Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To California Riding and Hiking Trail: Culp Valley to Visitor Center

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk!

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

This trail begins in Culp Valley near mile 9.2 on S22, the Montezuma Highway. To reach the trailhead, coming from Ranchita, look for milepost 9.0 on the right, and then look for an unpaved dirt road on your left. You'll first see a dirt clearing on the left which does not have a road connected to it; the unpaved dirt road will follow shortly. Beware: the entrance to this dirt road is hard to see approaching from the west, since the entrance to the dirt road angles to the northwest. If you have to turnaround on S22 to go back to the dirt road, be extremely careful in making the U-turn on S22, since this is the passing-lane section on the other side, and cars are going at high speed.
There are numerous places to park along this road that won't block traffic on the road. There is a very wide area immediately on entering the dirt road, but if you park on the left there, you'll force others to drive on the gullied part of the road. There are two other parking areas on the left immediately after that. The first parking area is opposite the trailhead used by this guide, which is at the shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar, which is titled Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire.
The guide then travels farther north on this dirt road, through a primitive campground with more parking areas and a toilet, to a junction with the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The guide then travels down that Trail to the 2600 foot saddle, which is a possible turn-around point if you are not doing a car-shuttle.
The guide continues on to the Visitor Center. In order to avoid duplication in our database, and to give proper species abundance estimates for people doing the trail just to the saddle, we do the following. The estimate of the number of plants and number of locations for each species gives only the numbers appropriate before that saddle. After the saddle, the guides gives the numbers from the other guide. (This paragraph is probably way too confusing; most people can just ignore it.)
This guide has only been done three times, twice in January 2006 and once in January 2010, and so is incomplete for most annuals and some perennials. The estimates of the abundance for the annuals and perennials in the guide might be severe underestimates of what would be found in February and March of a good rainfall year.
See also the introduction, pictures and maps in Flora of Culp Valley / Hellhole Canyon.
Highlights of This Trail

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail up to the 2600 foot saddle. We had 189 of our trails and floras in our database when this histogram was made; 51 of those trails, including this one, are in Anza-Borrego State Park. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all of our trails and floras in our database.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 1 1%
2 3 2%
3 4 3%
4 1 1%
5 8 6%

1-5 17 13%
6-10 16 12%
11-15 23 18%
16-20 11 9%
21-25 9 7%
26-30 10 8%
31-35 6 5%
36-40 9 7%
41-45 7 5%
46-50 8 6%
51-55 8 6%
56-60 1 1%
>60 4 3%
Total Taxa 129 100%

The taxa that are unique to this entire trail, or found at most in just one or two other guides or floras, are:

# Guides / Floras Name
1 Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense
2 Brickellia frutescens
2 Menodora scoparia
2 Chamaesyce arizonica
3 Chamaesyce melanadenia
3 Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla
3 Ditaxis neomexicana
3 Melica frutescens

We found 13 additional taxa not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ?, sp or ssp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification, up to the 2600 foot saddle. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
1/17/2006 1 76 3 12 12 2
1/29/2006 2 82 3 11 12 1
1/3/2010 3 89 1 10 15 0

Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

For a plant list of the species found here in traditional family order, see Flora of Culp Valley / Hellhole Canyon.
The mileages are derived from a GPS recording of this trail, but some sections were not accurately GPS'd. Mileages should be accurate to ~0.02 to 0.05 miles.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (8 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

