The Slot
verified
ACA 2A
Moderate flood risk
Borrego Springs, CA
Soft mudstone narrows off Buttes Pass in Anza-Borrego, walked rather than rappelled, with sculpted conglomerate walls that recall Death Valley.
California State Parks now collects the $10 day-use fee on-site at the parking area, distinct from the standard park entry. The slot character ends within a mile; turn around when the walls open up.
Logistics
| Manager | California State Parks, Anza-Borrego Desert SP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Day use fee $10/vehicle ($9 seniors, $5 disabled) collected at The Slot parking, sunrise to sunset. |
| Distance | 2 RT typical |
| Elevation | Minimal, drainage-grade |
| Time | 1-2 hr |
| Technical | Non-technical narrow walking through soft mudstone and conglomerate walls. No rope, no swims. A few squeezes and the occasional log jam. Most parties walk in until the canyon widens and become less interesting, then return the same way. |
| Season | Nov-Mar. Heat brutal May-Sep. |
| Flood risk | Moderate. Mudstone walls absorb water poorly; the slot fills fast in any local storm. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car along Buttes Pass Road from CA-78. Last short stretch is sand; standard sedans usually make the parking area but check conditions after storms. |
| Crowd | Heavy on winter weekends. Overcrowding has been an ongoing complaint. |
| Coordinates | 33.1821, -116.2142 |
Sources
- fee rule: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=638
- ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/The_Slot