With over half a million acres of breathtaking natural beauty, deciding where to start your adventure at Anza Borrego Desert State Park is an overwhelming task. There’s just so much to see and explore! For a truly unique destination within the park, look no further than the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves. These mud caves are a popular destination within the park and their otherworldly beauty is something you need to witness for yourself.
Please keep in mind that entering the caves is dangerous, as they are known to collapse. Do not enter the caves if it has rained recently and do not walk on top of the caves. If you want to make this trip, be sure to bring someone with you along with plenty of supplies, including a flashlight and helmet.
Hiding in the southern section of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves are considered one of the most extensive mud cave systems in the world. Seeing this unique destination is an unparalleled experience, but do know that it requires some effort!
The caves can be found along the walls of a canyon off of Arroyo Tapiado Wash Road. It's not an obvious destination by any means and may require some searching to find. We recommend following Google Maps. A 4WD vehicle is recommended, especially if you'd like to drive through the canyon.
Once you've arrived, you'll be immediately immersed in a bizarre, otherworldly canyon landscape. You could easily spend an entire afternoon walking around the canyon and exploring all of its nooks and crannies. Of course, the highlight of your visit will be finding the mud caves.
There are currently up to 22 mud caves and nine slot canyons that have been found at Arroyo Tapiado. Some of the caves are as long as 1,000-feet and have ceilings up to 80-feet high. Some caves are tiny with entrances that look like nothing more than cracks in the canyon's wall.
What makes the mud caves so special is how they were formed. These caves were created by water flowing through a thick deposit of silt, so yes, they're basically made of mud! You can even see a mud-like texture in the cave walls.
This is a true adventure destination, with many cave entrances tucked away from view and slot canyons that are so narrow they require crawling and squirming your way through. It's easy to feel like Indiana Jones as you explore this incredible canyon landscape!
The Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves are a destination that should be on every adventurer's bucket list. These unique caves will require traveling off the beaten path, but we can guarantee that it's so worth it.