mile s # id Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 r Begin guide at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire", almost next to the Montezuma Highway, S22; elevation 3330 feet (1015 m)
0.00 b 1 *Asian mustard Brassica tournefortii 20 / 3 43
0.00 r 2 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 84
0.00 b 3 fringed amaranth Amaranthus fimbriatus 99 / 9 11
0.00 b 4 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 81
0.00 b 5 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 99 / 9 52
0.00 r 6 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 2 / 1 67
0.00 r 7 ~ *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 10 / 1 51
0.00 r 8 ~ common phacelia Phacelia distans 50 / 5 37
0.00 r 9 coyote melon Cucurbita palmata⁺ 1 / 1 6
0.00 r 10 sp baby annual lupine Lupinus sp. 10 / 1
0.00 r 11 slender buckwheat Eriogonum gracile var. incultum 30 / 5 7
0.00 r 12 sp baby popcorn flower Cryptantha sp. 99 / 9
0.00 r 13 California matchweed Gutierrezia californica 99 / 9 7
0.00 b 14 ~ fivewing spiderling Boerhavia intermedia 99 / 9 10
0.00 r 15 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua 20 / 4 22
0.01 r 16 gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 30 / 9 39
0.01 l 17 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 10 / 2 14
0.01 l ~ (apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.02 l 18 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 30 / 9 49
0.02 l 19 red-gland spurge Chamaesyce melanadenia 99 / 9 3
0.02 r 20 catclaw Acacia greggii 40 / 9 47
0.02 l 21 Acton encelia Encelia actoni 99 / 9 7
0.03 l 22 desert mistletoe Phoradendron californicum 10 / 9 38
0.03 l (San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides; shrubby brickellia, Brickellia frutescens; cheesebush, Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola; Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii; short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus; tall melica, Melica frutescens; wishbone plant, Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa; Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii;)
0.04 r 23 sugar bush Rhus ovata 30 / 9 38
0.04 r 24 papillate dodder Cuscuta californica var. papillosa 5 / 1 12
0.04 b 25 Parish's viguiera Viguiera parishii 50 / 9 28
0.04 r 26 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 30 / 5 36
0.05 r 27 white sage Salvia apiana 6 / 3 53
0.06 r Sign: "No shooting, fire in metal container only"
0.07 r (lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.08 r 28 sp annual suncup Camissonia sp. 5 / 1
0.08 r 29 cheesebush Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola 50 / 7 44
0.08 Y-jct.; sign: "Pena Spring (left); "Campground (right)"; stay right
0.09 r 30 sp datura Datura sp.⁺ 1 / 1
0.09 r 31 narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia 50 / 9 11
0.15 r 32 lotebush Ziziphus parryi var. parryi 30 / 9 5
0.15 r 33 beady lipfern Cheilanthes covillei 20 / 9 13
0.15 r (desert needlegrass, Achnatherum speciosum)
0.16 r 34 boundary goldenbush Ericameria brachylepis 20 / 9 11
0.17 r (Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera; desert scrub oak, Quercus cornelius-mulleri)
0.19 l (jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.20 l First campsite, marked with two short wood posts
0.21 l 35 linear-leaved stillingia Stillingia linearifolia 4 / 2 12
0.21 r Jct. road to toilets
0.22 r Sign: "No wood gathering"
0.25 Y-jct.; stay left
0.26 r (very large jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.28 Jct. maze of roads; stay straight
0.28 (California juniper, Juniperus californica)
0.30 l Sign: "Culp Valley Vista Point 0.6 mi"
0.32 l (beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.33 l (chaparral yucca, Yucca whipplei)
0.37 r 36 ~ short-bannered coastal lotus Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 30 / 9 9
0.37 r 37 chinch-weed Pectis papposa var. papposa 20 / 2 5
0.37 r 38 wishbone plant Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa 20 / 9 27
0.38 r 39 ~ desert woolly-star Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum 99 / 9 20
0.38 r 40 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 10 / 9 46
0.38 r 41 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 20 / 9 14
0.39 l 42 California juniper Juniperus californica 10 / 7 11
0.39 Trail branches into three paths; stay straight
0.40 r (western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia)
0.41 l 43 ~ apricot mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua 3 / 3 20
0.42 r 44 desert scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri 20 / 7 5
0.42 l 45 sp desert needlegrass? Achnatherum speciosum? 50 / 9
0.46 r 46 Mohave yucca Yucca schidigera 20 / 9 20
0.58 Four way jct.: California Riding and Hiking Trail goes left-right; new wheelchair-accessible trail from campground comes in from right; sign: "Scenic Overlook"; go right
