Water? In the desert? Yup.

Sheep Canyon has one of the larger streams flowing east out of the San Ysidro Mountains. Its bubbling waters cascade over boulders and down waterfalls into clear pools, and its banks are lined with shady riparian vegetation, often including tall red willows, California sycamores, and Fremont cottonwood trees. It provides a quiet, peaceful sanctuary where the desert scenery may be enjoyed in a cooler environment. In a wet year, the creek can flow throughout the year. Usually, water is flowing in the canyon from November through April. The rugged hillsides and dependable water make this a safe haven for desert bighorn sheep.

There is no maintained trail into Sheep Canyon beyond the primitive camp area. However, once you leave your parked vehicle, trails seem to be everywhere. You can get through the dense riparian vegetation and up the canyon by carefully choosing among these often interconnecting paths. Stay on the trails near the stream (or the sandy stream bed if the creek is dry) where possible. The stream will have to be crossed frequently to avoid boulders or impenetrable thickets. Occasionally it will be necessary to get around small waterfalls by climbing up the slope on one side of the falls or the other, whichever looks most promising.

There are several tributaries that come into the main canyon. The first is the South Fork at 0.4 mile from the primitive campground, which is on the left and heads southwest. Stay in the main canyon, on the right. An unnamed tributary comes into the main canyon 1.2 miles from the campground, on the right. Going up this steep canyon and over the saddle would lead to the South Fork of Salvador Canyon, an interesting adventure that should be saved for another day. Instead, bear to the left as the main canyon continues in a westerly direction. In another half-mile, the canyon opens into a broad bowl into which a third tributary flows from the left. This may be a good place to turn around and go back the way you came, as dense chaparral and steep terrain are found in the upper reaches of Sheep Canyon.

An optional side-trip is possible. Either en route to Sheep Canyon after passing “boulder alley” or upon the return before encountering the boulder field before Third Crossing, take a short detour to the Santa Catarina Monument. It commemorates the Anza expedition that camped at the Santa Catarina Spring in 1774. It also has a great view of the verdant Lower Willows down below and Coyote Canyon to the north. The road to the Monument forks off to the right at 6.6 miles into your trip or 2.9 miles from Sheep Canyon. It is about a half-mile hike to the monument.