Indian Hill Desert Backpack
Indian Hill, located a little west of Octotillo on the S2 Highway, is a beautiful place to find many pieces of ancient Native American history as well as more recent railroad history. We started our trek by taking Dos Cabezas Road off of the S2. After a short drive, we arrived at the ruins of a former railroad station that used to serve as a stopping point between San Diego, CA, and Yuma, AZ. It was part of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, a once dormant line that has been put back into service, boasting two trains a day. Leaving the railroad behind, we hiked cross-country to find the real Indian Hill which contains many sites used by Native American tribes over thousands of years. The Pictographs and abundant morteros in the area are wonderful treasures revealing the existence of tribes that used to thrive in the area. Climbing to the top of Indian Hill is not easy feat, but we all made it up to the top to see the 'bathtub', and be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Anza Borrego Desert. On our second day, we trekked westward across the desert to discover other native ritual sites as well as the abandoned "China" Camp, and tunnel #20 of the railway. Of course, the desert was in full bloom to the recent deluges experienced in Souther California, and the desert plants were more than willing to show off their remarkable abilities that help them to survive the desert climate. If you ever have a chance to visit this area of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, I highly recommend you take the time to experience this area with its rich history and desert life.
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