0.59 l (definite apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.60 Y-jct.; go right (left goes to minor overlook with white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula; desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides; Borrego bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense; ~white fiesta flower, ~Pholistoma membranaceum; and chia, Salvia columbariae)
0.60 l Sign: "Vista Point (ahead)"
0.62 r 47 desert dudleya Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides 10 / 5 14
0.65 l "Turtle Rock" at 8 o'clock
0.66 l 48 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 10 / 4 35
0.66 Faint Y-jct; stay right and ascend
0.66 b 49 ~ rush blue grass Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia 10 / 2 9
0.67 r (white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum; desert lotus, Lotus rigidus)
0.68 l 50 ~ Vasey's prickly-pear Opuntia vaseyi 10 / 3 37
0.69 r 51 white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 20 / 9 11
0.74 r 52 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 9 53
0.75 Saddle on highest flattish area (#1)
0.76 r 53 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 20 / 7 28
0.76 l 54 desert agave Agave deserti 20 / 9 31
0.76 l (desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.78 l 55 western bernardia Bernardia myricifolia 4 / 3 6
0.79 Vista Point; High point on trail; elevation 3520 feet (1073 m); begin descend to flattish area #2
0.79 r 56 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 10 / 5 24
0.85 l 57 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 20 / 9 14
0.85 r Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.89 Y-jct.; stay left
0.90 r Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.92 r 58 desert lotus Lotus rigidus 99 / 9 18
0.94 r Check for unk opposite-leaf per like penstemon ? /
0.94 r 59 sp baby plants like six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis? / 16
0.94 b 60 shrubby brickellia Brickellia frutescens 10 / 5 2
0.94 b 61 sp pincushion flower Chaenactis sp. 20 / 1
0.94 r 62 woolly lipfern Cheilanthes parryi 1 / 1 28
0.98 r 63 ~ muilla Muilla maritima 2 / 1 16
0.98 r 64 ~ bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 1 / 1 38
1.00 Switchback left.
1.00 l 65 odora Porophyllum gracile 2 / 2 12
1.01 Trail turns right 90°
1.01 l ? (wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
1.01 l definite six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis /
1.03 l 66 ~ California suncup Camissonia californica 5 / 1 60
1.03 l 67 chia Salvia columbariae 20 / 2 53
1.03 l 68 sp annual phacelia Phacelia like minor 5 / 1
1.07 r Saddle; Jct. use trail marked with a tall post; elevation 3320 feet (1012 m)
1.08 r 69 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 1 / 1 34
1.09 r (bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
1.10 r 70 Borrego bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense 30 / 5 1
1.11 r 71 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 1 / 1 14
1.11 r 72 ~ perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans 3 / 1 13
1.12 r 73 sp coast-range melic? Melica imperfecta? 10 / 1
1.14 r 74 ~ little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla 4 / 3 3
1.17 r 75 Anderson's desert-thorn Lycium andersonii 4 / 3 10
1.17 r Jct. use trail to ridge
1.28 Now in flattish area #2
1.29 l 76 California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta var. arguta 3 / 3 5
1.33 r Check if these specimens are Eriogonum davidsonii.
1.37 r 77 broom twinberry Menodora scoparia 5 / 2 2
1.49 r 78 burroweed Ambrosia dumosa 1 / 1 50
1.49 r 79 Parry's nolina Nolina parryi 2 / 1 10
1.51 l 80 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 10 / 3 20
1.52 Trail leaves flattish area #2 and begins drop down to flattish area #3; elevation 3240 feet (988 m)
1.53 r 81 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 5 / 1 81
1.80 l 82 brittlebush Encelia farinosa 10 / 4 52
1.81 End steep descent; now on flattish area #3; elevation 2920 feet (890 m)
1.88 b 83 desert plantain Plantago ovata 99 / 9 34
1.91 l 84 sp pepper-grass Lepidium sp. 10 / 1
1.97 r (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
2.02 l 85 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 5 / 4 26
2.09 Trail leaves flattish area #3 and begins drop to saddle at mile 2.6
2.25 l 86 ~ Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii 1 / 1 23
2.25 l 87 California trixis Trixis californica var. californica 1 / 1 29
2.35 l 88 New Mexico ditaxis Ditaxis neomexicana 1 / 1 3
2.37 l 89 California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺ 1 / 1 41
2.38 Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m); trail turns right to descend upper part of drainage to Hellhole Canyon. This is a possible turnaround point if you are not doing a one-way car-shuttle hike. Plant guide now gives species abundance for the rest of the trail, and there may be more specimens of the previously-given species.
2.38 l (teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
