Anza-Borrego State Park is the largest state park in California so the drive to The Slot actually leaves the park then re-enters. From Borrego Palm Canyon Campground it’s ~17mi 27mins. The dirt road ‘entrance’ (Borrego Mountain Wash on Google Maps) is pretty easy to miss since it’s not marked. Our navigation app said to park on the CA-78. But do not do that since the trailhead & parking lot is ~0.8mi up the wash. This road is not paved and has some soft spots but a 4×4 isn’t required unless muddy. The day-use (fee required) parking area near the trailhead has minimal facilities, just directional signs & a vault toilet restroom. Be sure to bring drinking water since there isn’t any running water.

Alltrails describes the trail as a loop but we hiked to the”Drop Off’ then back. The Slot is a canyon with some VERY narrow passages ie you have to slip through sideways or scramble over. Some canyon walls look like dirt/mud with layers of sedimentary rock and others are sandstone. A couple spots require scrambling over fallen rocks & cliff-side that block the trail. Otherwise it’s fairly flat & has wider areas amongst the narrow sections. These wider areas are a good place to stop if you hear people approaching from the narrows so there’s room for them to pass. Although it feels claustrophobic in the very narrow sections, the trail opens into wider canyon frequently. This isn’t nearly as breathtaking as Antelope Canyon or Buckskin Gulch. But it is a beautiful, worth-while, unique hike if you are in Anza-Borrego.