Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
PROTECTED: Rivers, Grassland, Chaparral, and Woodlands in a Historic Area of the PCT
Donate NowCompleted Projects Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Two important land acquisitions that preserve spectacular views along the trail.
In 2012 the PCTA partnered with the Anza-Borrego Foundation to purchase a 40-acre parcel in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at the top of Nance Canyon and 140 miles north of Mexico. The once privately held parcel located next to the PCT is now preserved as open space and set aside for public use. The purchase ensured that the property will remain in its largely natural and untouched state and that the trail experience will continue unharmed.
The parcel includes a riparian corridor, open grassland, chaparral and juniper woodland. The parcel also has a connection to the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, as the 1774 and 1775-76 Anza Expeditions to California traveled up Nance Canyon from lower Coyote Canyon to the San Carlos Pass, exiting the desert to a greener more pastoral California.
In 2016, another 40 acres was acquired near the northern base of Granite Mountain. The acquisition provides important viewshed protection to the PCT, and ensures the property’s permanent protection and ultimate inclusion in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
