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

Maps

Nearby Peaks: Villager Peak

Distance: 14.5 miles round trip cross-country

Gain: 5500' total, 4800' out plus 700' on return

Time: 10-12 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, very strenuous

Navigation: Moderate

Route Finding: Moderate

Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions

Route: Trail and moderately steep desert terrain.

Original: Byron Prinzmetal, January 2002

DRIVING ROUTE 3

• 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 12.1 miles to a miles to a parking area on the left side of the road just past Call Box 346.
• It is also possible to reach the trailhead by driving east on S22 from Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs for about 15.8 miles.

HIKING ROUTE 3

• Enter Smoke Tree Canyon from a wash just east of the Call Box 346. The canyon splits. One canyon heads east toward the Natural Rock Tanks and the other heads north-northwest.
• Hike up dry wash and north-north west canyon past a dry waterfall to an open area (approximately 3.1 miles).
• Leave the wash and hike up a faint use trail to elevation 2260' and turn left on another use trail following the contours north.
• At elevation 2960' the trail contours in north-northwest direction to a saddle at 3140' just west of "Pyramid Peak". "Pyramid Peak" (3480'+, not named on topo, but has a register can) can be hiked form this location.
• Hike northwest and over / down several bumps until you intersect Route 1 at the saddle (3600'+).
• Continue on Route 1 for about a mile to the summit.