Hellhole Canyon Trail

One hell of a hike! The sign at beginning noted it is not for beginners. I don’t know what constitutes a beginner, but I agree. First … leave the little ones at home. Anyone less than a middle school age will be a burden on themselves and you.
If you manage the hike the reward is there … a waterfall about 20′ above you tumbling down a boulder the size of a house, and forming a small pool at your feet. The sides of the fall are covered in Maidenhair fern, hence the name, Maidenhair Falls. Along your hike are several oases. Some have water, but it will depend on time of year, and maybe time of day.
The hike starts with gentle upwards slope. But, a large portion of it you are pounding sand. This saps your energy. When you reach the first palm trees, about 1.5 miles or so, you begin climbing boulders. Easy at first but there are some tough ones for anyone under 5′ tall. Sometimes you can hike through the brush and find a trail around them. That is when you will wish for long pants or long sleeve shirt.
Anyway, a great hike. You have to enjoy desert landscape to appreciate the beauty. We hiked mid February. There were some sage blossoming, but with the drier year I don’t suspect the desert will bloom anyway. Keep in mind, if you try to plan your hike after a rain storm there is a greater likelihood of a good flow into the waterfall.
Interesting part of this hike was the water flow. The falls and stream bed is spring fed. At some points along the trail, at the oases, the water flowed. Then between them there was no water. Think of 100 years ago, a thirsty human hoping to find water in the spring. Also, pay attention to the vegetation along your way. As you climb, the ecosystem changes. You will lose the nasty cactus but find nasty brush.
Recommend do some web searching for the expert write-​ups on this trail.
Only 4 stars because the hike out ate up one of them. It is boring, trudging back through the sand along the trail. There is no shade. Just a long, mostly straight walk. I have a bad knee. At the end, it was killing me.
And a last note: The trailhead is in Borrego Springs. Ranchita is 12 miles away.

The Hellhole Canyon trail is a must do albeit with a few qualifiers. Provided that you don’t mind high temperatures, lack of shade, lack of water availability and colorful foliage then yes, it’s a must do. I am sure that these factors will deter some and if you’re still interested then you’ll enjoy some solitude in Hellhole Canyon. If you’re still in, the best time to visit is in the spring usually around March. The hike is about five miles roundtrip and the mileage is highly dependent on your curiosity and how much trailblazing you wish to do towards the end of the hike. For me the end/​destination is Maidenhair Falls.
In order to get there, you’ve got to keep your eyes peeled when you’re coming in via S22. Assuming if you are coming from San Diego. If you see the signs for the Anza-​Borrego visitor’s center, you’ve gone too far and need to turn around. If you don’t recognize the trailhead by the presence of cars, you’ll be looking for a single map display that’s by the start. For the first third of the hike out, there’s some semblance of a trail but the rest of the way can be made by following the wash and the path of the dry river bed. Towards the end, there’s some bushwhacking to do but just as long as you keep close to the water, you’re fine. The pay off is a hidden waterfall, shade, palms and foliage. There aren’t any signs notifying you of your arrival to Maidenhair Falls so if you have GPS and have gone three miles, you’ve gone past them. In addition to the falls, I have seen bighorn sheep, foxes, rodents and lizards in the area.
Unless you arrive at the peak of this trail’s beauty — in the springtime, this hike may be a little disappointing. The flowers are almost gone (as of May 2010) and the waterfall is receding. An alternative option for a smaller scaled hike is nearby if a five mile-​ish walk in the heat is too long: the Palm Canyon trail. The waterfall isn’t as impressive but the palm grove is much bigger. If it’s just solitude and the desert landscape you’re looking for, this is it.