Painted Canyon

4.7/5 (3 reviews)
Painted Canyon Road guides you along a sandy wash through a sandstone canyon whose sides have heaved up over the millennia to expose spectacular colors washing down the canyon walls. Rain and weather have carved deep vertical canyons in the soft sandstone creating an infinite tapestry of narrowing ... Read More
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Highlights of Painted Canyon

Camping Category Icon Camping
Desert Category Icon Desert
Sand Category Icon Sand
Scenic Category Icon Scenic
Wash Category Icon Wash
Highest Elevation
584 ft
Shape of Trail
Out & Back
Typically Open
Year Round
Best Direction
North
Official Trail Name
Painted Canyon Road
Nearest Town
Mecca
Nearest Services
Mecca
Management Agency
Bureau of Land Management
District
Palm Springs South Coast Field Office

Overview

Painted Canyon Road guides you along a sandy wash through a sandstone canyon whose sides have heaved up over the millennia to expose spectacular colors washing down the canyon walls. Rain and weather have carved deep vertical canyons in the soft sandstone creating an infinite tapestry of narrowing shadowed canyons and shapes. The road follows a motor vehicle access into the Mecca Hills Wilderness, a 26,000 acres protected area preventing motor vehicle access to maintain its primitive state. Painted Canyon Road is located between the Salton Sea, visible to the south, and the Joshua Tree National Park to the north. The end of the road arrives at popular hiking trails that lead deeper into the wilderness. There are many dispersed camping opportunities along the way, including a designated camp area at mile four.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Guide Overview
6 Waypoints
20 Trail Photos
1 Trail Concerns
3 Community Reviews
1 Video
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