2.41 l (creosote bush, Larrea tridentata)
2.43 l 90 2 lv'd ephedra Ephedra sp. (2 lv'd) / 5
2.43 l 91 ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens 5 / 5 49
2.47 Enter wash
2.47 r 92 Nealley three-awn Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 3 / 3 4
2.48 Leave wash
2.51 Enter wash
2.55 Leave wash; local low point on trail
2.56 Local high point on trail
2.56 r 93 desert sage Salvia eremostachya 1 / 1 6
2.64 Enter wash
2.67 l 94 narrowleaf ditaxis Ditaxis lanceolata 50 / 9 30
2.67 Leave wash
2.69 r 95 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 1 / 1 11
2.73 l 96 creosote bush Larrea tridentata 40 / 9 53
2.81 Local low point on trail
2.81 r 97 desert lavender Hyptis emoryi 50 / 9 44
2.87 Local high point on trail
2.96 r 98 ssp western tansy-mustard Descurainia pinnata 5 / 1 6
2.99 r 99 star-flowered bedstraw Galium stellatum var. eremicum 3 / 3 17
3.00 l 100 ~ desert twining snapdragon Antirrhinum filipes 4 / 4 6
3.17 b 101 California fagonia Fagonia laevis 10 / 9 25
3.31 b 102 spearleaf Matelea parvifolia 2 / 1 5
3.51 103 desert spike-moss Selaginella eremophila 50 / 9 15
3.55 l 104 rock hibiscus Hibiscus denudatus 10 / 5 26
3.56 l 105 indigo bush Psorothamnus schottii 50 / 9 46
3.56 r 106 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon⁺ 1 / 1 43
3.57 b 107 chuparosa Justicia californica 40 / 9 24
3.57 l 108 sp per grass like fountain grass ? 1 / 1
3.57 r 109 whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora / 24
3.59 Switchback left
3.61 l 110 Coulter's lyrepod Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri 5 / 3 8
3.62 l 111 ? dead annual like silver puffs ? 1 / 1
3.68 Switchback right.
3.70 Switchback left.
3.72 Switchback right.
3.73 Switchback left.
3.73 l 112 sp heliotrope phacelia? Phacelia crenulata? 1 / 1
3.81 Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve left to Hellhole Canyon
3.82 Cross small drainage
3.85 l 113 fish-hook cactus Mammillaria dioica 10 / 9 22
3.85 r 114 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 10 / 2 31
3.87 l 115 Emory's rock-daisy Perityle emoryi 20 / 9 28
3.87 l 116 ~ Mojave ragwort Senecio mohavensis 50 / 9 18
3.90 r 117 Arizona spurge Chamaesyce arizonica 1 / 1 2
3.91 118 l Vasey's sage Salvia vaseyi 10 / 5 23
3.97 r 119 ayenia Ayenia compacta 5 / 3 10
3.98 r 120 white rhatany Krameria grayi 2 / 2 37
4.00 Switchback left.
4.01 Switchback right.
4.04 Trail turns right 90°
4.04 l 121 big galleta Pleuraphis rigida 5 / 3 43
4.04 r 122 *downy brome Bromus tectorum / 50
4.06 Cross small drainage
4.07 r Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
4.15 l 123 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 2 / 1 45
4.16 l 124 ~ white fiesta flower Pholistoma membranaceum 10 / 1 15
4.18 r (Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
4.26 Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; small peak ahead on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia; trail goes to left of small peak
4.29 r (Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta)
4.29 r 125 sp intermediate larkspur? Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum? 10 / 3 13
4.32 r 126 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 20 / 2 15
4.34 l 127 ~ bracted blazing star Mentzelia involucrata 5 / 3 20
4.46 b Leave huge field of Chaenactis
4.46 r 128 ~ brittle spineflower Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu 5 / 1 30
4.46 b 129 downy dalea Dalea mollissima 3 / 1 5
4.47 r 130 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 20 / 9 22
4.51 r 131 sp pebble pincushion? Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia? 99 / 9 12
4.51 r 132 ? baby annual like suncup Camissonia sp.? /
4.52 l 133 sp combseed Pectocarya sp. 20 / 2
4.52 l 134 yellow-head Trichoptilium incisum 20 / 4 5
4.53 r Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
4.53 l (Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
4.54 Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
135 small-seeded spurge Chamaesyce polycarpa 99 / 7 53
4.58 Cross small wash with 2 branches
4.58 l 136 desert trumpet Eriogonum inflatum 1 / 1 38
4.64 Jct. old road; now horse trail
4.78 b Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
4.86 Cross wash
4.89 l 137 teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 50 / 9 33
4.99 Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
5.04 Trail jogs left
5.26 r 138 desert thornapple Datura discolor 5 / 5 9
5.26 r 139 Guadalupe cryptantha Cryptantha maritima 99 / 9 15
5.27 Cross small wash
5.28 l Dead desert lavender, Hyptis emoryi
5.30 Trail curves left
5.33 Trail curves left
5.34 Trail curves right
5.34 l 140 small-flowered poppy Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora 10 / 2 15
5.35 l 141 desert dandelion Malacothrix glabrata 5 / 2 17
5.36 l Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
5.36 b 142 sp Nemacladus sp. 99 / 9
5.36 End guide at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m).

