Fonts Point

Fonts Point is all about the views.  The most striking of these views is of the spectacular Borrego Badlands to the south.  This is the view that Fonts Point is known for and rightly so.  With the right lighting, the intricate formations are breathtaking. 

From this high vantage point, however, there are other nice views, too.  Looking to the north is almost as scenic as you see the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains, Clark Dry Lake and the Truckhaven Rocks area.  Looking east you’ll see the Salton Sea and looking west you’ll see the valley that Borrego Springs is in.

For the best viewing, try to plan your visit to Fonts Point either early or late in the day.  This will give you the best lighting to see the smaller details of this parched landscape.  The scenery at high noon is simply washed out and not very exciting.  You need the shadows to show you the contrasting shapes. 

For photographers, this is a great view point to capture some impressive sunrise and sunset shots – especially if there are any clouds in the sky.  Either time is fine, since the Borrego Badlands have no obstructions to the east or west.  As seen in our pictures, it’s quite a contrast in lighting effects between full-day sun and sunrise or sunset.

The last part of the road to Fonts Point is on a dirt road that travels up Fonts Point Wash.  This means that there can be stretches of soft sand and/or washboard anywhere along this part of the route.  If you have 4WD vehicle or a truck or SUV with heavy duty tires, you should have no problems getting to the parking area.  If you have a regular car, it is possible to get to the parking area but we recommend that you check the road conditions at the Visitor Center first.   

We’ve seen lots of cars at the parking area so it can be done.  Just remember to keep up your momentum and try to follow where others have gone. 

From Christmas Circle, go east on Hwy S22 (Palm Canyon Drive) which turns into Borrego-Salton Seaway.  At 10.3 miles, turn right (south) onto the dirt road.  It is usually well-signed.  If coming from the east (Hwy 86), the turnoff is 17 miles from the junction with Hwy S22. 

Go 4 miles up the dirt road (in Fonts Point Wash) to the parking area for Fonts Point.  From here, it is a short, easy 5-minute walk to the view point.  Just follow the tracks south and look for the kiosk signs at the view point.

• See directions to trailhead on Google Maps

The last time we visited Fonts Point, there were no facilities.  No water and no restrooms so plan accordingly.  Also know that it is quite a drop-off at the view point.  Keep a close eye on both small children and pets. The drop-off is very deceiving.

Fonts Point was named after Father Pedro Font who was the official chaplain to Juan Bautista de Anza’s expedition through this area in 1775-76.

Looking down into the Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point may be one of the best places in North America to view sediments that were deposited during the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs (1.6 to 5 million years ago).  The terrain was very different back then, when the waters of the Gulf of California covered much of this area.

The Colorado River emptied into this Gulf back then and deposited much of the sediment that makes up the Borrego Badlands.  Geologists say that these sediments can be traced back to the layers and formations seen in the Grand Canyon.  As time approached current day, the area dried and uplifted, creating the landscape we see today