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Mar 17, 2015 — The hike to Maidenhair Falls follows a popular trail up Hellhole Canyon within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trailhead parking area is located off the S22 highway and requires a day-use fee. The hike ascends through the open desert, gradually gaining elevation along the wide, sandy trail. Most of the mileage is completed before even entering Hellhole Canyon. Despite being in the desert, there is no lack of abundance of plant life, and if you're here in the spring, you may see an array of colorful wildflowers.
Hellhole Canyon is even more lush than the hike through the desert, complete with flowing water and a straggling native palm tree. As the canyon deepens, the slopes on either side make the hike feel nicely enclosed, but the trail becomes more winding as it weaves around boulders and crosses the water. The Hellhole Palms are a gorgeous oasis of standing native palm trees, and walking amongst them is a really nice experience.
Maidenhair Falls is still a bit of a hike past the Hellhole Palms, requiring a steep hike on the left of the oasis to get around a small cliff. Past here, the trail continues less obviously to a second palm grove, this one smaller than the featured Hellhole Palms. Nestled within the palms is the seasonal Maidenhair Falls, which drops about 20 feet and was flowing nicely on my visit. Palms create a grotto around the flowing water, so it's not the most picturesque waterfall, but it's a unique and cozy spot to hike to. Maidenhair Falls gets its name from the delicate maidenhair ferns that often grow in the vicinity.
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