Campground. There is a sign for 17 Palms on the Arroyo Salado Wash. The drive to 17 Palms is very short from this point. This is a watering hole for the wildlife with a couple of palms in the area. You cannot camp at this spot. Continue on the main route for a short distance down the Arroyo Salado Wash and you then enter the Borrego Badlands along the Cut Across Trail. The terrain in the Badlands is made up of clay soil which can get very greasy in the rains and hence is not very safe to use. A little further down the trail you come to the second oasis - the Five Palms. As the name suggests, from the original there are just 4 palms still standing. Una Palma can be reached by walking over the ridges of the 17 and 5 Palms locations. Or you can go right on Cut Across Trail to arrive at the Una Palma Location. After a mile, the Tule Wash Trail turns east into the Ocotillo Wells OHV Area. Continue on to get to the Pumpkin Patch. Pumpkin Patch is located within Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. Pumpkin Patch is a remote field of round rocks is a popular destination in Ocotillo Wells. Created long ago when the climate here was wet, then shaped through years of erosion, the Pumpkin Patch has sadly shrunk over the years due to collecting. Leave the “pumpkins” here so your grandchildren can take their grandchildren to see the “Patch.” You then drive further, across a couple of wide sandy washes to get out of the badlands and towards the Borrego Mountains. Here is where you can access the Ocotillo Wells OHV Area. One of the widest washes here is the San Felipe Wash. First timers can get a little confused as there are no clear directions here but the trail moves upstream to meet the Buttes Pass Trail. In the Borrego Mountains and in between the West and East Butte you come upon the Buttes Pass and it is a terrific sight with its high canyon walls. As you exit the canyon towards California 78 you find Hawk Canyon, which is another scenic site to visit. Though it is an old camping site, it is not advisable to camp close to the wash. The trail ends at California 78 just 2.8 miles west of the ranger station at Ocotillo Wells where you can use the coin-operated showering facilities. Some of the distances are: 0.0 miles at Arroyo Salado Primitive Camp 3.6 miles to 17 Palms 4.3 miles to 5 Palms and Una Palma 7.7 miles to Pumpkin Patch (restrooms) Source: Dirtopia

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