Slot Canyon San Diego Hike

7/31/20227/31/2022

We had the opportunity to explore another hidden gem in San Diego when we hiked Annie's Canyon Trail. Located in Solana Beach, this short hike includes one very cool feature- a slot canyon! It was so much fun climbing up through the slots ending at a beautiful viewpoint! The trail was recently restored and opened in 2016. It goes through San Elijo ecological preserve which boasts having one of.
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve proves you don’t have to trek far to get a taste of waterfalls in San Diego. This local preserve features a variety of trailheads of various lengths that reward hikers with a small, year-round waterfall that cascades over volcanic rock formations.
Its called THE SLOT for the most obvious reason- it can be as narrow as putting a coin in slot machine but definitely worth the hype. At present, its easy to find the trail head in google maps. “slot canyon trail” Navigating inside the slot is easy to moderate. Must wear protective clothing to avoid getting scratch by some sharp rocks.

Slot Canyon San Diego Hike
Slot Canyon San Diego Hikers
Slot Canyon San Diego Hikes

4.8

Added by Jason Neitzke

The one exception is a narrow slot canyon at the end of this track, wherein the trail disappears and your only option for moving forward is to climb. Camping Info As is the case in much of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, you can camp anywhere off of the road, provided you are no more than a car's length away.

Distance: about one mile (no need to rush). Duration: 1-3 hours, depending on your speed. Short hike, easy access and amazing views. No permit required.

The Slot is an amazing short hike located in the Anza Borrego Desert. Drive east on Hwy 78, and about a mile and a half after Borrego Springs Road, turn left onto Buttes Pass Road. Buttes Pass road is a dirt road and not marked well so look carefully. The road is pretty smooth, about a mile in you will take a left at the fork. From there, you will drive about another mile to a parking lot. Two wheel drive vehicles should be fine unless there was a recent rainstorm.

From the parking lot, you will take the trail into the canyon that is directly in front of you. This will be the hardest and steepest part of the hike. There are no trail markers for the Slot. Do not take the trail to the right of the parking lot or you will miss the Slot. Once you are at the bottom, go left and head to where the canyon starts to narrow. As you enter, the walls start to close in and you are taking your bag off to get through some tight passages. Every turn is exciting, it is constantly changing and you are not sure what is going to be around the next bend. The Slot is made of siltstone and is very brittle so watch your footing if you decide to climb around. At the end of the Slot you hit a dirt road, from there you can either turn around and go back through or follow the road and find some other trails. Further down the road there are some awesome wind caves and arches that are worth checking out.

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Reviews

Sophia Steen

over 2 years ago

Great short hike

Beautiful sandstone slot canyon. It gets tight in areas. Went of the main trail a bit and did some climbing up! So much fun

5.0

Scott Sichler

🥇Top Contributor

almost 3 years ago

Slots O fun

This is a really fun hike. The slot is a little tight in spots but doable by most people. We like to hike out into cliffs beyond the slots for great views of the area.

5.0

Allett Wallets

about 4 years ago

Worth The Stop

This was an entertaining hike. It makes you feel like a kid again. It's a unique experience and a worth while diversion.

4.0

Christine Thompson

almost 5 years ago

Hands Down One Of The Best Adventure

It is simply amazing! Your weaving in and out of the canyon you find yourself going through tunnels . A must see