Location: Riverside County, about 13 miles northeast of Borrego Springs, 182 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Nearby Peaks: Villager Peak

Distance: 4.5 miles one way cross-country

Gain: 1700' gain and 2500' loss

Time: 4-6 hours one way

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Navigation: Moderate

Route Finding: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Route: Open desert terrain that is very steep and very slippery in places

Original: Byron Prinzmetal, January 2002

DRIVING ROUTE 2

• Drive east on I-10 to the 86S expressway in Indio.
• Drive south toward El Centro on SR 86S Expressway for about 35.5 miles to Salton City.
• Turn west on the Borrego-Salton Seaway (S22).
• Continue 14.8 miles to a parking area on the right (just past the 32 mile marker) and a dirt road on the left (south). Park in this area on either side of the road. The road on the south of S22 is signed "Thimble Trail". This is a good car camping spot.
• It is also possible to reach the trailhead by driving east on S22 from Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs for about 13.1 miles.

HIKING ROUTE 2

• From the summit of Villager Peak, desend the south ridge to the 4900' contour.
• Hike cross-country east to a saddle at the head of Rattlesnake Canyon.
• Continue east on a use trail to a summit known as Mile High Peak.
• Follow the undulating ridge southeast to Rosa Point.

Note: A loop trip via Villager Route 1 and Rosa Routes 2 and 1 is 17 miles with 7300' of elevation gain and takes about 13-15 hours. It may be easiest to do in reverse because the ridge of Villager is an easier descent, especially after dark.