Comments On Specific Species

Cucurbita palmata. Remnants of this plant were seen in January 2006, but even those were not found in January 2010.
Datura sp.. Remnants of a single dead plant identifiable as a Datura species were seen in January 2006, but only stem remnants were found in January 2010. The seeds are tan, which would key to D. wrightii, but the plant looks annual, like D. discolor.
Ferocactus cylindraceus. The varieties are not recognized in the Flora of North America treatment since they are not consistently distinguishable.
Cynodon dactylon. The single plant seen in December 2005 was weeded out.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	1	1%
2	3	2%
3	4	3%
4	1	1%
5	8	6%

1-5	17	13%
6-10	16	12%
11-15	23	18%
16-20	11	9%
21-25	9	7%
26-30	10	8%
31-35	6	5%
36-40	9	7%
41-45	7	5%
46-50	8	6%
51-55	8	6%
56-60	1	1%
>60	4	3%
Total Taxa	129	100%

# Guides / Floras	Name
1	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense
2	Brickellia frutescens
2	Menodora scoparia
2	Chamaesyce arizonica
3	Chamaesyce melanadenia
3	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla
3	Ditaxis neomexicana
3	Melica frutescens

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
1/17/2006	1	76	3	12	12	2
1/29/2006	2	82	3	11	12	1
1/3/2010	3	89	1	10	15	0

