Mine Wash - the Kumyaay winter home and GOLD!

Yaqui Pass has a large flat boondocking area the overnight parking is fine for a self contained RV, but really it’s just a parking lot with no cell service.  But it does have one thing going for it ... It is also the trailhead for Kenyon Overlook, which is one of my favorite short hikes (1 mi R/T).

Although the hike can be done as a loop, I’ve always done an it as an out-n-back route to avoid walking on the narrow shoulder of S3.


It's a great hike for the morning sunrise or an evening sunset, which reflects off Sunset Peak. 

The trail passes through a pretty common desert landscape as it gradually climbs to the overlook.  Just prior to the ‘official’ overlook is a spur to the east that is worth a visit.  I’ve read there is evidence the native Kumeyaay enjoyed this view too, but have not found any.

The trail is in honor of William Kenyon who dedicated his efforts into preserving the 'magnificent desert lands'.

The overlook is of the Mescal Bajada (Agave Alluvial Fan)

Then K-POW, the view is truly worth it!  Spend some time to watch the shadows move across the washes.  I took the kids up here along with a Julian pie.  Hmm plates, knife, water, napkins ... no forks!  We enjoyed the view eating pie with our fingers.

Looking directly across CA78 is the entrance to Mine Wash in the Mescal Bajada, today’s destination.

The entrance is just short of 3 miles east from the junction of S3 and CA78.

Although there are no restrooms at the camping area at Yaqui Pass, there is a facility just inside the Mine Wash trail.

Although the wash is named for an abandoned and unnamed gold mine, it is also a good place to explore the native american winter home site.

It’s an easy 1.5 mile drive up Mine Wash to the Kumeyaay Winter Village Site, any vehicle can make it this far.  Like modern snowbirds, the native Americans would migrate to the Borrego Springs area from the snow and cold of the Laguna mountains to this desert oasis for the winter.

A fascinating site to explore, no hiking required  -  just park and explore.  This is probably the most accessible archaeological site in Anza Borrego.  The surrounding area provides water, food and more rabbits than we've seen elsewhere! 

The ocotillo here are green and full, not red as those near Borrego Springs.

The cholla are sporting a fair amount of new growth

The size of this winter community is amazing!  The moteros can be found most everywhere, there are rock shelters and roasting pits.  Pottery fragments can still be found near the big kitchen area.

A few pictures of the dozens I took of the moteros.

 .

 .

And a rock shelter

The shelter beneath this rock (I think it looks like a pirate from this angle) is the remains of what might have been a communal kitchen.  It's scarred with smoke from fires and open to the sky.

We could spend all day here, but we continue up Mine Wash to the end to find the Gold Mine, for which the trail is named.

The wash gets a bit technical past the winter home site.  A 4x4 high clearance should be used.

Pizza oven? fry bread?

The wash ends after another 3 miles

Gold Mine is at the Northwest slope at the end of the wash.  Rather a disappointment!  The white rock has been cut by hand, the entrance to the mine tunnel is just beyond.  It's a rock scramble we chose not to do.  

We decided to hike the wash up to an overlook of the Pinion Wash.  However the first dry fall we encountered was being 'guarded' by a several dozen bees.

They were busy doing their thing and paid no attention to us.  I thought I could throw a handful of sand to scatter them, but we decided that might just make them angry.  Better to let them be docile.  

We'll relocate to Blair Valley to explore a couple lesser known canyons.  It was a great day for us, hope you enjoyed yours.