Geology
Riverside County, CA
Approximate location — plotted from published sources, not a site visit, and not a guarantee of access.
Banded sandstone and mudstone badlands in BLM’s Mecca Hills Wilderness northeast of the Salton Sea / Coachella Valley. The popular Ladder Canyon–Painted Canyon loop climbs narrow slots with fixed ladders, then walks colorful canyon bottoms—one of the best-accessible slot-and-badland hikes in the California desert.
| Region | Riverside County, CA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates (approx.) | 33.6190, -115.9994 |
| Access | Painted Canyon Rd (dirt) from Mecca / Box Canyon Rd area; ~4–5 mi to trailhead parking |
| Managing agency | BLM — Mecca Hills Wilderness |
| GNIS | feature_id 247108 Painted Canyon (Valley, Riverside) |
| Highlight | Ladder Canyon slot section on the loop |
Public recreation data — BLM & Recreation.gov (RIDB). Verify current access, fees, and seasonal closures before traveling.
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Plan ahead. Leave no trace. Verify current access before traveling.