mile	s	#	id	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00	r			Begin guide at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire", almost next to the Montezuma Highway, S22; elevation 3330 feet (1015 m)
0.00	b	1		*Asian mustard	Brassica tournefortii	20 / 3	43
0.00	r	2		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	84
0.00	b	3		fringed amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus	99 / 9	11
0.00	b	4		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	81
0.00	b	5		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	99 / 9	52
0.00	r	6		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	2 / 1	67
0.00	r	7	~	*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	10 / 1	51
0.00	r	8	~	common phacelia	Phacelia distans	50 / 5	37
0.00	r	9		coyote melon	Cucurbita palmata⁺	1 / 1	6
0.00	r	10	sp	baby annual lupine	Lupinus sp.	10 / 1
0.00	r	11		slender buckwheat	Eriogonum gracile var. incultum	30 / 5	7
0.00	r	12	sp	baby popcorn flower	Cryptantha sp.	99 / 9
0.00	r	13		California matchweed	Gutierrezia californica	99 / 9	7
0.00	b	14	~	fivewing spiderling	Boerhavia intermedia	99 / 9	10
0.00	r	15		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua	20 / 4	22
0.01	r	16		gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	30 / 9	39
0.01	l	17		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	10 / 2	14
0.01	l		~	(apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.02	l	18		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	30 / 9	49
0.02	l	19		red-gland spurge	Chamaesyce melanadenia	99 / 9	3
0.02	r	20		catclaw	Acacia greggii	40 / 9	47
0.02	l	21		Acton encelia	Encelia actoni	99 / 9	7
0.03	l	22		desert mistletoe	Phoradendron californicum	10 / 9	38
0.03	l			(San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides; shrubby brickellia, Brickellia frutescens; cheesebush, Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola; Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii; short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus; tall melica, Melica frutescens; wishbone plant, Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa; Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii;)
0.04	r	23		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	30 / 9	38
0.04	r	24		papillate dodder	Cuscuta californica var. papillosa	5 / 1	12
0.04	b	25		Parish's viguiera	Viguiera parishii	50 / 9	28
0.04	r	26		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	30 / 5	36
0.05	r	27		white sage	Salvia apiana	6 / 3	53
0.06	r			Sign: "No shooting, fire in metal container only"
0.07	r			(lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.08	r	28	sp	annual suncup	Camissonia sp.	5 / 1
0.08	r	29		cheesebush	Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola	50 / 7	44
0.08				Y-jct.; sign: "Pena Spring (left); "Campground (right)"; stay right
0.09	r	30	sp	datura	Datura sp.⁺	1 / 1
0.09	r	31		narrowleaf goldenbush	Ericameria linearifolia	50 / 9	11
0.15	r	32		lotebush	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	30 / 9	5
0.15	r	33		beady lipfern	Cheilanthes covillei	20 / 9	13
0.15	r			(desert needlegrass, Achnatherum speciosum)
0.16	r	34		boundary goldenbush	Ericameria brachylepis	20 / 9	11
0.17	r			(Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera; desert scrub oak, Quercus cornelius-mulleri)
0.19	l			(jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.20	l			First campsite, marked with two short wood posts
0.21	l	35		linear-leaved stillingia	Stillingia linearifolia	4 / 2	12
0.21	r			Jct. road to toilets
0.22	r			Sign: "No wood gathering"
0.25				Y-jct.; stay left
0.26	r			(very large jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.28				Jct. maze of roads; stay straight
0.28				(California juniper, Juniperus californica)
0.30	l			Sign: "Culp Valley Vista Point 0.6 mi"
0.32	l			(beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.33	l			(chaparral yucca, Yucca whipplei)
0.37	r	36	~	short-bannered coastal lotus	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	30 / 9	9
0.37	r	37		chinch-weed	Pectis papposa var. papposa	20 / 2	5
0.37	r	38		wishbone plant	Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa	20 / 9	27
0.38	r	39	~	desert woolly-star	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	99 / 9	20
0.38	r	40		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	10 / 9	46
0.38	r	41		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	20 / 9	14
0.39	l	42		California juniper	Juniperus californica	10 / 7	11
0.39				Trail branches into three paths; stay straight
0.40	r			(western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia)
0.41	l	43	~	apricot mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua	3 / 3	20
0.42	r	44		desert scrub oak	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	20 / 7	5
0.42	l	45	sp	desert needlegrass?	Achnatherum speciosum?	50 / 9
0.46	r	46		Mohave yucca	Yucca schidigera	20 / 9	20
0.58				Four way jct.: California Riding and Hiking Trail goes left-right; new wheelchair-accessible trail from campground comes in from right; sign: "Scenic Overlook"; go right
