r/AnzaBorrego • u/Ben_Unlocked • Feb 10 '26
North Coyote Canyon - Turkey Track conditions?
Any chance someone's been out there recently?
I cycled Anza to Borrego Springs many years ago, it had been freshly graded and would have been a piece of cake to drive. A video I'm seeing from 2022 shows a few gnarly spots and I'm sure the rains this year and last haven't helped. I called the VC but haven't heard back yet. Hoping to drive down it this Friday, high clearance 4x4
Edit: heard back from the visitor's center - Turkey Track reportedly in bad shape, 4x4 "with lockers" needed (word of mouth). I've got a rear locker but being the only vehicle on the trip, sounds a little sketch. Thinking about heading out anyway and walking down first.
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u/BigRobHikes Feb 10 '26
I hiked Coyote Canyon bottom to top and back in December. Iirc there were a couple gnarly sections but you could definitely do it in a rubicon, probably in a stock wrangler if you knew what you’re doing. There were some <1week old tire tracks going all the way to Baileys Cabin
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u/Ben_Unlocked Feb 10 '26 edited Feb 10 '26
Dude, GREAT info, thanks!! I have a slightly modified Tacoma but if a stock wrangler can make it I should be fine. Hoping to explore some of the side canyons down there and hike an unnamed peak.
I found your post about your hike there, excellent writeup. You also satisfied my curiosity about middle willows. My first time through there (2012) was easy with a bike, the second time (2018) was rough. I was wondering how bad it was these days, sounds about right. I saw toebiters in the water there, they were gnarly and I couldn't believe they were in the dez. Thanks again for the great info.
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u/Sudden-Potential-985 Feb 10 '26
Easy peasy. The water crossing has large rocks hidden. No problem for stock jeep but go slow. Honda civic easy for most of it.
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u/Ben_Unlocked Feb 10 '26
Thanks but is that for south coyote? I'm planning to come in from the north, from the town of Anza. The road comes down the turkey track and ends north of middle willows.
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u/Sudden-Potential-985 Feb 10 '26
The road has not connected from the North for years. Even coming from the South it is gated way before sheep canyon.
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u/Ben_Unlocked Feb 10 '26
Thanks I do appreciate it- I'm very familiar with the area. This trip I'm hoping to drive down from the north to Fig Valley to explore Alder Canyon along with some other hikes. I'm not coming from Borrego Springs or trying to connect to the south at all.
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u/DudeNiceCow Feb 11 '26
Careful in alder canyon. There's been several cartel pot grows found out there! Beautiful are regardless!
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u/Ben_Unlocked Feb 11 '26
Thanks I'm looking forward to it! I knew there were some grows there a long time ago, maybe even before legalization. Then some more recent busts in Anza Valley. Have you heard they were actually in the park? Its hard to imagine but I was planning on some caution. I actually stumbled upon a grow in the Sierra a while back, it was pretty nuts.
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u/Busy_Breakfast5636 Mar 04 '26
Following up on this conversation, how difficult was it to cycle from Anza to Bailey's Cabin? I was thinking of driving my 4x4 to the Turkey Track section and then mountain biking the rest of the way.
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u/Ben_Unlocked Mar 04 '26
It was years ago when I cycled it, the road was freshly graded then and it was easy as pie. A few weeks ago I went by truck and the road was pretty rough even before the turkey track. If you're a decent rider on a decent bike you could ride it, for me I'd have to hike-a-bike some sections. Its not far though. The road gets bad a mile+ before the turkey track so if you park there you're only talking 5 miles to the cabin.
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u/MathematicianFit7371 Feb 10 '26
Drove down there last weekend. It was pretty rough and did feel sketchy doing it solo. Not a lot of traffic down there. I’ve got a Lexus gx 1” lift 32” ko2 and made it up without much trouble. No lockers just atracs which did activate a couple times. Some guy in a built JK with a 3000lb trailer made it out. I stayed in front of him just in case he needed an anchor for his winch.