Weather :
Tags : Waterfall
Hiking Time : 6 to 7 hours
Permit : Not required
Entry : Free
Pets : Not Allowed
Features : Wildflowers
Backcountry Camping
Distance : 9 Km Out and back trail
Best Time to Visit : Winters and Springs
Drive time : 2-hour drive from San Diego
Restrooms : Five accessible unisex toilet rooms separate for showers near visitor parking centre
Parking : Free parking at the trailhead off Montezuma Valley Road
Nearest transit hub : Montezuma Valley Road (S22)
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The Maidenhair waterfalls stand secluded in Anza Borrego desert. A challenging hike through one of its most adventurous canyons named Hellhole Canyon leads the hiker towards an ephemeral and refreshing waterfall cascading from the height of 20 ft in one of the hottest deserts of America. This seasonal rainfall which usually runs dry turns into an elegant white force surrounded by Maidenhair ferns and moss-covered rocks after a hefty rainfall.
The hikers will find themselves scrambling through rocks to make their trails along various desert vegetation, lavenders, Ocotillo bushes, Palm clusters and reptiles to reach the elevation of 1000 ft. But the destination is worth all the spirited hike. You will find several small waterfalls along your way but this 20 ft cascade demands your persistence and gives you a chance to play in a calf-deep pool shaped at its base. So, carry enough water and other supplies to copiously enjoy the serene breeze of water flowing through this majestic waterfall amidst the scorching heat of the desert.