0.59	l			(definite apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.60				Y-jct.; go right (left goes to minor overlook with white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula; desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides; Borrego bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense; ~white fiesta flower, ~Pholistoma membranaceum; and chia, Salvia columbariae)
0.60	l			Sign: "Vista Point (ahead)"
0.62	r	47		desert dudleya	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	10 / 5	14
0.65	l			"Turtle Rock" at 8 o'clock
0.66	l	48		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	10 / 4	35
0.66				Faint Y-jct; stay right and ascend
0.66	b	49	~	rush blue grass	Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia	10 / 2	9
0.67	r			(white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum; desert lotus, Lotus rigidus)
0.68	l	50	~	Vasey's prickly-pear	Opuntia vaseyi	10 / 3	37
0.69	r	51		white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	20 / 9	11
0.74	r	52		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 9	53
0.75				Saddle on highest flattish area (#1)
0.76	r	53		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	20 / 7	28
0.76	l	54		desert agave	Agave deserti	20 / 9	31
0.76	l			(desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.78	l	55		western bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia	4 / 3	6
0.79				Vista Point; High point on trail; elevation 3520 feet (1073 m); begin descend to flattish area #2
0.79	r	56		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	10 / 5	24
0.85	l	57		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	20 / 9	14
0.85	r			Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.89				Y-jct.; stay left
0.90	r			Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.92	r	58		desert lotus	Lotus rigidus	99 / 9	18
0.94	r			Check for unk opposite-leaf per like penstemon	?	/
0.94	r	59	sp	baby plants like six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis?	/	16
0.94	b	60		shrubby brickellia	Brickellia frutescens	10 / 5	2
0.94	b	61	sp	pincushion flower	Chaenactis sp.	20 / 1
0.94	r	62		woolly lipfern	Cheilanthes parryi	1 / 1	28
0.98	r	63	~	muilla	Muilla maritima	2 / 1	16
0.98	r	64	~	bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	1 / 1	38
1.00				Switchback left.
1.00	l	65		odora	Porophyllum gracile	2 / 2	12
1.01				Trail turns right 90°
1.01	l		?	(wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
1.01	l			definite six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis	/
1.03	l	66	~	California suncup	Camissonia californica	5 / 1	60
1.03	l	67		chia	Salvia columbariae	20 / 2	53
1.03	l	68	sp	annual phacelia	Phacelia like minor	5 / 1
1.07	r			Saddle; Jct. use trail marked with a tall post; elevation 3320 feet (1012 m)
1.08	r	69		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	1 / 1	34
1.09	r			(bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
1.10	r	70		Borrego bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense	30 / 5	1
1.11	r	71		bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	1 / 1	14
1.11	r	72	~	perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	3 / 1	13
1.12	r	73	sp	coast-range melic?	Melica imperfecta?	10 / 1
1.14	r	74	~	little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	4 / 3	3
1.17	r	75		Anderson's desert-thorn	Lycium andersonii	4 / 3	10
1.17	r			Jct. use trail to ridge
1.28				Now in flattish area #2
1.29	l	76		California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta var. arguta	3 / 3	5
1.33	r			Check if these specimens are Eriogonum davidsonii.
1.37	r	77		broom twinberry	Menodora scoparia	5 / 2	2
1.49	r	78		burroweed	Ambrosia dumosa	1 / 1	50
1.49	r	79		Parry's nolina	Nolina parryi	2 / 1	10
1.51	l	80		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	10 / 3	20
1.52				Trail leaves flattish area #2 and begins drop down to flattish area #3; elevation 3240 feet (988 m)
1.53	r	81		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	5 / 1	81
1.80	l	82		brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	10 / 4	52
1.81				End steep descent; now on flattish area #3; elevation 2920 feet (890 m)
1.88	b	83		desert plantain	Plantago ovata	99 / 9	34
1.91	l	84	sp	pepper-grass	Lepidium sp.	10 / 1
1.97	r			(California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
2.02	l	85		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	5 / 4	26
2.09				Trail leaves flattish area #3 and begins drop to saddle at mile 2.6
2.25	l	86	~	Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	1 / 1	23
2.25	l	87		California trixis	Trixis californica var. californica	1 / 1	29
2.35	l	88		New Mexico ditaxis	Ditaxis neomexicana	1 / 1	3
2.37	l	89		California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺	1 / 1	41
2.38				Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m); trail turns right to descend upper part of drainage to Hellhole Canyon. This is a possible turnaround point if you are not doing a one-way car-shuttle hike. Plant guide now gives species abundance for the rest of the trail, and there may be more specimens of the previously-given species.
2.38	l			(teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
2.41	l			(creosote bush, Larrea tridentata)
2.43	l	90		2 lv'd ephedra	Ephedra sp. (2 lv'd)	/	5
2.43	l	91		ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	5 / 5	49
2.47				Enter wash
2.47	r	92		Nealley three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	3 / 3	4
