Painted Gorge Trail

Trail Overview

Painted Gorge Trail is a 1.4-mile point-to-point trail rated 4 of 10 in Imperial County. EC 125 is a BLM seasonal trail open from 1 July to 31 December and closed the remainder of the year to protect lambing of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. Painted Gorge Trail is one of two trails that runs through the Painted Gorge. Painted Gorge consists of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks where heat and seismic movement over time have created fantastic shapes and colors. Oranges, reds, purples, and mauves mixed with browns and blacks create a palette of color as the sun illuminates and plays shadows upon this geologic wonder. The hills, formations, and drainage are soft but distinct pastel colors. Ancient seas and minor impurities in granitic and volcanic rocks give rise to the vivid colors. As in most "painted" regions of the world, the leading source of color is iron. In its oxidized state (exposed to the air), it rusts. Iron traces in geological formations then create a red-tone. When iron "reduces" or is in a low oxygen environment, like underwater in an ancient sea, it can turn a geological formation green. In the Painted Gorge, the colors can tell you something about the underlying geology. Here, the main Imperial Formation is a marine layer, and mostly a soft yellow color from the sulfur-oxides in the soil. The brilliant blues are from the Alverson volcanic layer that also carries the colorful irons. Cell phone service is available until the trail enters the gorge. The nearest services are in El Centro to the east.

Photos of Painted Gorge Trail

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Difficulty

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

History

The Painted Gorge area is a place of contradictions. Now a desert, 450 million years ago this part of North America was under the sea. The area does not lend itself to conventional agriculture. Viewed by some as a wasteland, from 1942 to 1959, the area just to the north, the Carrizo Impact Area, was used as a bombing range to test and train during World War II and the primary part of the Korean War. The region's history as a major route is multi-cultural. The Kumeyaay moved back and forth from desert to coast, explorer Juan Baptista de Anza crossed the region, and the Butterfield Overland Stage route crosses just to the north of Painted Gorge.

Technical Rating