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.

Andrea McKenna • July 3, 2026

Borrego Days Parade Theme Contest Invites Local Youth to Get Creative

Youth ages 10–17 can help choose this year’s Borrego Days Parade theme.

The Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce is inviting local youth to help shape one of the community's most beloved traditions by choosing the theme for the 60th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival Parade.

Youth ages 10 to 17 are encouraged to submit a parade theme along with 50 words or less explaining why they chose it. The winning entry will help inspire this year's parade and receive a $25 gift card, an award, a ride in the parade, and recognition during the event.

Entries must include the participant's name, contact information, and a parent or guardian's printed name and signature.

Submissions can be emailed to borregochamberdirector@gmail.com or dropped off at the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce. Entries may also be mailed to:

Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 420
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

The deadline to enter is Friday, July 10, 2026.

The 60th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival returns Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, 2026, at Christmas Circle Community Park. The free, family-friendly festival features live entertainment, a parade, kids zone, car show, vendors, an adult beverage garden, and more.

For more information about the parade theme contest or the festival, contact Executive Director Francoise Rhodes at 760-767-5555 or borregochamberdirector@gmail.com, or visit BorregoDays.com.