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Hard to get places in Anza Borrego which require 4WD or hiking

Easiest way to Hellhole Flats? Messages in this topic - RSS

tekewin
tekewin
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1/18/2020
tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366
I've visited Hellhole Flat twice. Both times, started at Maidenhair Falls TH. First time, over Sirens, second time over Webo.

Is there an easier way to get there than going over Webo?


Has anybody gotten there from Culp Valley Campground? Less gain, but all the terrain in between looks pretty nasty.
edited by tekewin on 1/18/2020
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dsefcik
dsefcik
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1/18/2020
dsefcik
dsefcik
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I did it from Culp Valley Campground...easy?...sure, I guess...compared to..??

Full route and photos: https://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Hellhole-Flat-10-16-2016/

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Buford
Buford
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1/18/2020
Buford
Buford
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I have been to Hellhole flats a few times. There is no "easy" way.

Once entered from Thimble/Ysidro and exited to Pena Spring. Similar exit to Dsefcik's track that is linked.

Once entered from Bonny/White/Goat and exited to the desert floor at the visitor center.

Once up from the desert floor and Ode/Kay/Sirens then down Webo.

Easiest entry is probably via the Bonny BM area. Then you are stuck trying to figure out how to exit. A car shuttle makes it easier. I pulled more mylar out of Hellhole flats than anywhere else.


Here is the view from the ridge just north of Pena Spring looking across Hellhole canyon towards the flats.



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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366


1/19/2020
tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366
dsefcik wrote:
I did it from Culp Valley Campground...easy?...sure, I guess...compared to..??

Full route and photos: https://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Hellhole-Flat-10-16-2016/



Thanks, Daren! It looks like you picked a good place to cross Hellhole Canyon. When I was looking at the map, I considered going up the side of Webo, but that would be inefficient. I'll save this track and try it next time I head out there.
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tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366


1/19/2020
tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366
Buford wrote:

Easiest entry is probably via the Bonny BM area. Then you are stuck trying to figure out how to exit. A car shuttle makes it easier. I pulled more mylar out of Hellhole flats than anywhere else.



Thanks, Buford. I'll take a look at going from Bonnie compared to Culp. I know the area pretty well. I move about about 1.5 mph in this terrain so getting out by dark is a concern in winter.

Here are a couple of photos from a visit last week.







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dsefcik
dsefcik
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1/19/2020
dsefcik
dsefcik
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tekewin wrote:
Thanks, Daren! It looks like you picked a good place to cross Hellhole Canyon. When I was looking at the map, I considered going up the side of Webo, but that would be inefficient. I'll save this track and try it next time I head out there.

The drop down to the H-E-double hockey sticks (on the topo) is total bushwack and probably ticks, the north side of the draw is much nicer. There was water flowing down in the draw when I did that trip. I also saw a family of deer up there.

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tekewin
tekewin
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1/19/2020
tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366
dsefcik wrote:

The drop down to the H-E-double hockey sticks (on the topo) is total bushwack and probably ticks, the north side of the draw is much nicer. There was water flowing down in the draw when I did that trip. I also saw a family of deer up there.



Awesome, thanks.
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ziphius
ziphius
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1/19/2020
ziphius
ziphius
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Nice lion track tekewin.

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Rocko1
Rocko1
Posts: 596


1/20/2020
Rocko1
Rocko1
Posts: 596
dsefcik wrote:
I did it from Culp Valley Campground...easy?...sure, I guess...compared to..??

Full route and photos: https://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Hellhole-Flat-10-16-2016/



Was this a 2 day trip Daren? Curious as the time required to get in/out.
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tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366


1/20/2020
tekewin
tekewin
Posts: 366
Rocko1,

as a baseline, it took me 8 hours 15 minutes to go up Webo, drop down into Hellhole Flat and loop around past Lookout Knob. I want to spend more time in Hellhole but the admission price is pretty high going this way. I'm hoping it's better using Daren's route or coming from the east.


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Rocko1
Rocko1
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1/20/2020
Rocko1
Rocko1
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tekewin wrote:
Rocko1,

as a baseline, it took me 8 hours 15 minutes to go up Webo, drop down into Hellhole Flat and loop around past Lookout Knob. I want to spend more time in Hellhole but the admission price is pretty high going this way. I'm hoping it's better using Daren's route or coming from the east.





Thank you. That is a long haul especially with it getting dark so early. An overnight would open up lots of possibilities.
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dsefcik
dsefcik
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1/20/2020
dsefcik
dsefcik
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Rocko1 wrote:

Was this a 2 day trip Daren? Curious as the time required to get in/out.

Yeah, Craig and I did a single over nighter, was easy enough and we explored around out on the flat.

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Rocko1
Rocko1
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1/20/2020
Rocko1
Rocko1
Posts: 596
dsefcik wrote:
Rocko1 wrote:

Was this a 2 day trip Daren? Curious as the time required to get in/out.

Yeah, Craig and I did a single over nighter, was easy enough and we explored around out on the flat.

Thanks. Adding this to my long list of trips to complete.
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