How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

May 9, 2026

Battle in the Desert (a golf documentary)

BY: Colt Knedler

Rams Hill Golf Club

Battle in the Desert follows Colt Knedler at Rams Hill Golf and The Ramateur, capturing golf, art, and the Borrego Springs community in real time.

Rams Hill Golf Documentary: Battle in the Desert

“Battle in the Desert” is a fast, real-time look at a weekend in Borrego Springs through golf. Filmmaker and golfer Colt Knedler drives into the Anza-Borrego desert to document The Ramateur, a 36-hole amateur tournament hosted at Rams Hill Golf, and he keeps the camera rolling for everything around it too. You’ll see the people, the desert setting, and the moments that make this trip a tradition for so many players.