Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Elephant Tree Trail, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Hike to a rare plant once thought to be the only one in the county.

A yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, and green leaves are characteristic of the elephant tree.
A yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, and green leaves are characteristic of the elephant tree.

The elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) is rarely found in the United States. It is found in the Gila Range of Arizona and, more commonly, in Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. For many years it was thought not to exist at all in the United States. The first sighting in the Colorado Desert was made in 1911, but its exact location remained a mystery until an elephant tree hunt occurred in 1937 and representatives from the San Diego Natural History Museum and the state park officially recorded this site. Since that time, other stands have been found in the Santa Rosa Mountains near Clark Dry Lake, Indian and Bow Willow canyon areas, Bisnaga Alta Wash, Fish Creek Mountains, and In-Ko-Pah Gorge. (See the “Roam-O-Rama” column for Bow Willow to Mountain Palm Springs for a hike to Torote Bowl, where about 15 elephant trees can be found.)

The swollen trunk led to this plant being called an elephant tree.

The tree is usually found in rocky areas and on slopes. The common name derives from its swollen trunk, which stores water and has the resemblance of an elephant’s thick, massive leg. It stands 6–10 feet tall and can reach heights of 20–30 feet. The tree has low spreading branches, a yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, green leaves, white flowers, purple fruit, and exudes a pinkish/red resin. It has a strong pungent smell reminiscent of turpentine, pine needles, and tangerines and is in the same family as myrrh and frankincense of the Middle East. It had the same sacred and special medicinal value to Native Americans as myrrh and frankincense had to the early Arabic and Judaic cultures who also found it economically important as a source of incense and perfume. In Mexico it is known as torote, from the Spanish verb torcer, “to twist” — referring to its gnarled branches.

The trail is well-marked and has 13 numbered posts that relate to a free interpretive nature trail guide available at the turnoff to Elephant Tree Trail from Split Mountain Road or at the park’s visitor center. The guide is a good way to learn about common desert plants and strategies they have to survive in the desert. For those interested in annual wildflowers, this is the first place to check each season, as annuals will flower at the lower and hotter elevations first.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The trail has changed from previous years due to flash-flooding in the wash. There is now only one tree on this trail, and it is actually a shorter hike now than it was previously. Large piled rocks and boulders on the sides and in the wash testify to the force of running water and its ability to reshape trails that are in washes. At about the half-mile point, note the many downed ocotillos that were toppled over in a flash-flood. Also look to the northwest for a tall tree that stands out on the side of the wash. That is the lone elephant tree found on this hike a little further at mile 0.65. The tree is large, standing almost 15 feet in height. Other plants that will be noted on this hike include creosote, burrobush, desert lavender, cheesebush, ocotillo, indigo, smoke trees, acacia, and cholla. The trail continues to loop around the wash, rejoining almost at the trailhead at signpost number 2.

Since this is a short hike and a long distance to drive, it could be combined with one or two other short hikes by Tamarisk Grove, off SR-78, that appeared in this column last year. See Cactus Loop (2/21/2013) and Yaqui Well (2/28/2013).

  • Distance from downtown San Diego: About 103 miles. Allow 2 hours and 15 minutes driving time (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). From SR-163N, exit onto I-8E. Take SR-79N/Japatul Valley Rd. (Descanso), turning left, toward Julian, at the end of the ramp. After just under 3 miles, turn left to follow SR-79N to SR78. Turn east on SR78, away from Julian, and drive 33.6 miles to Split Mountain Rd. and turn right/south. Follow Split Mountain Rd. for 6 miles and turn right/west onto the signed dirt road leading to the trailhead, about 1 mile, and park.
  • Hiking length: A 1.1-mile loop. Allow about an hour.
  • Difficulty: Easy walk with less than 100 feet gain/loss of elevation. No facilities. The well-marked trail is in a rocky and sandy wash. No dogs allowed on the trail.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Centennial Salute to San Diego’s Military, East Village Block Party, Birding Basics Class

Events March 29-March 30, 2024
A yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, and green leaves are characteristic of the elephant tree.
A yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, and green leaves are characteristic of the elephant tree.

The elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) is rarely found in the United States. It is found in the Gila Range of Arizona and, more commonly, in Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. For many years it was thought not to exist at all in the United States. The first sighting in the Colorado Desert was made in 1911, but its exact location remained a mystery until an elephant tree hunt occurred in 1937 and representatives from the San Diego Natural History Museum and the state park officially recorded this site. Since that time, other stands have been found in the Santa Rosa Mountains near Clark Dry Lake, Indian and Bow Willow canyon areas, Bisnaga Alta Wash, Fish Creek Mountains, and In-Ko-Pah Gorge. (See the “Roam-O-Rama” column for Bow Willow to Mountain Palm Springs for a hike to Torote Bowl, where about 15 elephant trees can be found.)

The swollen trunk led to this plant being called an elephant tree.

The tree is usually found in rocky areas and on slopes. The common name derives from its swollen trunk, which stores water and has the resemblance of an elephant’s thick, massive leg. It stands 6–10 feet tall and can reach heights of 20–30 feet. The tree has low spreading branches, a yellowish paper-like shedding bark, copper-colored upper branches, green leaves, white flowers, purple fruit, and exudes a pinkish/red resin. It has a strong pungent smell reminiscent of turpentine, pine needles, and tangerines and is in the same family as myrrh and frankincense of the Middle East. It had the same sacred and special medicinal value to Native Americans as myrrh and frankincense had to the early Arabic and Judaic cultures who also found it economically important as a source of incense and perfume. In Mexico it is known as torote, from the Spanish verb torcer, “to twist” — referring to its gnarled branches.

The trail is well-marked and has 13 numbered posts that relate to a free interpretive nature trail guide available at the turnoff to Elephant Tree Trail from Split Mountain Road or at the park’s visitor center. The guide is a good way to learn about common desert plants and strategies they have to survive in the desert. For those interested in annual wildflowers, this is the first place to check each season, as annuals will flower at the lower and hotter elevations first.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The trail has changed from previous years due to flash-flooding in the wash. There is now only one tree on this trail, and it is actually a shorter hike now than it was previously. Large piled rocks and boulders on the sides and in the wash testify to the force of running water and its ability to reshape trails that are in washes. At about the half-mile point, note the many downed ocotillos that were toppled over in a flash-flood. Also look to the northwest for a tall tree that stands out on the side of the wash. That is the lone elephant tree found on this hike a little further at mile 0.65. The tree is large, standing almost 15 feet in height. Other plants that will be noted on this hike include creosote, burrobush, desert lavender, cheesebush, ocotillo, indigo, smoke trees, acacia, and cholla. The trail continues to loop around the wash, rejoining almost at the trailhead at signpost number 2.

Since this is a short hike and a long distance to drive, it could be combined with one or two other short hikes by Tamarisk Grove, off SR-78, that appeared in this column last year. See Cactus Loop (2/21/2013) and Yaqui Well (2/28/2013).

  • Distance from downtown San Diego: About 103 miles. Allow 2 hours and 15 minutes driving time (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). From SR-163N, exit onto I-8E. Take SR-79N/Japatul Valley Rd. (Descanso), turning left, toward Julian, at the end of the ramp. After just under 3 miles, turn left to follow SR-79N to SR78. Turn east on SR78, away from Julian, and drive 33.6 miles to Split Mountain Rd. and turn right/south. Follow Split Mountain Rd. for 6 miles and turn right/west onto the signed dirt road leading to the trailhead, about 1 mile, and park.
  • Hiking length: A 1.1-mile loop. Allow about an hour.
  • Difficulty: Easy walk with less than 100 feet gain/loss of elevation. No facilities. The well-marked trail is in a rocky and sandy wash. No dogs allowed on the trail.
Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Reader 1st place writing contest winner gets kudos

2nd place winner not so much
Next Article

March is typically windy, Sage scents in the foothills

Butterflies may cross the county
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.