The Jacumba Mountains are located in Southern California and extend across the border into Mexico. They are a jumble of granitic rock almost like Joshua Tree. The Jacumbas are a series of almost parallel ridges separating valleys, with each ridge successively lower than the next, forming a great staircase descending eastward into the Colorado Desert. The highpoint of the range known as Jacumba Mountain is 4,512 feet above sea level and is located within Anza-Borrego State Park.

Anza-Borrego State Park:
With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the Colorado Desert is the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States. The park name is derived from a combination of the name of Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word "borrego," referring to bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Animals in the park include roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as desert iguanas, chuckwallas and four species of rattlesnake.

Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is located on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County. It is about a two-hour drive from from San Diego, Riverside, and Palm Springs. Many visitors approach from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. From the coast, these highways descend from the heights of the Peninsular range of mountains with views of the Colorado Desert. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of Interstate 8.

Getting There

Take State Highway 8 to Ocotillo, California. From Ocotillo drive 9 miles north-northwest on County Highway S2 to a good dirt road on the left side of the road. Turn left onto this dirt road. There is a small wood sign that says Mortero Wash at the beginning of the road and a sign with a map of Anza-Borrego Park in the parking area at the beginning of the road.

Follow the Mortero Wash road approximately 4 miles to the railroad tracks. There are two possible routes from this point and they are:

If you have high clearance you can cross the tracks and continue southeast for 0.6 miles to a junction. To avoid a rough section in the road turn left here and go about 0.1 of a mile before turning right and going 0.25 of a mile where you will intersect the road to the Mortero Palms trailhead once again. From here drive about 0.5 mile to an intersection with a sign that says "Mortero Palms". Turn left at this intersection and drive another 0.25 mile to the parking area for Mortero Palms. Park here.

If you do not have high clearance you might want to turn left at the railroad tracks and drive 1.5 miles to where you can cross the tracks. Once you cross the tracks follow the road (bearing left at forks) for 1.7 miles until you reach the intersection with the sign that says "Mortero Palms". Turn left at this intersection and drive another 0.25 mile to the parking area for Mortero Palms. Park here.

Map of Driving Routes:

Climb Route

From the Mortero Palms parking area ascend the canyon heading SW for 0.75 mile to the flat area at around 2600 feet elevation. From there head SW across the flat area to the base of the mountain. Climb up the steep slope to the summit ridge about 0.75 mile NNW of the highpoint of the Jacumbas. Turn left and head SSE along the ridge past or over a number of bumps on the way to the summit, which is the highpoint of the Jacumbas.

This hike is Class 1 to Class 2 in places. It can be warm down in this area, so bring plenty of water with you and don't plan on doing the hike in the summer. The hike is 5 miles round-trip with 2600 feet elevation gain.

Map of the route I took to Jacumba's summit:

Camping

Anza-Borrego Park Backcountry Camping:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the few California parks that allows open camping throughout its 600,00 acres. There is no charge for this type of camping. Just find a nice spot along one of the backcountry roads and set up camp. The trailhead and the area surrounding the trailhead to Mortero Palms makes a nice backcountry camping spot.

Developed Campgrounds in Anza-Borrego State Park:

For all reservations, call 800-444-7275. Borrego Palm Canyon offers five groups sites. Groups require 6-month advance reservations; 7-day limit. Fee charge.

Borrego Palm Canyon -- 52 hookup sites, 65 non-hookup, 5 group sites, water, flush toilets, showers, phone and fire rings. 2.5 miles west of Borrego Springs near Visitor Center. Fee charged.

Vernon Whitaker Horse Camp -- 10 sites for campers with horses only, 8 miles north of Borrego Springs. Fee charged.

Bow Willow -- Southern part of the park - Bow Willow Canyon. 16 primitive sites with chemical toilets, fire rings and picnic tables. Fee charged.

Tamarisk Grove -- 27 RV sites, at junction of California Route 78 and County Road S-3. Water, flush toilets, showers, phone and fire rings available. Fee charged.

Yaqui Well -- 10 numbered sites with pit toilets; across from Tamarisk Grove Campground. More sites available. No fee.

Sheep Canyon -- Northern part of the park. A few sites with pit toilets and picnic tables. No fee.

Mt. Springs Canyon -- A few sites with chemical toilets. No fee. Bow Willow Region.

Culp Valley -- A few open sites just inside the west park entrance on Road S-22. No fee. Anza region.

Arroyo Salado -- A few open sites. No fee. Borrego Badlands region.

Yaqui Pass -- Open sites 7 miles east of Route 78 and County S-3 near Cactus Loop and Kenyon Overlook trails. No Fee.

Fish Creek --A few open sites. No fee. Fish Creek region.

Blair Valley -- Numerous open sites near Marshal South Home, Morteros and Pictographs Trails located off County Road S-3 south of California 78. No Fee.

External Links

Pictures of my hike to Jacumba Mountain:

Hike to Jacumba Mountain on January 20, 2007

In the same area as the hike to Jacumba Mountain are some other interesting sites including:

The Goat Canyon Trestle Page by Tradboy

Mortero Palms page by Jerry Schad

Anza-Borrego State Park - by Chiaki and Eishi Noguchi Site

Images