Blair Valley Pictographs

Trail Overview

Blair Valley Pictographs is a 2.8-mile out-and-back trail rated 3 out of 10 within the California Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This short dirt track ends at a small parking area and trailhead. A BLM informational sign is located here providing information about the location of the pictograph rock. An easy hike down the wash leads to this site. The road winds through sections of hard pack and sand washes. The road is maintained on a semi-regular basis. Although it is accessible by most 2WD vehicles, conditions may vary. Cell phone service at best is intermittent and the nearest services are located in Borrego Springs.

Photos of Blair Valley Pictographs

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

The trail consists of loose rocks, dirt, and sand with some slick rock surfaces and mud holes possible. No steps are higher than 12 inches. 4WD may be required, and aggressive tires are a plus.

History

History of Blair Valley: The Indian village on the Morteros Trail was seasonally occupied by the Kumeyaay Indian Tribe for nearly 1,000 years. Morteros, the grinding holes dug out in the boulders, were made by the women as they crushed seeds for their meals. Marshall South and his family lived on Ghost Mountain for 16 years in the 1930s and 40s. The home is made of adobe and they called it Yaquitepec. Marshall was a writer and poet who supported his family by writing monthly articles about what it was like living on Ghost Mountain for Desert Magazine. In 1947, his wife divorced him and the family left the homestead.

Technical Rating