2.48				Leave wash
2.51				Enter wash
2.55				Leave wash; local low point on trail
2.56				Local high point on trail
2.56	r	93		desert sage	Salvia eremostachya	1 / 1	6
2.64				Enter wash
2.67	l	94		narrowleaf ditaxis	Ditaxis lanceolata	50 / 9	30
2.67				Leave wash
2.69	r	95		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	1 / 1	11
2.73	l	96		creosote bush	Larrea tridentata	40 / 9	53
2.81				Local low point on trail
2.81	r	97		desert lavender	Hyptis emoryi	50 / 9	44
2.87				Local high point on trail
2.96	r	98	ssp	western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata	5 / 1	6
2.99	r	99		star-flowered bedstraw	Galium stellatum var. eremicum	3 / 3	17
3.00	l	100	~	desert twining snapdragon	Antirrhinum filipes	4 / 4	6
3.17	b	101		California fagonia	Fagonia laevis	10 / 9	25
3.31	b	102		spearleaf	Matelea parvifolia	2 / 1	5
3.51		103		desert spike-moss	Selaginella eremophila	50 / 9	15
3.55	l	104		rock hibiscus	Hibiscus denudatus	10 / 5	26
3.56	l	105		indigo bush	Psorothamnus schottii	50 / 9	46
3.56	r	106		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon⁺	1 / 1	43
3.57	b	107		chuparosa	Justicia californica	40 / 9	24
3.57	l	108	sp	per grass like fountain grass	?	1 / 1
3.57	r	109		whispering bells	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	/	24
3.59				Switchback left
3.61	l	110		Coulter's lyrepod	Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri	5 / 3	8
3.62	l	111	?	dead annual like silver puffs	?	1 / 1
3.68				Switchback right.
3.70				Switchback left.
3.72				Switchback right.
3.73				Switchback left.
3.73	l	112	sp	heliotrope phacelia?	Phacelia crenulata?	1 / 1
3.81				Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve left to Hellhole Canyon
3.82				Cross small drainage
3.85	l	113		fish-hook cactus	Mammillaria dioica	10 / 9	22
3.85	r	114		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	10 / 2	31
3.87	l	115		Emory's rock-daisy	Perityle emoryi	20 / 9	28
3.87	l	116	~	Mojave ragwort	Senecio mohavensis	50 / 9	18
3.90	r	117		Arizona spurge	Chamaesyce arizonica	1 / 1	2
3.91		118	l	Vasey's sage	Salvia vaseyi	10 / 5	23
3.97	r	119		ayenia	Ayenia compacta	5 / 3	10
3.98	r	120		white rhatany	Krameria grayi	2 / 2	37
4.00				Switchback left.
4.01				Switchback right.
4.04				Trail turns right 90°
4.04	l	121		big galleta	Pleuraphis rigida	5 / 3	43
4.04	r	122		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	/	50
4.06				Cross small drainage
4.07	r			Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
4.15	l	123		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	2 / 1	45
4.16	l	124	~	white fiesta flower	Pholistoma membranaceum	10 / 1	15
4.18	r			(Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
4.26				Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; small peak ahead on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia; trail goes to left of small peak
4.29	r			(Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta)
4.29	r	125	sp	intermediate larkspur?	Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum?	10 / 3	13
4.32	r	126		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	20 / 2	15
4.34	l	127	~	bracted blazing star	Mentzelia involucrata	5 / 3	20
4.46	b			Leave huge field of Chaenactis
4.46	r	128	~	brittle spineflower	Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu	5 / 1	30
4.46	b	129		downy dalea	Dalea mollissima	3 / 1	5
4.47	r	130		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	20 / 9	22
4.51	r	131	sp	pebble pincushion?	Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia?	99 / 9	12
4.51	r	132	?	baby annual like suncup	Camissonia sp.?	/
4.52	l	133	sp	combseed	Pectocarya sp.	20 / 2
4.52	l	134		yellow-head	Trichoptilium incisum	20 / 4	5
4.53	r			Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
4.53	l			(Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
4.54				Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
		135		small-seeded spurge	Chamaesyce polycarpa	99 / 7	53
4.58				Cross small wash with 2 branches
4.58	l	136		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	1 / 1	38
4.64				Jct. old road; now horse trail
4.78	b			Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
4.86				Cross wash
4.89	l	137		teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	50 / 9	33
4.99				Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
5.04				Trail jogs left
5.26	r	138		desert thornapple	Datura discolor	5 / 5	9
5.26	r	139		Guadalupe cryptantha	Cryptantha maritima	99 / 9	15
5.27				Cross small wash
5.28	l			Dead desert lavender, Hyptis emoryi
5.30				Trail curves left
5.33				Trail curves left
5.34				Trail curves right
5.34	l	140		small-flowered poppy	Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora	10 / 2	15
5.35	l	141		desert dandelion	Malacothrix glabrata	5 / 2	17
5.36	l			Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
5.36	b	142	sp		Nemacladus sp.	99 / 9
5.36				End guide at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m).

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006-2010 by Tom Chester, Kay Madore, RT Hawke, Shaun Hawke, and Pam Pallette
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/anza_borrego/ca_rh_trl_culp.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Kay Madore
Last update: 22 January 2010.